Yorkshire Buses to cease trading

[Kaliwax]

First Leeds also operate quite a few school services around the Wakefield area as well

 

[Andyh82]

First used to run one board on the X33 Bradford to Sheffield as well, which lasted at least into the ‘Bradford Traveller’ early era of First

 

[61653 HTAFC]

From Leeds into Wakefield yes it is the first time, but they have operated the 232 from Huddersfield to Wakefield using Hunslet based vehicles early mornings, and ran the 232 using Huddersfield based vehicles evenings and Sunday's. I didn't know they ran evening/Sunday journeys on the 268 however, I thought it was the 229? It's the first time they've ever served Shaw Cross and Ossett though.

I'd class the 268 as serving Ossett, even though it doesn't serve the bus station or town centre. Not aware of any other First (or Yorkshire Rider) services there, but I wasn't in the area back in Yorkshire Rider days. Yorkshire Rider's Wakefield ops mentioned on the previous page were never that big compared to their dominance in Bradford, Huddersfield and Halifax.

More recently, First Leeds ran a daytime service between Leeds and Batley for a while before COVID. Can't remember the number but I think it was an extension of a Morley service, I'd been meaning to ride it but never got round to it.

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

I'd class the 268 as serving Ossett, even though it doesn't serve the bus station or town centre. Not aware of any other First (or Yorkshire Rider) services there, but I wasn't in the area back in Yorkshire Rider days. Yorkshire Rider's Wakefield ops mentioned on the previous page were never that big compared to their dominance in Bradford, Huddersfield and Halifax.

More recently, First Leeds ran a daytime service between Leeds and Batley for a while before COVID. Can't remember the number but I think it was an extension of a Morley service, I'd been meaning to ride it but never got round to it.

The 268 was Bradford to Dewsbury in the days Rider had a duty on it; the Wakefield extension started circa early -2010's, initially as a 268A and then later as part of the main 268. I can't recall the exact date.

IIRC it was the 64 that extended from Morley to Batley.

 

[Ballyheigue]

The 268 was Bradford to Dewsbury in the days Rider had a duty on it; the Wakefield extension started circa early -2010's, initially as a 268A and then later as part of the main 268. I can't recall the exact date.

IIRC it was the 64 that extended from Morley to Batley.

No it was one of the half hourly journeys on the 55 Leeds to Morley via Cottingley route that extended to Batley, they were numbered 54. If the 64 extended to Batley, that would be the last straw for it's users as it would have made it Aberford to Batley via Cross Gates, Leeds, Beeston, Morley Gildersome (the 64 route terminated here) then it would have had to go back to Morley to go over to Batley.

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

No it was one of the half hourly journeys on the 55 Leeds to Morley via Cottingley route that extended to Batley, they were numbered 54. If the 64 extended to Batley, that would be the last straw for it's users as it would have made it Aberford to Batley via Cross Gates, Leeds, Beeston, Morley Gildersome (the 64 route terminated here) then it would have had to go back to Morley to go over to Batley.

Thank you, I couldn't fully remember (hence the IIRC!). I recall seeing the First buses going to Batley, but like @61653 HTAFC I never got around to riding on them.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Surely this character forgot the cost of his tattoos. his takeaways and his other assorted unnecessary gadgets

Sadly some people want the top of the range stuff to show off to the ladies. I don't see the point myself, as you should only spend cash on what is really nessasary e.g. food, cheap clothing (not the named stuff) and walk where possible otherwise use the cheapest mode of transport available even if it mean going by car (an old banger will do).

The fact they were using a full sized coach on service 30 every day, a route where the number of passengers could fit in a car, shows to me that they were only just scraping by.

Their fleet was always changing as well. The sort of operator who buys a life expired vehicle, runs it until it packs in for good, and then does the same again, they’ve gone through dozens of buses despite only running a few services.

I think that by obtaining an almost life expired vehicle an then running it until it fails isn't what I'd call a great idea, as this will have cost a lot more that what it was worth - as an almost knackered bus would be worth more in parts than a whole unit. It might have been better for them to run a number of contracted/tendered routes and a single commercial route with a fixed number of vehicles plus a couple of spares.

