West Yorkshire bus franchising
Oct 11, 2023 18:38:45 GMT
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Post by wirewiper on Oct 11, 2023 18:38:45 GMT
The proposals for franchising bus services in the West Yorkshire Combined Authority area have been set out in a consultation document dated 10th October. If the Mayor Tracy Brabin decides next March to proceed (which seems liklely as it was a Manifesto commitment), the first franchised buses could take to the road from June 2026.
Implementation would cost the region around £358 million, including the gradual acquisition of 868 zero-emission vehicles over a fourteen-year period which would be owned by WYCA, and ten depots which would be acquired by WYCA and fitted out for zero-emission buses.
Under plans laid out in a 981-page Bus Reform Assessment, West Yorkshire would be divided into ten zones based roughly on existing Depots - Leeds would be divided into three. Contracts in each zone would consist of one "large lot", which would be franchised to a single operator for a seven-year contract, and a number of "small lots" which will cover lower frequency services and school transport. Closed-door contracts and rail replacement work will not be franchised.
WYCA has stated that it wants "a competitive market for franchising contracts" and will seek to minimise barriers so that SME (Small and madium-size Enterprises) can bid. One may be to mandate that smaller lots cannot be operated from a depot that provides a large lot. WYCA states that it has already tried to engage with SME operators in its area, although acknowledges this has been "difficult" as some operators have limited resources and may not be able to afford the time to engage in consultation.
Franchising would take part in three rounds, with the first including Kirklees, part of Leeds and the "Heavy Woollen Area" that lies between the two. The final round would be completed by early 2028.
The consultation closes on 7th January 2024.
www.route-one.net/news/west-yorkshire-bus-franchising-plans-revealed-as-consultation-is-go/
Implementation would cost the region around £358 million, including the gradual acquisition of 868 zero-emission vehicles over a fourteen-year period which would be owned by WYCA, and ten depots which would be acquired by WYCA and fitted out for zero-emission buses.
Under plans laid out in a 981-page Bus Reform Assessment, West Yorkshire would be divided into ten zones based roughly on existing Depots - Leeds would be divided into three. Contracts in each zone would consist of one "large lot", which would be franchised to a single operator for a seven-year contract, and a number of "small lots" which will cover lower frequency services and school transport. Closed-door contracts and rail replacement work will not be franchised.
WYCA has stated that it wants "a competitive market for franchising contracts" and will seek to minimise barriers so that SME (Small and madium-size Enterprises) can bid. One may be to mandate that smaller lots cannot be operated from a depot that provides a large lot. WYCA states that it has already tried to engage with SME operators in its area, although acknowledges this has been "difficult" as some operators have limited resources and may not be able to afford the time to engage in consultation.
Franchising would take part in three rounds, with the first including Kirklees, part of Leeds and the "Heavy Woollen Area" that lies between the two. The final round would be completed by early 2028.
The consultation closes on 7th January 2024.
www.route-one.net/news/west-yorkshire-bus-franchising-plans-revealed-as-consultation-is-go/
