First West Yorkshire#Bradford

{{Short description|Bus operator in West Yorkshire, England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}

{{Use British English|date=December 2011}}

{{Infobox Bus transit

|name = First West Yorkshire

|logo = FirstBus 2024.svg

|logo_size = 125px

|image = YJ09 OBV - 37724.png

|image_caption = First West Yorkshire Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL outside Leeds Bus Station in August 2024

|parent = FirstGroup

|founded = {{start date and age|1998|02}}

|headquarters = Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire
England

|locale =

|service_area = West Yorkshire

|service_type = Bus services

|depots = 5

|fleet =

|website = {{plainlist|

  • {{url|https://www.firstbus.co.uk/bradford/|First Bradford}}
  • {{url|https://www.firstbus.co.uk/halifax-calder-valley-huddersfield/|First Halifax, Calder Valley & Huddersfield}}
  • {{url|https://www.firstbus.co.uk/leeds/|First Leeds}}}}

|leader_type = Managing Director

|leader = Paul Matthews}}

First West Yorkshire operates both local and regional bus services in West Yorkshire, England. It is a subsidiary of the FirstGroup, and is made up of three sub-division brands: First Bradford, First Halifax, Calder Valley & Huddersfield and First Leeds.

History

{{Main|West Yorkshire Metro|Yorkshire Rider}}

In April 1974, the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive was formed, with the municipal fleets of Bradford, Calderdale, Halifax, Huddersfield and Leeds combined. Services were branded under the MetroBus brand, with a cream and verona green livery adopted.[http://www.westyorkshirebuses.freeserve.co.uk/riderhistory1.htm Part 1 – 1974 to 1979 The Early Metrobus era] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113032724/http://www.westyorkshirebuses.freeserve.co.uk/riderhistory1.htm |date=13 November 2013 }} West Yorkshire Buses{{better source needed|date=June 2022}}

To comply with the Transport Act 1985, the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive formed an arms length company named Yorkshire Rider in September 1986.{{cite news |title=New era on the buses |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/huddersfield-daily-examiner-new-era-on-t/133804464/ |newspaper=Huddersfield Daily Examiner |date=27 September 1986 |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=24 November 2023}}{{cite news |title=Timetables ready for new bus services |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/huddersfield-daily-examiner-timetables-r/133804498/ |newspaper=Huddersfield Daily Examiner |date=13 October 1986 |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=24 November 2023}} West Yorkshire PTE's 'Metrobus' services were transferred to Yorkshire Rider upon the deregulation of West Yorkshire bus services on 26 October 1986.{{cite magazine |date=4 October 1986 |title=West Yorks routes taken over by Rider |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/4th-october-1986/16/west-yorks-routes-taken-over-by-rider |magazine=Commercial Motor |volume=164 |issue=4190 |page=16 |location=Sutton |publisher=Transport Press |access-date=24 November 2023}}

On 21 October 1988, Yorkshire Rider was privatised for £20 million ({{Inflation|UK|20,000,000|1986|fmt=eq|r=-3|cursign=£}}), with 51% of shares in the company being sold by West Yorkshire PTE to a team of eight managers in a management buyout and the remaining 49% sold to Yorkshire Rider's 3,500 employees in an Employee Share Ownership Plan, the largest ESOP arrangement in the United Kingdom at the time.{{cite magazine |date=3 November 1988 |title=Yorkshire's riding high |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/3rd-november-1988/19/yorkshires-riding-high |magazine=Commercial Motor |volume=170 |issue=4293 |page=19 |location=Sutton |publisher=Reed Business Publishing |access-date=24 November 2023}}{{cite news |last=Wainright |first=Martin |title=Staff are driving force behind £20m buyout |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-staff-are-driving-force-beh/133804090/ |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=11 October 1988 |page=12 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=24 November 2023}}

In August 1989, Yorkshire Rider purchased the West Yorkshire Road Car Company, a former National Bus Company subsidiary who operated services in Bradford, Leeds and Otley, from AJS Holdings.{{cite magazine |date=27 July 1989 |title=WYRC in takeover deal |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/27th-july-1989/16/wyrc-in-takeover-deal |magazine=Commercial Motor |page=16 |volume=170 |issue=4329 |location=Sutton |publisher=Reed Business Publishing |access-date=10 June 2022}} The 'West Yorkshire' trading name was retained by Yorkshire Rider for nearly a year following the takeover, after which it was removed in a restructuring of former WYRCC operations.{{cite magazine |date=5 April 1990 |title=Job losses at Yorkshire Rider |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/5th-april-1990/21/job-losses-at-yorkshire-rider |magazine=Commercial Motor |volume=172 |issue=4363 |page=21 |location=Sutton |publisher=Reed Business Publishing |access-date=10 June 2022}}

