West Yorkshire invests £229 million in bus infrastructure and fleet

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority in England entered into two major agreements to overhaul its regional bus network. FirstGroup signed a £109 million deal covering five depots, infrastructure, and 330 buses, including 79 battery-electric vehicles. Additionally, the authority is spending £120 million on more than 250 new buses through a separate program.

These investments support the Weaver Network, a franchised system where the authority specifies services and keeps passenger revenue while private companies operate the routes.

By securing depots and fleet assets, the authority aims to reduce dependence on single operators and make it easier for different companies to bid on future contracts without having to build their own facilities. The project faces challenges because buses, operating contracts, and infrastructure have different lifespans. While an operating contract might last five to seven years, depot buildings and high-capacity electricity connections can remain useful for decades.

The authority arranged a staged transition where depot sales are complete, but buses will transfer as new franchises begin operating between May 2027 and October 2028. Electrification adds complexity because charging equipment and power connections involve different suppliers and construction schedules than the vehicles themselves. The authority must ensure that the infrastructure it pays for today can adapt to future changes in passenger demand, such as new housing developments or relocated employment centers, without requiring expensive reconstruction.