West Yorkshire’s bus services are set for a major transformation, with franchising expected to roll out across various regions starting in 2027. The move, supported by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), will allow for greater control over routes, schedules, and service delivery.
The region will be divided into nine zones, each undergoing a series of franchising rounds. The first to see franchised services will be the Heavy Woolen area, Kirklees, and West Leeds/Ilkley. Following that, Five Towns, Leeds, and Wakefield will be franchised, with Bradford, Calderdale, and Keighley scheduled for the final round.
A key part of this shift involves negotiations to secure depots across the region. As depots are vital for service delivery, the Authority aims to acquire strategically located facilities to ensure competition, especially for larger contracts. If these negotiations fail, compulsory purchase orders could be used to acquire the depots.
The goal of the franchising programme is to enhance service reliability, address route cancellations, and improve the passenger experience, particularly for communities with previously unreliable or under-served bus networks.
