Growth in passenger numbers of 8.8% on East Yorkshire Buses routes into York across FY2025-26 will be followed up by an investment of more than £3.1 million into 11 new Alexander Dennis Enviro400 double-deck buses over the coming months for two of those services.
The new Enviro400s will be used on the X46 and X47 corridor, which run between Hull and York. Those services sit alongside the X45, which runs between Driffield and York. Across the three X-prefixed routes, patronage rose by 10.8% over the period in question.
Go-Ahead Group subsidiary East Yorkshire says the uplifts seen in York reflect “growing confidence in bus travel and… the success of continued investment in services, vehicles and customer experience, alongside strong partnerships with local authorities across the region.”
The X45, X46 and X47 corridor is now one of the operator’s flagships, giving fast and frequent connections into York. Success of those services is described as “especially encouraging” by Commercial Director Stuart Fillingham.
In addition to new vehicles, on 12 July East Yorkshire Buses will launch contactless tap on, tap off payments, a move that is being funded through the East Riding of Yorkshire Council. Use of that system will automatically calculate best-value fares and speed boarding.
Adds Mr Fillingham: “This is just the beginning. The arrival of our new buses and the launch of tap on, tap off will make travelling with us even easier, while our continued partnership with local authorities will help us to keep improving services for existing customers and attract even more people to the bus.”
City of York Council Executive Member for Transport Cllr Kate Ravilious has welcomed the growth in patronage for East Yorkshire’s routes into the city.
“It goes to show that when buses are reliable, easy to use, affordable and a comfortable way to travel, it really works,” she says. “With proposed bus priority measures such as the Rougier Street improvements aiming to make these routes even more attractive and reliable, we anticipate that even more people will choose to travel by bus.
“Combined with East Yorkshire Buses’ investment in its fleet, it gives us huge confidence in helping to deliver our ambitions for a healthier, more accessible and more affordable transport network across York.”
