First West Yorkshire & York discussion

[Pit_buzzer]

A number of the York Metro Deckers are parked up at the York Pullman yard near the A64 at Bilbrough Top, I could make out 5 of them clearly and I suspect there are more as they are parked tightly together and there seemed to be another row of dark coloured double deck vehicles behind them.

Meanwhile, today's York Pullman geminis in service are
36172 tracking as 39502
37720 tracking as 39504
37721 tracking as 39505

 

[YorkRailFan]

A number of the York Metro Deckers are parked up at the York Pullman yard near the A64 at Bilbrough Top, I could make out 5 of them clearly and I suspect there are more as they are parked tightly together and there seemed to be another row of dark coloured double deck vehicles behind them.

Probably being stored there so there's space at James Street for all the loaned Electrics.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Jul 2026 ==

A post on Travel West Yorkshire reports that the following have transferred from Halifax to Glasgow:
Enivro 400s:
33683, 33701, 33723, 33736, 33738, 33741, 33745, 33872, 33875
B9TLs:
37365, 37505, 37701, 37702, 37713, 37714, 37755.

 

[M60lad]

Have Halifax received anything to replace these vehicles that have gone to Glasgow?

 

[YorkRailFan]

B9TLs 36311, 36312, 36313 & 36314 have transferred from Huddersfield to Glasgow for the Commenwealth Games.

Transfers from Leeds to Glasgow:
E400 MMC 33409 (returning from loan)
E400 33909 (returning from loan)
B9TLs 37739 & 37588

B9TL 37459 has returned to Aberdeen from loan in Leeds.

 

[Andyh82]

Have Halifax received anything to replace these vehicles that have gone to Glasgow?

They’ve only gone on loan for the commonwealth games

 

[jus363]

Have Halifax received anything to replace these vehicles that have gone to Glasgow?

Yes 37501 37504 37667 From Bradford
Also Halifax has a lot of spare buses now the schools have closed for the summer.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Streetdeck Electroliner 36592 has transferred from Leeds to Glasgow for the Commenwealth Games

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Jul 2026 ==

Streetdeck Electroliner 36609 has returned to Leeds from Glasgow.

 

[Seehof]

What news of York’s Metroliners?
Thanks

 

[Leyland Bus]

What news of York’s Metroliners?
Thanks

Blimey, are things so bad they've started putting MCW Metroliners back on the road? They must be desperate

 

[YorkRailFan]

Enviro 400 33880 has been repainted to Ultraviolet. B9TL 37712 has transferred to Glasgow on loan for Commenwealth Games from Halifax.

 

[Seehof]

Sorry, when I was writing about York’s buses, I meant Metrodeckers not Metroliners. My apologies again.
I like the various loans there are here, I hope they are kept here !!!

 

[YorkRailFan]

Sorry, when I was writing about York’s buses, I meant Metrodeckers not Metroliners. My apologies again.
I like the various loans there are here, I hope they are kept here !!!

York will likely lose the York Pullman Geminis in September once the school/college term starts. The Park & Ride timetable quietens down in September but the University timetable picks up for term time. If the Metrodeckers are still out of service in September, York will need some more loans to cover for the York Pullman Geminis.

 

[Fletcj10]

According to bustimes 36819, 36820, 36822 & 36824 have moved to pullman?? this seamed new! Is this temporary or what would they be used for? assume they are to replace buses that transferred to york?

 

[YorkRailFan]

According to bustimes 36819, 36820, 36822 & 36824 have moved to pullman?? this seamed new! Is this temporary or what would they be used for? assume they are to replace buses that transferred to york?

They transferred up from West Of England before the Metrodeckers were taken out of service. The Pullman buses with First York don't need replacing at Pullman at the moment as Pullman has a significantly reduced vehicle requirement now that it's the school holidays.

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Streetlite DF 63437 has returned to Huddersfield from loan in Leeds.
B9TL 37702 has returned to Halifax from Glasgow.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

According to bustimes 36819, 36820, 36822 & 36824 have moved to pullman?? this seamed new! Is this temporary or what would they be used for? assume they are to replace buses that transferred to york?

As @YorkRailFan says, they transferred up about 6 weeks ago before the Metrodecker issue.

They are for Pullman where their high capacity will be employed.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Another Repower has been diverted from Bath to York, this time former SK16 GUA (35169) now SIG 2883 - 71083.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Jul 2026 ==

Repower 70101 has transferred from Leeds to York. B9TLs 36172, 37718, 37720 & 37721 have returned to York Pullman from First York.

Streetdeck Ultroliner 35521 has been repainted to Ultraviolet.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Jul 2026 ==

Streetdeck Ultroliners 35313 & 35321 have transferred to Leeds from South Yorkshire.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Jul 2026 ==

Another WestBus Repower originally for Bath is in York. The former SK16 GUO now WSU 489 - 71089.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Jul 2026 ==

Streetlite DF 47486 has transferred to Leeds from South Yorkshire.

