The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) has approved delaying the start of phase one of its bus franchising process by one month to allow operators bidding for contracts more time.
The decision at a meeting on 12 March means the first franchised services in the region are scheduled for mid-May 2027 rather than April.
Contract awards are now expected to made by the end of June for the first round of franchising in Dewsbury, Huddersfield and one of two Leeds zones.
Speaking at the meeting, at which a report was presented on the progress towards franchising, Liz Hunter, Interim Executive Director for Transport, said the tender process had “generated significant interest from a range of operators”.
She adds: “We have, as you would expect, been engaging with the bidders through this process and answering a significant volume of relevant questions. A number of operators have asked for additional time to complete their bids.”
The schedule for completion of the full roll-out of franchising by the end of 2028 remains on course.
The proposal to delay the start of franchising had been exempted from the advance publication of meeting reports.
At the meeting, the board also progressed plans for the first, purpose-built Weaver Network bus depot, which would have capacity for 125 battery-electric buses.
Also receiving the go-ahead was the acquisition of Heckmondwike Bus Station through a long lease from Kirklees Council.
The authority also decided that, from the start bus franchising, it would subsidise free bus travel for disabled ENCTS pass-holders.
WYCA also confirmed plans to supply electronic ticket machines and automatic vehicle location technology for all buses in the franchised fleet to enable simpler, integrated ticketing.
