Operators found for collapsed bus company's routes

Replacement operators have been found for some of the routes put at risk by the closure of a bus firm in West Yorkshire.

Yorkshire Buses, based in Wakefield, announced that due to rising costs it would cease operations from 20:00 BST on Tuesday.

The firm held contracts for routes in West Yorkshire and one service in South Yorkshire.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) said it had found replacements for four of the services which would run to the current timetable from 7 April.

The replacement operators will run the following services:-

• Service 30 – Horsforth - Pudsey (off peak service) – Lethers Travel
• Service 61 – St James's Hospital - Hunslet (South Leeds Stadium) – Connexions Buses
• Service 116 – Leeds – Ossett - Wakefield – First Leeds
• Service 212 – Wakefield - Batley – Dewsbury – Go Ahead West Yorkshire

The WYCA said they would be run under a temporary contract until July pending a wider review or procurement process.

"We are continuing work to urgently find an operator for the 118 evening service," the organisation said.

Yorkshire Buses said it had been with a "heavy heart" that it had decided to close.

"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," it wrote on social media.

"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 company also operated between Doncaster and Norton and on Wednesday the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority said the service was a single contracted Sunday service and it was "working at pace to ensure passengers are protected".

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