 

[jimbob185]

I have heard that the Metrodeckers won’t be returning to service so are now withdrawn.

 

[Fletcj10]

I have heard that the Metrodeckers won’t be returning to service so are now withdrawn.

I mean surly if that's the case no one on the second hand market would be stupid to buy them, leaving them with either scrap or transfer to LDN with the rest of First's Metros maybe even pushing some stuff to York as a stop gap until other EV's for York could be found?

 

[stevieinselby]

I mean surly if that's the case no one on the second hand market would be stupid to buy them, leaving them with either scrap or transfer to LDN with the rest of First's Metros maybe even pushing some stuff to York as a stop gap until other EV's for York could be found?

The 54 Metrodeckers with First London and London General have been off the road for over a month – TfL had them taken out of service before First York benched their 21 of them – so I don't see any prospect of them moving to London. Either changes are made to eliminate the issue that has caused the two fires, or the entire fleet will be withdrawn and likely scrapped. (Metroline also have 26 but it looks like most of them haven't been used at all this year so I'm not sure what is going on with those).

Is there any precedent for an entire fleet being withdrawn for non-remediable safety reasons like this? Crazy to think they're only 6 or 7 years old.

 

[Fletcj10]

The 54 Metrodeckers with First London and London General have been off the road for over a month – TfL had them taken out of service before First York benched their 21 of them – so I don't see any prospect of them moving to London. Either changes are made to eliminate the issue that has caused the two fires, or the entire fleet will be withdrawn and likely scrapped. (Metroline also have 26 but it looks like most of them haven't been used at all this year so I'm not sure what is going on with those).

I agree! Sorry my comment sounded like i was making a point it was just meaning if they are being withdrawn from York but maybe will return to use in LDN maybe the York ones should go their instead of scrap.

I mean going forward could they be converted to a new drivetrain? I swear i saw somewhere a NON wright product was getting converted to a Wright drivetrain if that's true then could these also join? I'd say another NON manufacturer but Kleandrive is closed if i'm not mistaken & Magtec from experience at Reading spent most of its life in the Magtec workshops then on the road so unsure if that's better now.

 

[Ballyheigue]

I mean surly if that's the case no one on the second hand market would be stupid to buy them, leaving them with either scrap or transfer to LDN with the rest of First's Metros maybe even pushing some stuff to York as a stop gap until other EV's for York could be found?

There's only been 2 fires so If they're cheap enough and I ran a school bus company I'd take a chance, I bet they'll go for a fraction of the original price to someone not that concerned over just 2 fires.

 

[aswilliamsuk]

The 54 Metrodeckers with First London and London General have been off the road for over a month – TfL had them taken out of service before First York benched their 21 of them – so I don't see any prospect of them moving to London. Either changes are made to eliminate the issue that has caused the two fires, or the entire fleet will be withdrawn and likely scrapped. (Metroline also have 26 but it looks like most of them haven't been used at all this year so I'm not sure what is going on with those).

Is there any precedent for an entire fleet being withdrawn for non-remediable safety reasons like this? Crazy to think they're only 6 or 7 years old.

The Metroline MetroDeckers were withdrawn pending repowering by NewPower.

NewPower to debut electric-to-electric repower on Metrodecker EV - routeone

NewPower will carry out its first electric-to-electric repower project on 28 Optare Metrodecker EV double-decks with Metroline.

www.route-one.net

Whether anyone else tries this will be interesting to see.

 

[M60lad]

Considering York have got buses on loan at the moment if indeed it is true that the Metrodeckers have been withdrawn what's going to replace them in the long term as the current loans will be needed for School duties when they go back in September won't they?

 

[YorkRailFan]

There's only been 2 fires so If they're cheap enough and I ran a school bus company I'd take a chance, I bet they'll go for a fraction of the original price to someone not that concerned over just 2 fires.

You'd just need electrical charging infrastructure, something that most school bus companies don't have...

Considering York have got buses on loan at the moment if indeed it is true that the Metrodeckers have been withdrawn what's going to replace them in the long term as the current loans will be needed for School duties when they go back in September won't they?

There's a lot of movements currently across Yorkshire. Leeds, Halifax and Huddersfield are loaning buses to Glasgow for the Commenwealth Games, these should soon return however. Bradford and South Yorkshire are loaning buses to Leeds to cover for buses in Glasgow and York. York has buses from Leeds, Leicester and Bath on loan.

