Keighley’s buses are better than ever – that’s the message from Transdev’s subsidiary and local operator the Keighley Bus Company after successfully launching more journeys on its popular town network, with twice as many trips now up and running on its most popular routes to drive Keighley’s business recovery from COVID-19.
This is the result of a pioneering joint network plan, working diligently in partnership with Metro, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s (WYCA) travel network. The Keighley Bus Company’s parent firm Transdev has reviewed changing travel patterns alongside the transport authority to create a new bus network for Keighley.
More frequent buses are now running on many routes with up to double the current number of journeys on selected services – with the aim of attracting around 10,000 more customer journeys a week. The network is provided by a modern fleet of ultra- low emission buses that are fully Clean Air Zone compliant, all with ‘talking bus’ technology.
The bus firm says it’s encouraged by progress made so far in attracting people back to its buses since lockdown restrictions lifted, with busiest routes on its Keighley network reporting customer numbers reaching over 90 per cent of pre-COVID levels.
It’s now hoped the successful launch of Keighley’s buses could provide a template for future partnership working in West Yorkshire to deliver wider improvements from the £830 million awarded to the region as part of West Yorkshire’s Bus Service Improvement Program (BSIP), delivered as part of the UK Government’s National Bus Strategy.
We’ve now introduced a better bus service for Keighley, following our first positive network review in West Yorkshire since pandemic travel restrictions were lifted. We’ve analyzed current travel patterns in and around the town as well as emerging trends post-lockdown – now we’re bouncing back with more buses, more often. What we are most proud of is the pioneering approach of planners from both Transdev and WYCA sitting in the same room to plan the most effective network. These improvements show our commitment to Keighley’s recovery and for us, this is just the beginning. We want to build on the multi-million-pound investment by Transdev in new, Euro VI ultra-low emission buses, by working with our partners at WYCA to support businesses and the local economy.
Alex Hornby, Transdev’s CEO in the UK
This is good news for the people and businesses of Keighley, and it’s great to see this progressive approach in adding more services where they are needed and in line with people’s changing travel patterns. Keighley residents need to be able to rely on regular buses for getting to work, school and college and for leisure so this is a really positive result from our constructive partnership working with The Keighley Bus Company. Good transport will be key to a strong post-pandemic economic recovery.
Councilor Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council and Chair of the Transport Committee at West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Full details of all the changes are online now at keighleybus.co.uk, while new printed timetables are available on buses and from our shop at Keighley Bus Station, as well as other local outlets throughout the town.