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| Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire |
Some of my followers on X (formerly Twitter), Mastodon and Bluesky may have noticed that I have posted some news about the bus franchising plans in West Yorkshire.
The Onboard Buses Consultation Outcome Report, published in February 2026, details the findings of a public engagement exercise regarding the design of new "Weaver Network" buses. These vehicles are scheduled to begin operating across West Yorkshire from April 2027, following the decision to bring bus services under local control through franchising. The consultation, which ran from 11 November to 21 December 2025, aimed to gather diverse perspectives on the interior features and accessibility of the new fleet to ensure they meet the needs of all passengers.West Yorkshire invests tens of millions in Weaver Network buses, with public control, upgraded stations, new zero‑emission depots, and all-day free travel for disabled passengers, supporting accessible, reliable transport across the region. www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/news/tens-of...
— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) March 12, 2026 at 7:01 PM
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A total of 4,927 questionnaire responses were received, supplemented by qualitative feedback from approximately 1,180 people involved in targeted engagement. This included sessions with six accessibility groups, primary schools, and various community organisations. An Equality Impact Assessment identified that the project would be particularly significant for younger and older people, disabled passengers, and those in the pregnancy and maternity group. The findings will now inform final design decisions to improve the quality, safety, and inclusivity of public transport in the region.
Accessibility and Interior Layout
The consultation revealed a strong preference for designs that accommodate multiple mobility needs simultaneously.
Wheelchair layout options:
Preferred Layout (Option C): This was the most popular configuration, particularly among those with mobility needs. It includes two dedicated wheelchair spaces plus a separate flexible area for prams.
70% of wheelchair users and 68% of mobility scooter users ranked this as their first choice.
61% of pram users also preferred this layout.
Seating Priorities: There is a clear call for better enforcement and signage regarding "priority" and "preferential" seating.
7% of respondents specifically suggested that wheelchair users should be prioritised over prams in shared spaces.
9% of respondents suggested installing comfortable folding seats in wheelchair or pram zones to maximise space when these are not in use.
Mobility Aids: Beyond wheelchairs, the report noted the needs of passengers using walking aids, assistance dogs, and white canes, all of whom reported higher comfort levels when preferential seating is available.
Doors, Ramps, and Boarding
Improving the physical process of getting on and off the bus was a major theme in the feedback.
Double Doors: 5% of respondents suggested a "dual-door" design (entry at the front, exit in the middle) to reduce boarding congestion and improve the flow for wheelchair and pram users.
Ramp Technology: There was a strong preference for electric ramps to ensure quick and easy boarding, but with a crucial caveat:
7% of respondents insisted that electric ramps must have a manual backup in case of mechanical or sensor failure.
10% believed electric ramps would improve punctuality, though an equal 10% were concerned about their long-term reliability.
Driver Standards: Concerns were raised regarding driver attitudes toward deploying manual ramps and the tendency for buses to pull up too far from the kerb, making ramps difficult to use.
Audio-Visual Systems
The reliability of information was cited as just as important as the information itself.
Visual Displays: Many respondents reported that current screens are often frozen or display incorrect data.
Suggestions were made for high-contrast text and for screens to be positioned so they are visible to wheelchair users, who often face away from standard screen locations.
Audio Announcements: While generally supported, 242 respondents expressed a preference for no audio, or at least reduced volume, noting that current announcements can be too loud or annoying.
There was a specific request for "real-time" updates regarding delays and for announcements to be made well in advance of a stop.
External Displays: Passengers requested that bus numbers and destinations be displayed on the front, side, and rear of the vehicle to improve visibility from all angles.
Flooring and Comfort
Safety and Grip: 91% of respondents identified a non-slip surface as the most important flooring feature. There were specific requests for flooring to be kept dry, as wet weather currently makes many bus floors dangerously slippery.
Seat Materials: While synthetic leather is preferred for hygiene and ease of cleaning, passengers noted it can be "sticky" in summer, "cold" in winter, and occasionally too slippery.
Climate Control: Most users agreed that a consistent year-round temperature between 19°C and 22°C is the ideal range for comfort.
Regarding the question ‘If there is anything more you would like to tell us to explain your answer, please use this box’, there were 46 comments suggesting bus designs with multiple doors, entries, and exits.
In another table, regarding the question ‘Please let us know if you have any further comments about how we should design the inside of our buses’, there were 21 comments suggesting the inclusion of double or triple doors.
Taking a brief look at the Bus Specification Options Report:
Bus Specification
To protect the delivery dates and make sure vehicles were available on time, the procurement activity had to commenced in advance of a finalised bus specification being completed. The Combined Authority used expert technical support to develop an outline specification, using existing specifications created by existing mayoral authorities such as (TfL and TfGM) as a guide. The technical specification covered a range of topics such as:
• Regulatory and compliance – covering legislative requirements such as the Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations and fire safety regulations.
• Dimensions, weight and capacity
• Safety systems – Fire safety, security, driver assist systems
• Environmental and Powertrain – Emissions requirements.
• Efficiency requirements – battery capacity of range, diesel range
• Onboard Systems – CCTV, ticket machines and communications and connectivity equipment
• Accessibility – Flooring, seating and wheelchair accessibility requirements, audio-visual announcement system requirements
• Occupant experience – Heating, ventilation and air conditioning, seating types, USB charge points
• Aesthetics – Internal and external branding and livery, route and destination display requirements, advertising boards
Where key decisions on customer facing options were required, the specification requested options be provided. This specification was included in the contract documents sent out as part of the procurement activity. The options are set out below.
