A York bus route that was under threat of being axed has been saved and relaunched under a new operator.
East Yorkshire Buses has taken over the number 12 route from Monday (3 April).
It will operate the service for at least two years, as its contract with City of York Council runs until March 2025.
The number 12, which runs between Foxwood Lane, Woodthorpe, York city centre, Elmfield Avenue and Monks Cross.
It will operate under a new brand, York Locals. These buses will feature a branding design to raise awareness of the new service, as well as “comfortable interiors, USB charging points, and next stop announcements – ensuring that customers get a top-quality experience from the second they step on board”.
The route, previously run by First York, look set to be axed in January, due to a slow recovery in passenger numbers, increased operating costs and a shortage of drivers.
Then the council stepped in with a £59K subsidy to keep it operating till March. That followed a campaign launched by Liberal Democrat councillors and campaigners to save the bus, with more than a thousand residents signing a petition.
The new contract with East Yorkshire is funded by the Bus Service Improvement Plan grant from the government.
There is a a potential option to extend the contract for up to an additional three years.
Stuart Fillingham, East Yorkshire’s head of commercial, said: “East Yorkshire Buses are delighted to be operating Service 12, and look forward to welcoming our new customers along the route.
“We are committed to operating buses in a way that helps put our services at the heart of the communities they serve, so look forward to proactively engaging with our customers, our partners at City of York Council, and other local stakeholders to grow patronage on this service.”
You can find out more on the East Yorkshire Buses website.
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