On 15 April 1994, Yorkshire Rider was purchased by the Badgerline Group for £38 million ({{Inflation|UK|38,000,000|1994|fmt=eq|r=-3|cursign=£}}).{{cite news |last=Thornton |first=Philip |title=Badgerline buys a ticket for the record books |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/western-daily-press-badgerline-buys-a-ti/133756037/ |newspaper=Western Daily Press |location=Bristol |date=16 April 1994 |page=21 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=24 November 2023}}{{cite magazine |author= |date=22 April 1994 |issue=252 |page=2 |title=Rider sale confirmed |magazine=Bus & Coach Buyer |location=Spalding |publisher=Glen-Holland Limited}}{{cite magazine |last=Jarosz |first=Andrew |date=23 April 1994 |title=Badgerline wins control of Rider |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |issue=113 |location=Peterborough |publisher=Emap}} Badgerline and its subsidiaries were later merged with the GRT Group in April 1995 to form the FirstGroup.{{cite magazine |author= |url=https://archive.org/details/buscoachbuyer-issue301/page/7/mode/1up |date=7 April 1995 |issue=301 |page=7 |title=Badgerline to merge with GRT Bus Group |magazine=Bus & Coach Buyer |location=Spalding |access-date=28 March 2024}}{{cite news|author=|date=5 April 1995|title=Link-up creates second-largest bus group |work=The Herald|location=Glasgow |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12112211.link-up-creates-second-largest-bus-group-grt-and-badgerline-in-agreed-265m-merger/ |access-date=10 June 2022}}{{cite news|last=Grimond |first=Magnus |date=4 April 1995|title=Badgerline links with GRT |work=The Independent|location=London |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/badgerline-links-with-grt-1614291.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628070954/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/badgerline-links-with-grt-1614291.html |archive-date=28 June 2020 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=10 June 2022}}

In September 1995, Yorkshire Rider was split into four separate divisions: Bradford Traveller, Calderline, Kingfisher Huddersfield and Leeds City Link.{{cite magazine |last=Jarosz |first=Andrew |url=https://archive.org/details/cbw-issue205/page/n9/mode/1up |date=17 February 1996 |title=Rider invests in new image |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |issue=205 |page=10 |location=Peterborough |publisher=Emap |access-date=19 August 2024}} However in February 1998, all these were respectively renamed First Bradford, First Calderdale, First Huddersfield and First Leeds as part of the rollout of the FirstGroup brand.[http://www.westyorkshirebuses.freeserve.co.uk/riderhistory6.htm Part 6 – 1997 to 1999 The early Metrobus era] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010152124/http://www.westyorkshirebuses.freeserve.co.uk/riderhistory6.htm |date=10 October 2008 }} West Yorkshire Buses{{better source needed|date=June 2022}}

During the early 2000s, several were merged. First Quickstep were based at the same Kirkstall Road depot as First Leeds but as a separate entity running several services around the Leeds area until it was merged into First Leeds' operation, while First Calderdale and First Huddersfield merged in 2003 to form First Calderdale & Huddersfield.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

In July 2005, First Leeds purchased Morley-based Black Prince Buses. The family-run independent's last buses left service on 31 July, with First taking on most of Black Prince's services from 1 August.[http://www.oft.gov.uk/OFTwork/mergers/decisions/2005/first-west Anticipated acquisition by First West Yorkshire Limited of Black Prince Buses Limited] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306063232/http://www.oft.gov.uk/OFTwork/mergers/decisions/2005/first-west |date=6 March 2012 }} Office of Fair Trading{{cite news|author= |date=15 June 2005|title=End of the line for Black Prince |work=Morley Observer & Advertiser |url=http://www.morleyobserver.co.uk/news/local/end_of_the_line_for_black_prince_1_1359780 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007000826/http://www.morleyobserver.co.uk/news/local/end_of_the_line_for_black_prince_1_1359780 |archive-date=7 October 2011 |url-status=dead |access-date=10 June 2022}}

