West Yorkshire leaders to decide on £90m of funding for new buses

Regional leaders are expected to decide on the next stage of plans to fund a fleet of brand new Weaver Network buses across West Yorkshire.  

If approved, a £90m investment would pay for the remainder of the 193 new buses set to be introduced during round one of franchising, as well as a possible further 63 buses to add to the fleet during round two.

This would bring the total investment in vehicles for round one and two of franchising to just over £120 million for 256 buses.

From next year, bus timetables, fares and routes in the region will be set by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority rather than private operators, and will see money made from fares going back into improving services.

When the third and final round of franchising is complete, the fleet programme will have delivered, in total, around 576 new buses for use across the region.

Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said: “This investment demonstrates our commitment to building a better-connected West Yorkshire with a bus network that is fit for the future.

“Dozens of state-of-the-art electric buses are on the production line as we speak, while work is ongoing to bring depots and facilities into public control.

“The Weaver Network and its buses will be the pride of West Yorkshire.”

The Weaver Network is the region’s new, integrated transport network - joining up buses, trains, a mass transit system, walking, wheeling and cycling under one name.

Round one of the franchised bus network is expected to be up and running on West Yorkshire’s roads in May 2027, with round two running in early 2028. The network will be fully franchised in late 2028.

Round one is expected to include buses primarily operating in Kirklees, Dewsbury, Huddersfield and parts of Leeds. Round two will include services mainly covering Five Towns, parts of Leeds and Wakefield. The rest of West Yorkshire, including Bradford, Calderdale and parts of Wakefield, will be included in round three.  

Members of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority will vote on the investment at a meeting on Thursday, July 30.