Bus firm folds 'with heavy heart' as costs rise

A bus company which runs services in West and South Yorkshire has ceased operating, blaming rising costs.

Yorkshire Buses, based in Wakefield, posted the announcement on social media on Tuesday stating it would cease operation from 20:00 BST.

The firm, founded in 2020, said it had not been an easy decision but it was "no longer sustainable" to continue operating.

West Yorkshire Metro, which is the West Yorkshire Combined Authority's public transport brand, said it was working to minimise disruption and find other operators to cover the affected routes.

In a statement on social media, the firm said it was with a "heavy heart" it had decided to shut.

"After much thought and consideration, the continued rise in costs which includes fuel and many other significant increases has made it no longer sustainable for us to continue operating.

"This has not been an easy decision, and it is one we have fought hard to avoid however with further cost increases forecast on the horizon the decision has had to be made sooner rather than later."

The statement said it had been a "privilege" to serve the community, and the company thanked its staff and passengers.

Metro said it had received notification the firm had ceased operations.

"We are working hard to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum and are seeking alternative operators to cover the following services," it said.

The services affected include:

• Service 30 – Horsforth - Pudsey (off peak service)
• Service 61 – St James Hospital - Hunslet (South Leeds Stadium)
• Service 116 – Leeds – Ossett - Wakefield
• Service 118 – Wakefield - White Rose Centre (evenings only. Daytime service operated by Arriva is not affected)
• Service 212 – Wakefield - Batley – Dewsbury
• Service 1 – Leeds – Wakefield is also affected.

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority added that "passengers are advised to check the Metro website for updates to routes".

The mother of a 17-year-old girl who uses Yorkshire Buses to travel to college said she hoped an alternative would be found after Easter.

Terri's daughter travels on the firm's 116 route from Gawthorpe into Leeds.

"Obviously she's looked and found out that bus is no longer going to be running," Terri said.

"So she's been unable to get to college today. Obviously if she can't attend college it could impact her education."

Terri said she started work too early to drive her daughter into Leeds and was not aware of any other bus route that her daughter could access to get to college for 09:00.

The firm's two school bus routes served Woodkirk Academy in Tingley and Bruntcliffe Academy in Morley.

The company also operated a service between Doncaster and Norton.

A South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority spokesperson said the service was a single contracted Sunday service and it was "working at pace to ensure passengers are protected".

"We are already moving to put alternative arrangements in place so that people can continue to travel as normal. Our priority is ensuring there is no disruption for local communities."

In a statement, the Department of Transport said: "We know this is a tough time for businesses, including bus operators, who are grappling with increased fuel prices.

"We are speaking with operators to understand these pressures and have confirmed more than £3bn over the next three years to protect and improve bus services across the country."

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