On 18 May 2008, the company's Kirkstall Road depot, first opened in 1897, was closed after 111 years of service. Staff and operations were subsequently moved to a new depot at Hunslet. Named Hunslet Park, the new depot was opened with a capacity of 200 buses with room for additional expansion.{{cite news |author= |title=Bus firm's growth will ease jams |date=9 May 2008|newspaper=The Yorkshire Post |location=Leeds |id={{ProQuest|335515432}}}}

In 2009, the management of the three FirstGroup sub-divisions in West Yorkshire, as well as First York were centralised, creating First West Yorkshire.{{cite news |author= |date=3 December 2008 |title=First rationalises Yorkshire businesses |url=http://www.busandcoach.com/newsStory.aspx?id=2215 |url-status=dead |work=Bus & Coach Professional |location= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227083451/http://www.busandcoach.com/newsStory.aspx?id=2215 |archive-date=27 December 2008 |access-date=10 June 2022}}

First's Todmorden outstation was partially demolished in 2015, converting the site into an open-air yard housing 24 vehicles.{{cite web |author= |date=29 August 2015 |title=It's all change as town's bus depot gets a makeover |url=https://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/its-all-change-astowns-bus-depotgets-a-makeover-2570317 |website=Halifax Courier |accessdate=11 June 2022}}

The operations of First West Yorkshire and First York are to be remerged into a First North and West Yorkshire business unit on 1 October 2022, with current Managing Director Paul Matthews temporarily overseeing operations of the new business unit until a new Managing Director can be recruited. This is part of major changes to the FirstGroup's senior management, which will see the merger of First's ten regional bus operations across the United Kingdom into six business units.{{cite magazine |author= |date=5 July 2022 |title=First Bus restructures as Government funding cuts loom in England |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/first-bus-restructures-as-government-funding-cuts-loom-in-england/ |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |access-date=6 July 2022}}{{cite web|author=|date=18 August 2022|title=First Bus names leaders of new regional structure |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/first-bus-names-leaders-of-new-regional-structure/ |access-date=19 August 2022|website=Routeone}}

Operations

As of June 2022, excluding First York, the company operates from five depots in the region: Bradford, Bramley, Halifax, Huddersfield and Hunslet. The company also maintains an open-air outstation in Todmorden.

=Leeds=

File:MA24 EOG (cropped).png in Monkswood Gate in July 2024]]

First Leeds operate buses in the city of Leeds and surrounding areas from both Bramley and Hunslet depots, the latter replacing the former Kirkstall Road site in 2008 and Cherry Row depot in 2009.

First Leeds's services were rebranded to LeedsCity in early 2018, with First's standard fleet livery replaced with a predominantly green livery, of which was first applied to over 120 new Wright StreetDecks delivered between 2018 and 2022. Between 2019 and 2024, it was also rolled out to pre-existing fleet vehicles.{{cite magazine |last=Jenkins |first=David |date=15 August 2019 |title=Connecting Leeds |url=https://www.keybuses.com/article/connecting-leeds |magazine=Buses |location=Stamford |publisher=Key Publishing |access-date=30 December 2021}}{{subscription required}} In 2020, nine Yutong E10s, the first zero-emissions buses in West Yorkshire, entered service.{{cite web|last=Peat|first=Chris |url=https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/electric-yutongs-launch-into-service-in-leeds/ |title=Electric Yutongs launch into service in Leeds |work=Bus & Coach Buyer |date=19 October 2020 |accessdate=10 June 2022}}{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Kristian |date=15 October 2020 |title=West Yorkshire's first ever all-electric buses – and where you can spot them in Leeds |url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds-news/gallery/west-yorkshires-first-ever-electric-19077197 |work=Leeds Live |access-date=10 June 2022}} This was followed by StreetDeck and GB Kite Electroliner battery electric buses produced by Wrightbus,{{cite web|last=Deakin |first=Tim |date=31 August 2022|title=First Bus orders 193 Wrightbus battery-electrics |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/first-bus-orders-193-wrightbus-battery-electrics/ |access-date=31 August 2022|website=routeone}} arriving from 2024. These did not come in LeedsCity Green livery and instead painted into the new Ultraviolet livery with Leeds Electric skylines added. Pre-existing fleet vehicles that are not electric at both Bramley and Hunslet depots are also in the process of receiving this new grey-fronted purple livery minus the Leeds Electric branding.

