Changes to bus and rail timetables to provide service resilience and support key workers
Whilst everyone is being encouraged to avoid non-essential journeys, our public transport network is still available for key workers and essential trips. The West Yorkshire Combined Authority is working with operators to ensure a resilient service remains available, particularly for key workers.
19 March 2020
Whilst everyone is being encouraged to avoid non-essential journeys, our public transport network is still available for key workers and essential trips. The West Yorkshire Combined Authority is working with operators to ensure a resilient service remains available, particularly for key workers.
Public transport users are being urged to regularly check travel information as the network prepares to move to new timetables.
Rail and bus operators will be revising their timetables so they are more resilient in the face of the pressures created by the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Bus operators are expecting to introduce emergency timetables from Monday. These will mostly be operating weekend timetables with some additional services and journeys.
Rail operators are developing plans allowing them to offer a dependable service for those that need to travel. Some services are being cancelled due to staff availability.
Customers should check wymetro.com and @metrotravelnews on Twitter for the latest information before they travel.
The Combined Authority will continue to arrange school bus services from Monday so that children of key workers can attend in line with Government guidelines.
To enable older people to get to shops and supermarkets earlier in the day, the Combined Authority will also be allowing holders of free bus passes to be used all day every day. This arrangement will run for the next month until Friday 17 April 2020
Cllr Kim Groves, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee, said:
“While many people will be working from home in the coming weeks, we know that public transport remains essential for key workers and others who need access to shops and services.
“The measures being taken by rail and bus operators are designed to make services as resilient and reliable as possible and get people where they need to be. It is also important school bus services remain available for those children who will continue to attend.
“We are pleased to be able to introduce flexibility on concessionary travel but would urge those passengers to follow social-distancing guidelines.
“In the coming weeks it will be more important for customers to check for the latest updates before they travel.”