The buses that needed to go back in September were the York Pullman diesels, which have since returned to Pullman anyway. Leeds was already loaning buses to York prior to the school holidays. I believe York has a number of WestBus Repowers that are yet to enter service to cover for the Metrodeckers.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Jul 2026 ==

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There will be a timetable change to the 47/47A in Leeds from 30th August:

What's changing?
From Sunday 30 August 2026, most journeys on Services 47 & 47A will operate approximately 15–20 minutes later than they do currently.

These changes have been introduced at the request of West Yorkshire Combined Authority to better match local school start and finish times.

Please check the new timetable before you travel, as departure times will change throughout the day.

Changes to Services 47 & 47A

From Sunday 30 August 2026, there will be changes to the timetable for Services 47 & 47A. At the request of West Yorkshire Combined Authority, journeys have been retimed to better align with local school session times.

www.firstbus.co.uk

B9TL 37501 has transferred from Halifax to Bradford.

 

[Tempest3K]

The Metroline MetroDeckers were withdrawn pending repowering by NewPower.

NewPower to debut electric-to-electric repower on Metrodecker EV - routeone

NewPower will carry out its first electric-to-electric repower project on 28 Optare Metrodecker EV double-decks with Metroline.

www.route-one.net

Whether anyone else tries this will be interesting to see.

Worth noting that York already has Equipmake repowered Optare Versas which form the single deck P&R fleet. I think it's unlikely they'll be scrapping/disposing of the MetroDeckers when the Versas were repowered at nearly 10 years old.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Worth noting that York already has Equipmake repowered Optare Versas which form the single deck P&R fleet. I think it's unlikely they'll be scrapping/disposing of the MetroDeckers when the Versas were repowered at nearly 10 years old.

The Metrodeckers can be replaced in York. The Versas cannot be replaced so easily, First is keeping the Versas as they fit under the low bridge on Leeman Road. The Kites don't fit under said bridge, so cannot be used to replace the Versas. Whereas Streetdecks (or any other double decker electric bus) can be used to replace the Metrodeckers if needed.

First would've probably binned off the Versas if it weren't for Leeman Road and ordered more Kites to have a more standardised fleet.

 

[Seehof]

Post 2117 (above) says that the Metrodeckers will not be returning. Where does that information come from? The drivers in York hope they won’t be!

 

[YorkRailFan]

E400 33878 has been repainted to Ultraviolet.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Aug 2026 ==

The conclusion of the Commenwealth Games means a lot of fleet movements including buses returning back to West Yorkshire.

Glasgow to Leeds:
Electroliners: 36602, 36603, 36607, 36597, 36593, 36592, 36601, 36608, 36610, 36611.
Halifax to Bradford:
B9TL 37667
Glasgow to Halifax:
B9TLs: 37712, 37713, 37755, 37365, 37714, 37505
E400s: 33872, 33745, 33741, 33738, 33736, 33701, 33723, 33875, 33683
Glasgow to Huddersfield:
B9TLs: 36311, 36312, 36313 & 36314

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Aug 2026 ==

B9TL 37504 has transferred from Halifax to Bradford. B9TL 37077 has returned to Halifax from its loan in Glasgow for the Commenwealth Games.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Aug 2026 ==

Streetdeck Ultroliners 35229, 35645 & 35646 have returned to Bradford from their loan in Leeds.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Aug 2026 ==

B7RLE 69572 has returned to Bradford from loan at Leeds.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Aug 2026 ==

Latest fleet changes:
Repaints: Streetdeck Ultroliner 35514 to Ultraviolet.
Leeds to Bradford:
Streetdeck Ultroliners: 35649, 35662, 35663 & 35228
Streetlite DF: 63429
Leeds to Halifax
Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse 2: 69557
Bradford to Leeds:
Streetdeck Ultroliner: 35281
Streetlite DF: 63282

WYIS says that Bath Repower 71081 - ISZ 4481 has been diverted to York to cover for Optare Metrodeckers.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Aug 2026 ==

E400 33877 has been repainted to Ultraviolet.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Yet another Repower meant for Bath has entered service in York. ISZ 7380 - 71080 formerly SK16 GUE - 35172.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Aug 2026 ==

B9TL 36283 (on loan to Leeds from Eastern Counties) has been sold to SMT Bus & Coach, Sheffield.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Aug 2026 ==

Streetdeck Ultroliner 35281 has returned to Bradford from loan in Leeds.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Aug 2026 ==

B7RLE 69577 has transferred from Bradford to Leeds.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Aug 2026 ==

E400 33886 has been repainted to Ultraviolet.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Aug 2026 ==

Streetlite DF 63282 has returned to Bradford from loan in Leeds.

 

[tsyxa]

Does anyone know if there’s a more permanent solution coming for the york metro deckers? I assume all these depots will be wanting their repowers at some point, will there be more fleet movements around the country to balance the displacement to york out? Or will a new fleet of buses be ordered / current fleets expanded?