Now I'll give them credit for at least trying.

 

[Leyland Bus]

Sadly some people want the top of the range stuff to show off to the ladies. I don't see the point myself, as you should only spend cash on what is really nessasary e.g. food, cheap clothing (not the named stuff) and walk where possible otherwise use the cheapest mode of transport available even if it mean going by car (an old banger will do).


I think that by obtaining an almost life expired vehicle an then running it until it fails isn't what I'd call a great idea, as this will have cost a lot more that what it was worth - as an almost knackered bus would be worth more in parts than a whole unit. It might have been better for them to run a number of contracted/tendered routes and a single commercial route with a fixed number of vehicles plus a couple of spares.

Now I'll give them credit for at least trying.

Interesting that you think folk should drive "an old banger" of a car as it's cheap but that YB running a life expired bus (which would have been cheap to buy) is a bad idea because it would cost more to run than its worth...

 

[mattb7tl]

I think that by obtaining an almost life expired vehicle an then running it until it fails isn't what I'd call a great idea, as this will have cost a lot more that what it was worth - as an almost knackered bus would be worth more in parts than a whole unit. It might have been better for them to run a number of contracted/tendered routes and a single commercial route with a fixed number of vehicles plus a couple of spares.

Now I'll give them credit for at least trying.

That kind of economics does not really apply to a small independent operator in the way it would to a larger company. They simply do not have fifteen years worth of accumulated revenue sitting in reserve to go out and purchase new or even reasonably modern vehicles. For them, the calculation is not 'is this bus worth more in parts than as a whole unit?' but instead 'can this bus turn a wheel tomorrow morning and generate income?'

The concept of market value becomes almost irrelevant in that context. To a large operator or an investor, a near end of life bus might look like a liability. But to a small independent scraping together the beginnings of a network, that same bus has something closer to infinite practical value, because without it, there is no service, no revenue, no business, and no future.

 

[RT4038]

That kind of economics does not really apply to a small independent operator in the way it would to a larger company. They simply do not have fifteen years worth of accumulated revenue sitting in reserve to go out and purchase new or even reasonably modern vehicles. For them, the calculation is not 'is this bus worth more in parts than as a whole unit?' but instead 'can this bus turn a wheel tomorrow morning and generate income?'

The concept of market value becomes almost irrelevant in that context. To a large operator or an investor, a near end of life bus might look like a liability. But to a small independent scraping together the beginnings of a network, that same bus has something closer to infinite practical value, because without it, there is no service, no revenue, no business, and no future.

Except, of course, a near end of life bus will likely require much more spent on it to keep it running and run a greater risk of in service failure thereby affecting reputation and potential revenue going forward.

All the more important is not to have a rose tinted view on what might be commercial - there is usually a good reason why the larger bus companies have given up on all sorts of routes; and to consider the cash flow, particularly for unexpected events.

 

[Ballyheigue]

Except, of course, a near end of life bus will likely require much more spent on it to keep it running and run a greater risk of in service failure thereby affecting reputation and potential revenue going forward.

All the more important is not to have a rose tinted view on what might be commercial - there is usually a good reason why the larger bus companies have given up on all sorts of routes; and to consider the cash flow, particularly for unexpected events.

Everyone was saying how puzzled they are at such a high turnover of vehicles, but it's exactly that what's kept the company afloat. Buy a cheap roadworthy vehicle that's more or less in good nick, run it until it becomes too costly for what you're prepared to spend on repairs, withdraw it, sell it for scrap, buy another cheap vehicle that's in reasonably good nick and roadworthy, rinse and repeat.

When you're short of a bus or two, say whilst waiting for a replacement to come on the market, hire in the odd bus or two from friends, and you can also run the coach in public service from time to time, you know, that big underused white thing what you normally use on private hire work but there isn't enough of it.

Yes Yorkshire buses management didn't think things through timetable wise, but they had their head screwed on when it came to vehicles!

 

[Leyland Bus]

Interestingly, an ex YB B9 was sat outside Reed Commercials this morning with what looked like front accident damage. Didn't think til later to clock the reg... I'm due back tomorrow so will see if it is still there.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Apr 2026 ==

Interestingly, an ex YB B9 was sat outside Reed Commercials this morning with what looked like front accident damage. Didn't think til later to clock the reg... I'm due back tomorrow so will see if it is still there.

