Our plan for improving West Yorkshire buses now, while franchising is being set up for 2027. It covers fares, safety, greener vehicles, accessibility and better connections, delivered through the West Yorkshire Bus Alliance with bus operators and local councils working together.
The West Yorkshire Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) sets out how the Mayor and Combined Authority will transform bus travel across the region - introducing a £2.50 fare cap, expanding routes, improving reliability and bringing all buses under public control through franchising by the end of 2028.
First launched in 2021, the BSIP sets out a clear roadmap for delivering a world-class bus service across West Yorkshire. Since the pandemic, bus use across the region has declined - the BSIP aims to reverse that trend, winning back passengers who have drifted away and attracting new ones by making buses faster, cheaper and more reliable.
The BSIP also builds on key information that has been outlined in the West Yorkshire Plan and The Mayor’s West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan. One of the key outcomes from these plans is bus franchising. In 2027 our new bus franchising scheme will become operational, meaning that buses will be back under public authority control and part of our joined-up Weaver Network.
Read on to discover more about the BSIP, how it will benefit the bus transport system for West Yorkshire and FAQs about the plan itself.
We're making our bus and public transport network fully inclusive under the new Weaver Network. We're improving connections with the rest of our transport system through co-ordinated timetables, consistency across ticketing, journey planning and real-time information, plus the potential for one ticket to cover multiple modes of transport in the future.
Paying for a bus ticket should be easy. That’s why we’re introducing clear, simple fares that are affordable, convenient, and flexible.
Every passenger should have the right tools to travel confidently. If your journey doesn’t go as planned, we’re making it simple to get help.
We want all bus journeys in West Yorkshire to be efficient. That’s why we’re prioritising buses on our roads to reduce time spent in traffic.
We will deliver the West Yorkshire Zero Emission Bus Programme. This will involve rolling out up to 200 vehicles and the needed infrastructure. We also plan to replace our AccessBus Fleet with high-quality, zero-emission vehicles.
Waiting for a bus in our region should be a pleasant experience. That’s why we’re making all our stops, public spaces and welcoming stations safe and more accessible for all.
The Combined Authority is now in an Enhanced Partnership (EP) with bus operators and local authorities. This is delivered through the West Yorkshire Bus Alliance and improves the passenger experience for bus passengers in West Yorkshire.
The improvements include shorter term benefits for the bus service between now and 2027.
The EP has delivered several achievements already, including:
