I did see a very full 595 full of student type visitors recently about a month ago one weekday afternoon, not sure if that's the norm but walking seems to be getting popular amongst the young so perhaps one improvement would be the use of bigger buses during the Summer on the 595 and 596, maybe even restore the link to Hardcastle Craggs as it's quite a boring uphill walk, partly on roads with no path, from the town centre if you're not keen on crossing all the fields lol.
I'm pretty certain nothing bigger than a Solo will get round the 595 to Crimsworth, although of course the 596 did once use full-size buses as the 516 to Blackshaw Head.
In regards to the minibus routes - an improvemment to the 900/901/902 services should be, revert back to hourly and have a completely revised timetable to enable addtional peak hour journeys in either direction (a 0610, 0710 and an 0810 from Huddersfield and an 0710, 0810, 0910 and 1830 from Hebden Bridge wouldn't go amiss) with the 901A journey's being revised to run after 7pm.
I've once driven a van that way, thought I'd grounded the thing at Blake Dean luckily I didn't. If a rambler route was to be reinstated that way than a 16 seater would be the largest it'd take, even if it didn't go to the Yorkshire Dales and instead went to the Forest of Bowland I still think people would use it. When the 906 ran I did know of one person who went walking around Boulsworth Hill in September / October time, since the bus service was scrapped a lot of their walks that way were curtailed.
Could be done though them but I once managed to get Wakefield Council to see if a nightbus could be laid on across four routes (of which one was actually introduced, the N10) as I believed that it was more of a local issue than a countywide one.
You wouldn't be able to fit anything bigger than a 16 seater Merc to Midgehole and even then there's parked cars at the junction of Keighley Road / Midgehole Road, Midgehole cottages itself (clogged with these oversized monstrosities called an SUV / 4x4 that take up all the road space) and the lack of a proper turning cirlce at the bottom end of Hardcastle Crags even further restricting getting a bus down there.
That’s a good question. All I know for sure is that it has in Greater Manchester. It may be that it creates forms of oversight for the franchising authority that didn’t exist previously.
This is easily Googleable
It would be interesting to know, if would like to ask them? Looks like you can ask them here, where it gives details of the rationale for selecting shelters to be replaced: https://www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/bsship?tool=qanda
Today. The only issue is that companies can moan to the authority and continuously delay the award.
Are they announced to the general public today, or to the bidders? Typically there is a two-week window for any objections to be raised, so this is done out of the public eye.
Contract decision was due on 23/07/2026. The award date (going based on final call in date which was approved) was on 03/08/2026. The minimum standstill period is eight days so it is imminent from tomorrow. A day off, apologies.
Here - let me fix that for you.
No, under the current law the standstill is after the contract award is published. Is eight working days. The suggestion it’s today or tomorrow is based on it being ten days since the poster thought operators were told. I think we can assume it’s been delayed for reasons other than operators objections.
Yes but that’s just the decision to award which will trigger next steps in finalising contracts etc not the publication of the contract award notice which triggers the standstill and then contract award.Based on this issue.
WYCA - Modern Gov
westyorkshire.moderngov.co.uk
Indeed - in my experience, the delays are usually internal governance NOT anyone raising an objection.
Posted on the East Yorkshire thread but an interesting development...
I think it's too obvious now WYCA have given the smaller contracts to a so called smaller firm (small in West Yorkshire but not so small elsewhere that is) so if I were Squarepeg, I'd be throwing the towel in now before the drivers throw in the towel.
I've seen a few dotted about. Star Garage in Shelley (towards Huddersfield) on the B6116 (served by what is currently the Team Pennine Denby Darts D1 service from Huddersfield to Denby Dale) has had a green Weaver Network flag for a few weeks now. AIUI Huddersfield area is among the first to be contracted out, so perhaps we'll see the pace quicken in the coming weeks?
Why not? It's a lot cheaper than building it and no one forces you to do it. And if you do need it, you've saved some time.
Can you put in a speculative planning application if you don't own the property? Or has Go Ahead bought the site already, even though the tenders have not been formally announced?
...but why do it at all if you're not rather confident you'll need it. Also, you'll need to either own or lease the site
You don't have to own a property to put in a planning application.
True but you either have to own it (so an interesting speculative purchase) or more likely, you've taken out a lease on it. Let's face it... they've done it for a reason
I've corrected my typo.True but you either have to own it (so an interesting speculative purchase) or more likely, you've taken out a lease on it. Let's face it... they've done it for a reason
www.planningportal.co.uk
That would make a lot of sense for Go Ahead to acquire engineering workshops, etc. Currently, Fourways (who operate all Go Ahead West Yorkshire services except the X98/X99) have to send buses to Hull for maintenance. If Go Ahead are going to expand in West Yorkshire with franchising (which is likely), they're going to want their own maintenance facility and not have to cycle buses through East Yorkshire's Hull depot on Anlaby Road.
