West Yorkshire bus franchising

[stevieinselby]

Do operators bidding for 'B' lots have to show anywhere in the documentation how they are going to provide the service, eg what depot facilities they have?
I understand that if a new operator is willing to acquire depot facilities/access on winning a contract then the process shouldn't discriminate against them compared to an operator that already owns a suitable depot ... but if that question isn't even explored in the bidding process then that feels like an omission.

 

[D6130]

Does anyone know whether TLC have actually bidded for any lots?

 

[Andyh82]

Does anyone know whether TLC have actually bidded for any lots?

Yes they are in the unsuccessful suppliers list at the bottom of this page

https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084929-2026#main_heading_anchor_2

 

[D6130]

Yes they are in the unsuccessful suppliers list at the bottom of this page

https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084929-2026#main_heading_anchor_2

Thanks.

 

[Ballyheigue]

Can't see TLC lasting long at all at this rate, no access bus work, loss of the Kirklees bid, not much work left to retain in Calderdale and Bradford so I recon they'll just throw the towel in and sell up to a bigger company rather than risk losing both remaining bids and finding themselves quickly out of income.

Now regarding cross boundary routes, WYCA I believe will award permits on condition the route compliments rather than compromises it's own network. So bearing this in mind, will we finally see the never ending all stops 36 finally speed up by becoming alighting only Leeds bound, or boarding only Harrogate bound like it used to?

 

[Mollman]

Still of this latest lot to signed etc so Tower could decide its pointless having an isolated 4 vehicle operation and back out. The alternate is whether the agreements allow sub franchising. Or will they do a 21 Transport approach and have a scattering of unkept looking vehicles outstationed in farmyards.

Yes I was wondering if they could sell on the franchise, it might be that they have to establish a Tower Transit Holmfirth Ltd to operate it then sell that to Transdev or Stotts etc.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Assume it is down to the price as I thought operators had to pre-qualify.

Might be price or a lack of tenderers

Still of this latest lot to signed etc so Tower could decide its pointless having an isolated 4 vehicle operation and back out. The alternate is whether the agreements allow sub franchising. Or will they do a 21 Transport approach and have a scattering of unkept looking vehicles outstationed in farmyards.

Can't speak on this procurement but they usually have stipulations that a) each tender submission has to be self-sufficient so that operating one package isn't dependent on winning others and b) if you are awarded and then backheel it, you are on the hook for the cost of retendering. Sub-contracting will only be with the agreement of the CA.

They might indeed have a four vehicle operation and have it based in a haulage depot; not every firm is as basic as T21

Do operators bidding for 'B' lots have to show anywhere in the documentation how they are going to provide the service, eg what depot facilities they have?
I understand that if a new operator is willing to acquire depot facilities/access on winning a contract then the process shouldn't discriminate against them compared to an operator that already owns a suitable depot ... but if that question isn't even explored in the bidding process then that feels like an omission.

The technical response will ask operators to demonstrate their competence (i.e. where they have done it before) and what they will do to meet the tender requirements.

Can't see TLC lasting long at all at this rate, no access bus work, loss of the Kirklees bid, not much work left to retain in Calderdale and Bradford so I recon they'll just throw the towel in and sell up to a bigger company rather than risk losing both remaining bids and finding themselves quickly out of income.

Why would a bigger company buy them? What are they buying?

 

[D6130]

Might be price or a lack of tenderers


Can't speak on this procurement but they usually have stipulations that a) each tender submission has to be self-sufficient so that operating one package isn't dependent on winning others and b) if you are awarded and then backheel it, you are on the hook for the cost of retendering. Sub-contracting will only be with the agreement of the CA.

They might indeed have a four vehicle operation and have it based in a haulage depot; not every firm is as basic as T21


The technical response will ask operators to demonstrate their competence (i.e. where they have done it before) and what they will do to meet the tender requirements.

Why would a bigger company buy them? What are they buying?

A rag-bag collection of old buses perhaps? Would their staff be TUPEd over to the new operator? I hope so, because the Eastwood-based drivers are exceptionally friendly and helpful.... although the occasional relief drivers from Bradford or Huddersfield sometimes let the side down.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

A rag-bag collection of old buses perhaps? Would their staff be TUPEd over to the new operator? I hope so, because the Eastwood-based drivers are exceptionally friendly and helpful.... although the occasional relief drivers from Bradford or Huddersfield sometimes let the side down.