In partnership with Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority, First Leeds also operates a network of park and ride bus services in the city. As of September 2021, there are three sites at Elland Road, Temple Green and Stourton, numbered PR1-3 respectively. The network first went into operation in June 2014 with the early opening of the Elland Road site for the Grand Départ of the 2014 Tour de France,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-27913495 |title=Elland Road park-and-ride open for Leeds' Tour de France |work=BBC News |date=18 June 2014|access-date=10 June 2022}} followed by a full opening later that month.{{cite news |author= |date=23 June 2014 |title=Park-and-ride is set to double up in Leeds |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/park-and-ride-set-double-leeds-1839844 |work=The Yorkshire Post |location=Leeds |access-date=10 June 2022}} A second site at Temple Green was opened in 2017,{{cite news |author= |date=13 June 2017 |title=New 1,000 space park and ride set to open in Leeds |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/new-1000-space-park-and-ride-set-open-leeds-600113 |work=Yorkshire Evening Post |location=Leeds |access-date=10 June 2022}}{{cite magazine |author= |date=20 June 2017 |title=New 1,000-space Park & Ride for Leeds |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/new-1000-space-park-ride-leeds/ |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |access-date=10 June 2022}} and a third site powered by self-sustainable solar panels was opened in Stourton in 2021.{{cite web|author=|date=23 September 2021|title=UK's first solar-powered park and ride service launched in Stourton |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/uks-first-solar-powered-park-and-ride-service-launched-in-stourton/ |access-date=10 June 2022|website=RouteOne}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-58599722 |title=Leeds Stourton solar-powered park and ride site opens |work=BBC News |date=17 September 2021|access-date=10 June 2022}} The network is currently operated by a fleet of hybrid electric Wright StreetDeck HEV and fully electric BYD D8UR ADL Enviro400EV City double-deck vehicles branded in dedicated liveries.{{cite magazine |author= |date=19 June 2018 |title=Leeds Park & Ride receives new Wrightbus hybrids |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/leeds-park-ride-receives-new-wrightbus-hybrids/ |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |access-date=10 June 2022}}

=Bradford=

File:WX59 BZA.png bodied Volvo B7RLE in 5 Lane Ends in July 2024]]

First Bradford operate buses in Bradford and surrounding areas.

Bradford's flagship services are the Leeds to Bradford 72 and express X6 services, which run via Bowling Back Lane depot. However, the 72 route was run by Bramley depot until late 2018 where operations transferred over to Back Bowling Lane depot in Bradford. In 2012, refurbished former ftr Wright StreetCar articulated buses operated route 72.{{cite web |date=31 October 2012 |title='Hyperlink' service launched between Leeds and Bradford |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/hyperlink-service-launched-between-leeds-and-bradford/ |access-date=9 March 2020 |website=Coach & Bus Week}} These were withdrawn in July 2016 and replaced by a fleet of double-deck Wright StreetDeck vehicles delivered in both Olympia for route 72 and the distinctive Olympia-Express livery the X6.{{cite web |last=Lowson |first=Rob |date=22 July 2016 |title=First West Yorkshire unveils new fleet at Bradford Industrial Museum |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/14637499.first-west-yorkshire-unveils-new-fleet-at-bradford-industrial-museum/ |website=Bradford Telegraph & Argus |accessdate=9 May 2022}}

In March 2022, ahead of the start of Bradford's Clean Air Zone later that year,{{cite news |last1=Coules |first1=Chloe |title=Bradford Clean Air Zone to launch in September |url=https://airqualitynews.com/2022/06/06/bradford-clean-air-zone-to-launch-in-september/ |access-date=22 September 2022 |work=Air Quality News |date=6 June 2022}}{{cite news |title=Delayed Bradford Clean Air Zone to start in September |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-61673709 |access-date=23 September 2022 |work=BBC News |date=2 June 2022}} First Bradford launched the City of Bradford branding, which was first applied to 28 new Wright StreetDeck Ultroliners delivered for service on the X6, 72 and X11, replacing older 2016 and 2017 StreetDecks and StreetDeck Micro Hybrids. This was followed by 11 new City of Bradford-branded Wright StreetLite Max Ultroliners entering service in the summer, whilst some pre-existing fleet vehicles based at Bradford Bowling Back Lane depot were painted in the 2-tone blue livery.{{cite news |last=Rahman |first=Miran |title=£8.1m investment in buses to create cleaner air |url=https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/yorkshire/news/2089925-8.1m-investment-in-buses-to-create-cleaner-air |work=TheBusinessDesk |date=2 March 2022 |access-date=10 June 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.route-one.net/news/first-bus-unveils-8-1m-investment-in-new-fleet-for-bradford/ |title=First Bus unveils £8.1m investment in new fleet for Bradford |publisher=RouteOne |date=2 March 2022 |accessdate=10 June 2022}} Like with First Leeds, the City of Bradford livery is dropped in favour of the new Ultraviolet scheme.

