West Yorkshire Combined Authority has agreed a deal to purchase five major depots from FirstGroup as part of preparations for the region’s publicly owned bus network.
A total of five sites, in Bradford, Bramley, Halifax, Huddersfield and Hunslet, will help to house the fleet of Weaver Network buses, set to be introduced to the region’s roads in 2027 and 2028.
It follows the announcement during the summer that £120 million would be spent on more than 250 brand new buses to be used in rounds one and two of the new publicly owned Weaver Network, with more funding to follow in round three.
Round one services – covering Kirklees and parts of Leeds – will run from Spring 2027.
Services in round two, set to be introduced in early 2028, will mainly cover parts of Leeds and Wakefield.
Meanwhile, round three in Autumn 2028 will include services covering the rest of West Yorkshire, including Bradford, Calderdale and parts of Wakefield.
Further procurement processes awarding contracts to operators to provide drivers and run services are ongoing.
Graham Sutherland, Chief Executive of FirstGroup, said: “This is an important milestone in the delivery of the Weaver Network and we are pleased to have reached an agreement with the Combined Authority on the sale of these assets.
“We are looking forward to partnering with the Combined Authority to deliver its ambition for the Weaver Network.
“We will continue to serve the people of West Yorkshire, connecting communities, supporting local growth, and making public transport an attractive choice for more people.”
