First West Yorkshire & York discussion

[Andyh82]

First have launched the new buses today online

https://twitter.com/firstwestyorks/status/1498674488862552068?s=21

We revealed our new City of Bradford buses today with support from @bradfordmdc. The fleet will soon be out on the road, helping to reduce emissions and creating cleaner air for Bradford #BreatheBetterBradford

Copying “LeedsCity” and branding them “BradfordCity” would have been problematic so they’ve instead called them “City Of Bradford”

 

[superkev]

Noted from Bus times this morning (Wed 2nd Mar) 7 of Bradfords new Steeetdecks are out routes 72 and X6.
It will be interesting to see over the next few days which buses are retired or moved elseware.
K

 

[Andyh82]

They have green hand poles which suggests to me they were diverted from Leeds, what with their CAZ being cancelled

 

[jonesy3001]

They have green hand poles which suggests to me they were diverted from Leeds, what with their CAZ being cancelled

The leeds batch got diverted to diamond north west after the order was cancelled.

 

[cnjb8]

The leeds batch got diverted to diamond north west after the order was cancelled.

Wasn’t that three years ago? Leeds have had new StreetDecks since then

 

[jonesy3001]

Wasn’t that three years ago? Leeds have had new StreetDecks since then

Part of the same batch.

 

[Andyh82]

The leeds batch got diverted to diamond north west after the order was cancelled.

That was years ago, Leeds have since received replacements and more for that batch, and were still due more.

 

[TUC]

Halifax Connect liveried vehicles are now a common sight in Todmorden on the 590/1/2.

Personally I'm not entirely sure I will miss the green fronts on the Calder Connect vehicles though - it was a rather nondescript shade to my eyes.

They also regularly appear on the 542 Norton Tower-Siddal. As that's a local Halifax service I'm not sure what the branding is supposed to represent.

 

[gc4946]

I've seen more Leeds City Streetdecks losing their colour route/area branding (i.e. red, blue, yellow, grey) replaced with green where that was applied.
I'm assuming First has now abandoned branding in favour of simpler, consistent two-tone green.

 

[On the Buses]

The leeds batch got diverted to diamond north west after the order was cancelled.

They were never ordered. Wright bus pre built them speculatively but First never took them.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

I've seen more Leeds City Streetdecks losing their colour route/area branding (i.e. red, blue, yellow, grey) replaced with green where that was applied.
I'm assuming First has now abandoned branding in favour of simpler, consistent two-tone green.

Considering that the Headingley Line services are marked yellow on the Leeds core network map and is served by red fronted buses, it can be said that First have abandoned the LeedsCity coloured branding in favour of the generic livery.

I've noticed that the timetables on some of the roadside displays are now marked with LeedsCity branding instead of the usual First branding, service 5 is one of them.

 

[Bayum]

Looking on the timetables for the X98/X99, peak time buses are listed as travelling:
‘R Trip runs full length of Roundhay Road and North Street
B Runs full length of Roundhay Road and North Street not via Roseville Rd & Regent St’

What’s the difference between the two? Do they need separate codes because they’re separate route numbers?

 

[noddingdonkey]

I've noticed cancelled buses not being indicated as such on First's app several times recently, annoyingly it shows a countdown to the timetabled departure time with a (clearly false) "LIVE" indicator, then the bus doesn't show up. The only clue that the bus is cancelled is that it's not shown as an icon on the live tracking map.

Is this just a foible of the app or are Huddersfield depot not updating something properly when journeys are pulled?

 

[_toommm_]

I've noticed cancelled buses not being indicated as such on First's app several times recently, annoyingly it shows a countdown to the timetabled departure time with a (clearly false) "LIVE" indicator, then the bus doesn't show up. The only clue that the bus is cancelled is that it's not shown as an icon on the live tracking map.

Is this just a foible of the app or are Huddersfield depot not updating something properly when journeys are pulled?

I've seen it a lot with the 27 to Guiseley. One indicator for me is the capacity showing as 73 free seats with one free wheelchair space (the capacity of a double decker used on that corridor). If it's still showing as no one onboard when it's nearly in Headingley (one of the busiest corridors in Leeds IMO) then it just isn't turning up.

 

[markymark2000]

That used to be a big thing with Arriva, "Ghost buses".

Not sure if they have improved now but it's not a First exclusive thing.

 

[jonesy3001]

Will first be reverting back to the old timetables or staying as they are for now?
X84 used to be every 15mins otley to Leeds with the xx:15 and xx:45 going to/from ilkley

 

[stevenedin]

I've noticed cancelled buses not being indicated as such on First's app several times recently, annoyingly it shows a countdown to the timetabled departure time with a (clearly false) "LIVE" indicator, then the bus doesn't show up. The only clue that the bus is cancelled is that it's not shown as an icon on the live tracking map.

Is this just a foible of the app or are Huddersfield depot not updating something properly when journeys are pulled?

This seems to happen with First Scotland East too so it is likely that it means the bus is not running. It’s frustrating especially as buses aren’t as frequent as they used to be.