=Halifax, Calder Valley & Huddersfield=

File:Huddsb7tl37038.png in HD Connect livery at Huddersfield bus station, September 2022]]

First Halifax, Calder Valley & Huddersfield is an amalgamation of the First Halifax and First Huddersfield operations, running services in their respective towns as well as the Calder Valley region.

Until recently, some buses in Halifax and Huddersfield were branded for the Holme Valley Connection, Calder Connect, Red Arrow and Zest networks respectively, with refurbished buses receiving free WiFi and an improvement in bus frequency.{{cite magazine |author= |date=5 July 2016 |title=New Holme Valley bus service launched as public urged to leave cars at home for Catch the Bus Week |url=https://ciltuk.org.uk/News/Latest-News/ArtMID/6887/ArticleID/9278/New-Holme-Valley-bus-service-launched-as-public-urged-to-leave-cars-at-home-for-Catch-the-Bus-Week |magazine=The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport |access-date=11 June 2022}}{{cite magazine |author= |date=21 December 2015 |title=First launched Zest brand in Halifax |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/first-launched-zest-brand-in-halifax/ |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |access-date=11 June 2022}}{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/catch-bus-week-4/ |title=It's Catch the Bus Week |work=Bus & Coach Buyer |date=6 July 2016 |accessdate=11 June 2022}}{{cite news |last=Harrison |first=Matt |date=2 June 2019 |title=#AYearOfBuses 89: Calder Connect Rochdale – Burnley |url=https://transportdesigned.com/ayearofbuses-89-calder-connect-rochdale-burnley |work=Transport Designed |access-date=12 June 2022}} In 2018, the HD Connect network was launched in Huddersfield, with buses for services 370, 371 and 372 receiving new blue-front branding, live service tracking and ticket machines with contactless payment.{{cite magazine |author= |date=20 November 2018 |title=First Huddersfield launches HD Connect service |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/first-huddersfield-launches-hd-connect-service/ |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |access-date=11 June 2022}} The HD Connect network has expanded on these services since. First Halifax initially opted for the HX Connect livery, with a darker blue front, but it was soon discontinued and replaced by the Olympia-Urban livery, otherwise known as 'hybrid-Olympia'.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

In April 2023, the 184 service, previously run by First Greater Manchester from Oldham to Grotton and Huddersfield was transferred to First Huddersfield, now running from Huddersfield to Marsden Hard End and Oldham to replace the 183 bus service. This service is now operated by Stagecoach Manchester due to Tranche 2 of Bee Network bus franchising. This was also due to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and West Yorkshire Metro reducing funding in the service.

Service changes at the start of 2024, meant renumbering bus routes in First Halifax, Calder Valley and Huddersfield, including the 503 which was renumbered to 501 with an additional express service launched, X1. As a result, First Halifax decided to route-brand some of their existing fleet vehicles with Elland Lines to represent the Halifax/Huddersfield corridor. Like with First Leeds and Bradford, HD Connect and the Olympia-Urban livery has been dropped in favour of the new Ultraviolet livery, with the pre-existing fleet already starting to wear this new livery.

Fleet

As of July 2017, the First West Yorkshire fleet consisted of 882 buses,{{cite web |last=Carlisle|first=Simon|url=https://www.zemo.org.uk/assets/presentations/7.%20Hybrid%20and%20Retofit%20SCRT%20in%20Leeds.%20Simon%20Carlise,%20First%20West%20Yorkshire.%20pptx.pdf |title=Hybrid and Retrofitted SCRT bus fleets |date=12 July 2017 |publisher=First West Yorkshire |access-date=11 June 2022}}{{needs update|Information is still out of date, cannot source anything more recent.|date=June 2022}} mainly consisting of buses manufactured by Wrightbus, Alexander Dennis and Yutong.

References

{{reflist}}