By John Baron
The lifeline number 9 Horsforth to White Rose Centre bus service has been saved, the company behind the rescue has revealed today.
The service had been under threat as one of the routes First West Yorkshire was planning to axe due to low passengers on Sunday, April 2.
But independent company Yorkshire Buses have stepped in just days before the service was due to end, partially supported by West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
The service goes through Farsley, Rodley, Pudsey, Farnley and parts of Wortley. It will operate hourly 5.35am to 9.35pm (Monday to Friday) and 6.35am to 6.35pm on Saturdays from Horsforth, and hourly from 5.40am to 9.40pm (Monday to Friday) and 5.40am to 6.40pm (Saturdays) from White Rose Centre.
Yorkshire Buses will operate the evening journeys on a trial basis until late May to assess demand, with continuation beyond that point dependent on usage.
Yorkshire Buses posted on social media: “After lots of phone calls, e-mails and whiteboard pens later we believe that, after working together with WYCA and various councillors across Leeds, we have come up with a solution that will get the best out of the 9 service!
“We will begin to operate the 9 service from 3 April with an enhanced timetable including added trips during peak times.”
Councillor Peter Carlill (Lab, Calverley & Farsley) welcomed the news. He said: “Following First Bus’ announcement of withdrawal from the number 9 service, I had asked the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to discuss options with other operators.
“It’s excellent news that Yorkshire Buses have agreed to operate a replacement service from Monday, partially supported by the Combined Authority. Many thanks to them for taking this on and working swiftly to ensure no loss of service for residents, and I will continue discussions about the other route removals in the area.”
Cllr Carlill has also been deputy chair of the West Yorkshire Transport Committee on West Yorkshire Combined Authority for the past 10 months.
Pudsey councillor Simon Seary (Cons) also posted his delight on social media. He said: “Fantastic to share with you that Yorkshire Buses will now be taking on the number 9 service, a service that I know many students and adults use daily to access work, college and shopping and will be providing a much needed hourly bus service.
“Thank you to all the residents who contacted me and shared their need for this service to continue and I’m thankful that the combined authority assisted.”
And Cllr Trish Smith (Cons, Pudsey) added: “Very pleased to have just received this information. I know many residents, and especially the parents of young people attending Elliot Hudson College, will be interested in this.”
Pudsey Labour Party had also campaigned against the cut and had collected a petition containing more than 500 names against the service being axed.
As previously reported, there will also be a reduced timetable on the X11 Leeds – Pudsey – Bradford route with some early and late journeys being cut completely, and an hourly service introduced on the number 14 service between Pudsey and Leeds.
The 508 Halifax to Leeds service will be rerouted to operate along the ring road and Stanningley Bypass so miss out Farsley, Rodley and Bramley.
Thank you WLD for highlighting these bus services that were being cut by FirstBus. Your support along with the hard work of activists, councillors, the combined authority and the 539 people who hard signed our petition have all contributed to the reinstatement of the Number 9, Ring Road bus.
We need to now continue to work towards saving the other services being axed by FirstBus.
Pudsey Labour Party will continue this fight.
That’s good news, but the greater loss is in the alteration to the 508. This was the quickest service into Leeds from Farsley. Why the rerouting? Please explain how this benefits the operator. The present route gives access to all the retail/ leisure in the Kirkstall area. In future getting there would take hours rather than minutes.
Quite agree with Leslie Plumb the 508 needs to stay on the original route, it’s the quickest way to get to work as it uses bus lanes, the 16 and 49 take a good 15/20 minutes longer to get into Leeds.
Do First Bus ask commuters their opinion on these changes? Also these people making the changes never use the buses so have no idea how annoying these changes are.
Thank you to all who got the no.9 running again
No, they don’t ask. It’s all about money I’m afraid – buses are solely a business, not a service these days
Pleased about the Number 9 bus service. Something that the West Yorkshire Mayor and has-been actress Tracy Brabin never sorted, like she said she would recently on BBC Radio Leeds. But very pleased all the same.
The women’s a total disaster sad to say as a woman dont Vote her back in she’s wasted Millions she should get back to her day job
( as a bit part actress ) in Leeds 15 we’ve lost the no 9 that took you from Leeds 15 into Leeds 14 now all gone even though it was only run hourly at least it was there. It now takes 2 buses & 2 & half hours to get to my family’s house from Whitkirk a bus into Town & another out to Leeds 8 Roundhay bu taxi 25/30 mins cost £10.00 each way by bus direct should be 20mins but that was 15 years ago Leeds I’d now the City that’s GONE BACKWARDS .
Awesome news,I rely on this service to get me to and from work….without this service it’s a 2x bus ride in and out of leeds to and from work adding over 2 hours on a 12 hour shift. Big thanks
Good news about the 9 service, though only a trial period. However not many will be planning on using it when there’s no timetable to be found on the internet (I can’t read the one on here when magnified as it’s blurred) and the bus app and bus stop indicators don’t show the information either.
hello! What happens with the service the last days the bus is not passing in the morning at the hour (8:22) by Rodley town