First Bus and Transdev Sign First Weaver Network Contracts

West Yorkshire has signed its first bus franchising contracts, marking the moment the region's Weaver Network moves from blueprint to reality. First Bus has been chosen to run services from the Bramley and Huddersfield strategic depots, while Transdev Blazefield will operate out of Dewsbury, following a competitive procurement process that has run for the best part of a year.

 

West Yorkshire Combined Authority

It's a significant milestone for Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin, who confirmed back in March 2024 that the region would follow Manchester and Liverpool in bringing buses back under public control. "I promised to bring buses back under public control and today is a landmark moment for bus franchising," Brabin said. "For the first time, operators will run buses on behalf of the people of West Yorkshire, to standards set by us."

What's changing

Currently, more than 80% of West Yorkshire's bus network is run commercially, with private operators setting their own routes, frequencies and timetables while the Combined Authority subsidises additional services and cheaper fares. Franchising flips that relationship. Under the new model, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) will own the majority of buses and depots on the larger contracts, and will set routes, fares and service standards across the board, with operators contracted to deliver services on its behalf.

The contracts signed this week cover services registered to the Bramley, Dewsbury and Huddersfield depots specifically, rather than every route in those areas. Further announcements on smaller contracts and school services are expected in the coming weeks, following the same pattern WYCA used when it opened its dynamic market for operators last year.

Graham Sutherland, Chief Executive of FirstGroup, welcomed the award:

"This is a milestone for public transport in West Yorkshire, and we're excited to help shape the next chapter of bus travel across the region. Drawing on our experience in the London contract and Manchester franchise market, we look forward to working in partnership with the Combined Authority to deliver a network of high-quality bus services."

Transdev Blazefield Managing Director Henri Rohard struck a similar note, saying the operator was "delighted to have been awarded and signed the Weaver Network contract for bus services in the Dewsbury area" a natural extension of Transdev's existing footprint in the region, which already includes the electric eCitaro rollout between Bradford and Keighley.

A new fleet to match

The franchising rollout is being backed by serious investment in vehicles. WYCA has already signed a deal worth up to £100 million with Wrightbus for 193 single and double-deck electric buses, each fitted with two wheelchair spaces, flexible luggage and pushchair space, and USB charging points. These will enter service as the Weaver Network launches, replacing the patchwork of liveries currently running under the West Yorkshire Metro brand.

Following Manchester and Liverpool

West Yorkshire becomes the third English region to sign franchised bus contracts, after Greater Manchester's Bee Network brought buses back into public hands and the Liverpool City Region named its first franchise operators earlier this year, ahead of St Helens becoming the first area to go live under public control this September. It's a trend playing out beyond England too, with Wales also exploring franchising for its own bus network.

For West Yorkshire, the first Weaver Network services are scheduled to launch in Spring 2027, with franchising then introduced in phases across the region through to the end of 2028, a timeline that mirrors the phased approach Liverpool has taken with St Helens, Wirral, and the rest of the city region following in turn.

Full details of the contract award are available via First Bus's official announcement, and further background on the procurement process can be found on the West Yorkshire Combined Authority's news pages.

Bus Ambassador will continue to track the Weaver Network rollout as further contracts are confirmed.