BN61 MXY. Apparently owned by a leasing company and the front end damaged was not the drivers fault.

 

[BuhSnarf]

When you're short of a bus or two, say whilst waiting for a replacement to come on the market, hire in the odd bus or two from friends, and you can also run the coach in public service from time to time, you know, that big underused white thing what you normally use on private hire work but there isn't enough of it.

Yes, wasn't this the company that the YouTuber And More Central loaned a Dennis Dart to?

 

[mayneway]

Everyone was saying how puzzled they are at such a high turnover of vehicles, but it's exactly that what's kept the company afloat. Buy a cheap roadworthy vehicle that's more or less in good nick, run it until it becomes too costly for what you're prepared to spend on repairs, withdraw it, sell it for scrap, buy another cheap vehicle that's in reasonably good nick and roadworthy, rinse and repeat.

When you're short of a bus or two, say whilst waiting for a replacement to come on the market, hire in the odd bus or two from friends, and you can also run the coach in public service from time to time, you know, that big underused white thing what you normally use on private hire work but there isn't enough of it.

Yes Yorkshire buses management didn't think things through timetable wise, but they had their head screwed on when it came to vehicles!

You’re so so wrong and they certainly didn’t have their head screwed on.
There’s a very big difference between buying and leasing vehicles. When your forced to lease life expired vehicles that spend more time off road than on it their lies your problem.

And when your forced to ‘borrow’ preserved enthusiast owned vehicles that just makes matters worse.

As I’ve said previously, playing at running a bus company will only ever end one way.

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

Yes, wasn't this the company that the YouTuber And More Central loaned a Dennis Dart to?

YB hired it, but yes they had one of his.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Everyone was saying how puzzled they are at such a high turnover of vehicles, but it's exactly that what's kept the company afloat. Buy a cheap roadworthy vehicle that's more or less in good nick, run it until it becomes too costly for what you're prepared to spend on repairs, withdraw it, sell it for scrap, buy another cheap vehicle that's in reasonably good nick and roadworthy, rinse and repeat.

Running a company isn’t the same as running a household budget.

From the profit and loss you’re either paying the depreciation on a vehicle or you’re paying the leasing costs of a vehicle. Leasing a E200MMC in dealer white is often no more expensive than the depreciation on a bus that’s 12 or 13 years old.

The advantage to buying is that, once the vehicle is fully depreciated, you still have a bus. But that’s only helpful if it isn’t costing you a fortune to maintain it because it is old and clapped out.

I’m sceptical about bus companies who routinely buy very old buses.

 

[Cesarcollie]

Running a company isn’t the same as running a household budget.

From the profit and loss you’re either paying the depreciation on a vehicle or you’re paying the leasing costs of a vehicle. Leasing a E200MMC in dealer white is often no more expensive than the depreciation on a bus that’s 12 or 13 years old.

The advantage to buying is that, once the vehicle is fully depreciated, you still have a bus. But that’s only helpful if it isn’t costing you a fortune to maintain it because it is old and clapped out.

I’m sceptical about bus companies who routinely buy very old buses.

Leasing an E200MMC is very considerably more expensive than buying an old banger! The leasing company charge will reflect depreciation, interest, and of course a profit margin. Plus the return conditions will require the repair of every single dent, blemish and mechanical defect (or carry a hefty charge to undertake the work). Lease charges could easily be £500 - £1000 per week depending on vehicle age/type. Maintenance will of course be less than an older bus, but the difference will still be nowhere near the lease costs.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Metro have provided an update on their website regarding services formerly operated by Yorkshire Buses. From 1 June, Arriva will operate Evening & Sunday journeys on the 118 between Wakefield and White Rose Centre. Service 1 will not be replaced.

From Monday 1 June, Arriva will be operating the Evening & Sunday journeys for service 118 between Wakefield and the White Rose Centre. Here is the timetable

Service 1 will not be replaced.

https://www.wymetro.com/plan-a-journey/travel-news/bus-travel-alerts/yorkshire-buses/