A major Dewsbury bus route has been saved from the axe after being scrapped by Arriva amid the ongoing driver shortage.
Arriva took the decision to withdraw its 212 Dewsbury to Wakefield service in its latest round of cuts, but the West Yorkshire Combined Authority has been able to retender the service so passengers do not lose out. Yesterday (January 5), on Arriva’s website, Kim Cain, Area Director for Arriva Yorkshire apologised that services have not been performing at the levels passengers “rightly expect” and said that the operator is “determined” to change this.
The website explains that “targeted changes” are being made to the network and timetable to improve services, with these being implemented from this month. It adds: “Despite recruiting more than 300 new drivers since the start of the year, these measures are essential to improve services for customers given the ongoing shortage of drivers. Following a comprehensive review of the usage of every journey on the network, some of the least used journeys will no longer run, and some have been amended.”
As for the 212, Yorkshire Buses will now run the service, which connects Wakefield, Kirkhamgate, Batley, Dewsbury and District Hospital, and Dewsbury. A revised timetable will be introduced from Sunday, January 5, providing better coordination with the 213 service between Dewsbury, the hospital, and Batley.
One journey in each direction will operate via Woodkirk Academy during school times, and late afternoon journeys will also serve Kirkhamgate. The Combined Authority will also fund new evening services on the route – with four additional journeys in each direction – plus an enhanced Sunday service which will operate every hour.
The Combined Authority says it is looking at other ways it can support other socially necessary services to continue running.
Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said: “I am delighted we have been able to step in and work with Yorkshire Buses to save a service that is so important to so many people. This is just one example of how we are taking control of services to support passengers who are being let down by Arriva’s appalling bus cuts.
“While we are working at pace to bring buses back under public control, this shows we are committed to keeping West Yorkshire connected in the here and now.”
Managing Director of Yorkshire Buses Steve Carr said: “We are excited to help re-launch the 212 with increased services, helping to improve connectivity across West Yorkshire. We have been busy preparing for the start of services on Sunday, January 5, with 11 new team members joining us, and we are looking forward to restoring and improving this important link.”
To check the new service timetable, visit here.
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