Bus Services In West Yorkshire
Mar 23, 2024 21:37:16 GMT
47701ooc, busoccultation, and 1 more like this
Post by SILENCED on Mar 23, 2024 21:37:16 GMT
Right I meant to do more of these, the plan was to do First Bradford next, but Bradford was one of the places in West Yorkshire that did not impress me much ... maybe I will get around to it.
Getting back to Halifax and Huddersfield, 2024 has probably seen more changes over past 2 months, than probably the previous 2 years.
First off we had the BSIP improvements on the Huddersfield - Halifax corridor in February, with the long standing trunk route 503 withdrawn. It's replacement was the 501, which used to run just early mornings and evenings, is now all day 7 days a week and the X1. Both of these run every 15 minutes during the days, with later and earlier journeys introduced. The 501, is basically the old 503 north of the M62, but diverting via Lindsey and the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary (now that is a word that is common up north and not used down here), so slightly longer journey times than the 503. The X1 is not really an express, it stops at all stops but just misses the diversion via West Vale into Elland, instead going up the directly up the dual carriage way, with a small diversion into Elland, so slightly quicker than the old 503. The 372 was cut back from Lindley to Huddersfield as a result of the 501s introduction. A few other service changes meant 3 12-reg Enviro 400s were drafted into Halifax from First Greater Manchester, with the 549 transfering to Huddersfield garage, who recieived 3 x 08-reg B7RLEs from First York reintroducing the Urban Eclipse body back into the garage.
Now March, and we have the Manchester Bee Network come along, taking the 184 Huddersfield - Oldham route under their wing, so Stagecoach re-enters Huddersfield. So with 184 going, First have taken the opportunity to renumber the 18x routes, into the 38x routes as per the standard Huddersfield numbering sequence. It should be noted they chose not to renumber them to the original 3xx numbers.
Fleets wise ... the First West Yorkshire B7TL should be no more. As a result of the Manchester changes, in addition to the 3 Enviro 400s mentioned above, another 9 seem to have made their way Halifax. Additionally, 2 of 5 63-reg E400 have arrived from First Potteries, with the other 3 reported as expected to follow. So Halifax now has all 18 of the 14-reg native West Yorkshire E400s, 12 12-regs ex Manchester and 2 (maybe 5) 63-reg ex The Potteries. This will allow the final 3 B7TLs at the 'fax to be withdrawn, and release B9TLs. These are said to be for Huddersfield, so their last B7TLs can be withdrawn and to First Cornwall (Kernow). Indeed, the 5 ex Metroline Gemini 2s at Halifax have reportedly gone over to Huddersfield, to join the 5 already there and the 5 ex Yellow Buses 14-reg examples, meaning Huddersfield now operate all the West Yorkshire G2s.
Meanwhile over in Leeds, we have just seen the introduction of the Streetdeck and GB Kyte Electroliners into Bramley Garage. Additionally 12 58-reg ex Manchester B9TLs have moved over to Hunslet Park. This has resulted in some 67-reg Streetdecks moving to Olive Grove (Sheffield) at First South Yorkshire
**EDIT** 2 more of the E400s from The Potteries cames over, so 1 remains outstanding 33827
Getting back to Halifax and Huddersfield, 2024 has probably seen more changes over past 2 months, than probably the previous 2 years.
First off we had the BSIP improvements on the Huddersfield - Halifax corridor in February, with the long standing trunk route 503 withdrawn. It's replacement was the 501, which used to run just early mornings and evenings, is now all day 7 days a week and the X1. Both of these run every 15 minutes during the days, with later and earlier journeys introduced. The 501, is basically the old 503 north of the M62, but diverting via Lindsey and the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary (now that is a word that is common up north and not used down here), so slightly longer journey times than the 503. The X1 is not really an express, it stops at all stops but just misses the diversion via West Vale into Elland, instead going up the directly up the dual carriage way, with a small diversion into Elland, so slightly quicker than the old 503. The 372 was cut back from Lindley to Huddersfield as a result of the 501s introduction. A few other service changes meant 3 12-reg Enviro 400s were drafted into Halifax from First Greater Manchester, with the 549 transfering to Huddersfield garage, who recieived 3 x 08-reg B7RLEs from First York reintroducing the Urban Eclipse body back into the garage.
Now March, and we have the Manchester Bee Network come along, taking the 184 Huddersfield - Oldham route under their wing, so Stagecoach re-enters Huddersfield. So with 184 going, First have taken the opportunity to renumber the 18x routes, into the 38x routes as per the standard Huddersfield numbering sequence. It should be noted they chose not to renumber them to the original 3xx numbers.
Fleets wise ... the First West Yorkshire B7TL should be no more. As a result of the Manchester changes, in addition to the 3 Enviro 400s mentioned above, another 9 seem to have made their way Halifax. Additionally, 2 of 5 63-reg E400 have arrived from First Potteries, with the other 3 reported as expected to follow. So Halifax now has all 18 of the 14-reg native West Yorkshire E400s, 12 12-regs ex Manchester and 2 (maybe 5) 63-reg ex The Potteries. This will allow the final 3 B7TLs at the 'fax to be withdrawn, and release B9TLs. These are said to be for Huddersfield, so their last B7TLs can be withdrawn and to First Cornwall (Kernow). Indeed, the 5 ex Metroline Gemini 2s at Halifax have reportedly gone over to Huddersfield, to join the 5 already there and the 5 ex Yellow Buses 14-reg examples, meaning Huddersfield now operate all the West Yorkshire G2s.
Meanwhile over in Leeds, we have just seen the introduction of the Streetdeck and GB Kyte Electroliners into Bramley Garage. Additionally 12 58-reg ex Manchester B9TLs have moved over to Hunslet Park. This has resulted in some 67-reg Streetdecks moving to Olive Grove (Sheffield) at First South Yorkshire
**EDIT** 2 more of the E400s from The Potteries cames over, so 1 remains outstanding 33827