It could cost up to £95m to buy West Yorkshire’s bus depots as part of plans to franchise bus services.
Today a public consultation on the biggest shake up of bus services in a generation will begin.
Franchising West Yorkshire’s buses would put services – currently operated by different companies, under control of West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin says the changes will mean services can be provided to meet the needs of passengers, rather than dependant on how profitable they are.
The consultation will run until the new year, and if Ms Brabin decides to move ahead with bus franchising – a decision expected in March, the first franchised services will start running in 2027.
The franchised bus network will be fully operations by 2028.
Although bus services are operated privately – a large proportion are subsidised by the taxpayer, including many evening services and services operating in rural areas.
And around half of all revenue received by bus companies is public money.
WYCA currently subsidises the “Mayor’s fares” – a £2 cap on single bus fares that was introduced last year.
Despite this, numerous services have been slashed in recent years as bus patronage declines.
As part of the franchising, WYCA would have to purchase bus depots in 10 areas of West Yorkshire. This would include a depot in Bradford and one in Keighley.
At a press briefing yesterday it emerged that to purchase 10 bus depots would cost between £75m and £95m.
The franchising arrangement would also lead to a one of cost of £20m to install back-office staff.
But it is expected that the franchising system won’t lead to an increase in Council Tax.
Operators would bid to run the services on behalf of the authority, but would not dictate routes or fares.
There would be no guarantee operators currently running services in the region would be awarded the new contracts.
The consultation aims to reach as many bus users in the region as possible, and has gone live today.
The authority says the current deregulated bus service has led to cut routes, declining customer satisfaction and a confused ticketing system – where different operators provide different fares.
Since April 2022 the authority has operated an “enhanced partnership” with bus operators, which sees bus companies work with the authority to improve services. However, this set up means bus companies still decide how services are run.
Manchester has recently rolled out its franchised bus service – the Bee Network.
A spokesman for WYCA said: “Bus Franchising would give the Combined Authority control over the routes, frequency, fares and overall standards of the region’s buses, and it would then contract bus operators to run these on its behalf.
“A wide range of people — including bus operators, organisations representing passengers and members of the public — are being asked for their views on the way buses should be run in West Yorkshire.
“Following the consultation, the results will be published, and a final decision is expected to be made on the future of West Yorkshire’s buses in Spring 2024.”
The consultation adds: “Buses play a vital role in West Yorkshire, getting people to places, connecting our communities, and shaping our economy.
“Over 1.7 million journeys are taken by bus each week, making it the most used form of public transport.
“Buses help people reach health and leisure services, work and learning opportunities, and to see family and friends.
“Taking more journeys by bus is a simple step that we can all make to help improve our air quality, reduce congestion, and help make West Yorkshire greener.
“Despite this, bus use is falling.
“The West Yorkshire Combined Authority want buses to be the first choice for travel in the region, not because you don’t have a car, but because buses are more affordable, convenient to use, and better for the environment.”
The authority said improving bus services was a major priority, as a large number of people in West Yorkshire have no access to private cars.
The 2021 census found 27.6 per cent of households in Bradford do not have access to a car.
The consultation runs until 7 January, with people able to have their say at numerous drop-in sessions, online at yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/busreform, or by post.
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