Exactly - a rather mixed collection of ageing vehicles. That's it. However, who's to say that they might not get something in future tranches?

Drivers would have the right to TUPE.

 

[Ballyheigue]

Exactly - a rather mixed collection of ageing vehicles. That's it. However, who's to say that they might not get something in future tranches?

Drivers would have the right to TUPE.

Would anyone knowing how bad TLC cancellations are, and how bad their vehicles get, give them a franchise contract? I wouldn't that's for sure.

 

[Andyh82]

Firstly franchising doesn’t work like that, and secondly it could be argued that the upcoming franchising is partly to blame for all that, but in any case it’s not really on topic.

Yes I was wondering if they could sell on the franchise, it might be that they have to establish a Tower Transit Holmfirth Ltd to operate it then sell that to Transdev or Stotts etc.

If they gave it up, wouldn’t it just go to whoever came in second place?

It certainly doesn’t seem ideal to have such a small operation in a rural town that will have to stand on its own feet in terms of spare buses, spare drivers etc

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Would anyone knowing how bad TLC cancellations are, and how bad their vehicles get, give them a franchise contract? I wouldn't that's for sure.

That's not what public procurement allows. They have to pass the pre-qual (which they did) and then you judge their submission without prior knowledge.

 

[Deerfold]

Can't see TLC lasting long at all at this rate, no access bus work, loss of the Kirklees bid, not much work left to retain in Calderdale and Bradford so I recon they'll just throw the towel in and sell up to a bigger company rather than risk losing both remaining bids and finding themselves quickly out of income.

They haven't lost the Accessbus work yet - it's just going to be retendered.
Most of their current work is in Calderdale and Bradford and most of the routes in those areas have not yet been awarded so I'm not sure how there's not much "left to retain".

I suspect the only bid they've lost so far is for the 900 group of services.

 

[citybus2500]

They haven't lost the Accessbus work yet - it's just going to be retendered.
Most of their current work is in Calderdale and Bradford and most of the routes in those areas have not yet been awarded so I'm not sure how there's not much "left to retain".

I suspect the only bid they've lost so far is for the 900 group of services.

Access Bus tender out now.

https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085479-2026

An "interesting" constraint. Not sure that will work out well for WYCA.

Lot constraints​

Maximum number of lots a supplier can bid for: 1

Maximum number of lots a supplier can be awarded: 1

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

Might be price or a lack of tenderers


Can't speak on this procurement but they usually have stipulations that a) each tender submission has to be self-sufficient so that operating one package isn't dependent on winning others and b) if you are awarded and then backheel it, you are on the hook for the cost of retendering. Sub-contracting will only be with the agreement of the CA.

They might indeed have a four vehicle operation and have it based in a haulage depot; not every firm is as basic as T21


The technical response will ask operators to demonstrate their competence (i.e. where they have done it before) and what they will do to meet the tender requirements.

Why would a bigger company buy them? What are they buying?

Indeed, what would anyone be buying? I'm not sure what assets they actually have.

 

[Andyh82]

Access Bus tender out now.

https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085479-2026

An "interesting" constraint. Not sure that will work out well for WYCA.

Lot constraints​

Maximum number of lots a supplier can bid for: 1

Maximum number of lots a supplier can be awarded: 1

Surely that must be an error as it makes no sense, unless they are deliberately wanting to increase costs

 

[317 forever]

Oh yes you're right as it was me who reported it at the time lol, totally forgot they withdrew it.

There was a Saturday only route linking Halifax with Holmfirth with South Pennine Community Transport. I rode it in March last year.

I am shocked to think it having been withdrawn now.

 

[Deerfold]

There was a Saturday only route linking Halifax with Holmfirth with South Pennine Community Transport. I rode it in March last year.

I am shocked to think it having been withdrawn now.

It was the HX1, then renumbered 539, although other buses with the same number on Mondays to Fridays either ran Holmfirth to Barkisland or Halifax to Stainland.
My sister used to use it occasionally for going to gigs in Holmfirth but had to get an Uber, a lift, or two buses to get home.