 

[WY Bus Spotter]

X26/ X27/ 11 are back to First operation on 27th March, meaning the driver shortage must have improved slightly.

Though tonight a 33 and 34 were cancelled leaving passengers with a 1 hour and 45 minute wait for their next bus!

 

[Deerfold]

Will first be reverting back to the old timetables or staying as they are for now?
X84 used to be every 15mins otley to Leeds with the xx:15 and xx:45 going to ilkley

They seem to be showing very little sign of rushing to bring any frequencies back. The 35 (which had only just been renumbered in 2018 after being split out of the 670 to go with the 33 and 34) disappeared officially in October 2020 (though it hadn't actually run for a while then) with no sign it'll ever come back. Frequencies seem to continue to drop on the most frequent routes.

The X6 and 72 have gone from 12+ buses an hour to 7, the 301/2 from 6 to 4, the 521 from 6+ to 4, the 1 from 6+ to 4, the 33 and 34 from 3bph each to 2bph each.

 

[Whisky Papa]

I've noticed cancelled buses not being indicated as such on First's app several times recently, annoyingly it shows a countdown to the timetabled departure time with a (clearly false) "LIVE" indicator, then the bus doesn't show up. The only clue that the bus is cancelled is that it's not shown as an icon on the live tracking map.

Is this just a foible of the app or are Huddersfield depot not updating something properly when journeys are pulled?

Having been caught out with this a couple of times around the Calder Valley, I now assume anything not showing the icon on the map will not arrive. At least here I am looking at such long routes there is usually plenty of time to work out what is running and what isn't, but it certainly isn't user-friendly.

 

[noddingdonkey]

In my case I'm 10 minutes away from the origin of the service I use, so the lack of the icon on the map can indicate a late departure from the Bus Station (far from uncommon) or a no-show.

If a driver hasn't shown up and their duty can't be covered, presumably it's known well in advance which journeys aren't happening and the app could reflect this long before the journey is supposed to be on the road?

 

[_toommm_]

In my case I'm 10 minutes away from the origin of the service I use, so the lack of the icon on the map can indicate a late departure from the Bus Station (far from uncommon) or a no-show.

If a driver hasn't shown up and their duty can't be covered, presumably it's known well in advance which journeys aren't happening and the app could reflect this long before the journey is supposed to be on the road?

Certainly in Leeds, the screens at the bus stop show buses as cancelled (both the dot matrix and the e-ink???? new displays. Shame the First Bus app doesn’t.

Think I’m going to start using the WYMetro Live Departures as it shows cancellations.

 

[jonesy3001]

Certainly in Leeds, the screens at the bus stop show buses as cancelled (both the dot matrix and the e-ink???? new displays. Shame the First Bus app doesn’t.

Think I’m going to start using the WYMetro Live Departures as it shows cancellations.

Very handy for when I want to check the buses from Otley.

https://www.wymetro.com › buses
Your Next Bus - WY Metro

 

[Seehof]

York is to get 44 new electric buses as part of the (very) recent new Government grant. I understand other places/routes are to get them including some Leeds services. Does anybody have any detailed knowledge as to what has been ordered and allocated where. Thank you

 

[bluenoxid]

I understand 32 single deckers for First, which will be used to shift on any single deckers they currently operate in Leeds. I assume Bramley will get depot enhancements rather than reallocating services to Holbeck but not able to confirm.

 

[Leedsbusman]

York is to get 44 new electric buses as part of the (very) recent new Government grant. I understand other places/routes are to get them including some Leeds services. Does anybody have any detailed knowledge as to what has been ordered and allocated where. Thank you

As the grant was only announced this morning it’s a bit soon for orders!

 

[Andyh82]

York is to get 44 new electric buses as part of the (very) recent new Government grant. I understand other places/routes are to get them including some Leeds services. Does anybody have any detailed knowledge as to what has been ordered and allocated where. Thank you

You need to see the ZEBRA bid thread, it’s all listed in there

 

[Volvodart]

York is to get 44 new electric buses as part of the (very) recent new Government grant. I understand other places/routes are to get them including some Leeds services. Does anybody have any detailed knowledge as to what has been ordered and allocated where. Thank you

All the single deckers for the Zebra awards won by First are supposed to be the new Arrival bus, but nothing would have been finalised yet. There have been delays as First were supposed to be getting pre production trials several months ago, which has not yet happened, although it is believed to be imminent when it is certified.

https://www.route-one.net/news/zebra-standard-track-198m-for-943-zero-emission-buses/

York City Council: £8.5m towards 44 battery-electric single-deckers to be operated by First York. The operator will contribute £10.5m. The buses are planned to be manufactured by Arrival, although a second OEM is in hand as a back-up

 

[Seehof]

Oh dear. All single deckers for York. Passengers on route 1 and other routes in York will not be pleased with a downgrade in capacity.

 

[Deerfold]

Oh dear. All single deckers for York. Passengers on route 1 and other routes in York will not be pleased with a downgrade in capacity.

Is it not more likely they'll be used on current single decker routes?