[...]
Further Elements
As well as specification questions, the public consultation also asked the public for feedback on other elements of the on-bus experience. These elements did not relate to clear finite options and therefore were not scored in the assessment. However, this feedback will be incorporated into further work that will inform how systems are configured and operated. Further feedback on colours and appearance will also help with the internal branding project.
Creative or Decorative Features
The consultation asked for opinions on creative or decorative features that could be incorporated into the internal design of new buses. There was general support for designs showing local landmarks and/or creative pieces by local artists/poets. Other comments asking for priority for simple designs, accessible design and calm colours This feedback will be incorporated into the internal branding work.
Double Door Provision
Throughout the consultation process, received many views were put forward expressing support for double door vehicles and concern/disappointment that this was out of scope. Feedback from the public consultation suggests that double door buses are more attractive to wheelchair and mobility scooter users as boarding at the front of a bus is difficult due to bus designs making the front-end narrow and difficult to navigate.
Double doors can shorten dwell-times at bus stops and can improve punctuality on busy routes and are used on most routes in London.
However, London public transport has many characteristics that are different to the rest of the country. Due to the multicentric nature of London more passengers board and alight along a route than services which collect passengers and ultimately deliver them to a single location like a bus station or city centre.
However, in West Yorkshire, more journeys are of that nature where they start or end at bus stations which are not configured to allow for double door operation, so a lot of the benefits seen in London would not be available. Other cities such as Manchester and Birmingham only have single door bus operation.
Furthermore, bus stops in West Yorkshire are generally oriented with the screen at the road side, meaning a middle door would open into a screen. In many cases bus stops are oriented this way due to footpath width prohibiting them from being flipped. The alternative would be to extend bus stops so that buses stop before that shelter, rather than alongside the shelter, this would mean significant works to kerbs at bus station locations, which would be expensive and, in many cases, prohibited by spatial constraints.
Studies could be undertaken on a route-by-route basis to establish whether double door operation would be feasible with current infrastructure as well as reviewing whether investment in infrastructure could be justified in order to permit the operation of double door buses.
The colours of the new Weaver Network livery for the Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV remind me of the proposed 'New Bus for West Yorkshire', which featured a New Routemaster and was put forward by First Bus in 2014. pic.twitter.com/NDbnXFNpza
— CLondoner92 (@CLondoner92) May 12, 2025
There is something not mentioned in these documents regarding the New Bus for West Yorkshire proposal, which is that First Bus held a formal consultation between August and December 2014.
The following text is taken from the executive summary:
Executive Summary
• The New Bus for West Yorkshire proposal is a package of measures designed to achieve a radical improvement to bus services in the region. This includes the introduction of new iconic vehicles (similar in concept to the ‘New Routemaster’ used in London), smart ticketing, and aligning investment with infrastructure improvements to tackle congestion hotspots.
• It is designed to bring greater efficiency to bus use within West Yorkshire; speeding up bus journeys by minimising the time spent waiting for passengers to board and alight.
• The consultation results show that, of those surveyed, 77% of respondents said that they would consider using First bus services more if the NBfWY proposal were to be introduced.
Other Key Findings Include:
- On all measures, the percentage of respondents who rated the features ‘very good’ increased significantly when asked about the new bus compared to current buses.
- 85% of respondents thought that the layout of the proposed new bus was either ‘good’ or ‘very good’.
- 95% of people were in favour of next stop information. Respondents commented that audio-visual announcements would increase their bus use by giving them more confidence to travel independently and on unfamiliar routes.
- Many respondents were strongly in favour of the smartcard aspect of the proposal, noting that it would contribute to a great improvement in journey times.
• In line with the strong public desire for audio-visual next stop announcements, First is working in partnership with another operator and the Confederation of Passenger Transport and has launched the trial of a smartphone app that will deliver this information.
• Working together with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), the next stage of smartcard rollout will commence in 2015/16. West Yorkshire now has the most comprehensive smartcard system outside of London, with over half a million smartcard customers making over one million smart transactions per week.
• First is working closely in partnership with Wrightbus, the manufacturers of the New Routemaster, and together they will produce a design illustration of what the new bus aspect of the proposal could look like, based on the public specification preferences revealed in the consultation. First will also feed back the results of the survey to consider with Wrightbus how they can inform future bus design.
• A number of respondents said they were frustrated about current bus reliability and suggested more needed to be done to reduce congestion. Working in partnership, First aims to align vehicle investment with infrastructure improvements through the West Yorkshire Transport Fund to tackle this problem.
• The NBfWY proposal is focused on improving bus services across West Yorkshire as a whole. Over the last two years, First and other bus operators in the county have been negotiating with Metro to establish a bus partnership agreement, as successfully implemented in South Yorkshire in Sheffield and Rotherham. Proposals have been presented and First is collaborating with its partners to reach agreement before it makes long-term, significant investment decisions in its services.
• Once a partnership framework is in place and there is clarity on WYCA’s medium to long-term Bus Strategy, First will work with partners to identify a potential corridor for a New Bus for West Yorkshire pilot operation. It is envisaged that a trial will take place, to allow the concept to be refined for further applications.
• Roll out of further corridors and the significant investment this would entail would be dependent on the success of a trial and also on the plans by WYCA for bus operations in the county. If the pilot is successful and the Authority’s plans provide a supportive environment for significant investment, the roll out would be phased with the initial tranches to be completed over a five-year period.
It's disappointing to see that the New Bus for West Yorkshire turned out to be a nothingburger, as First Bus did not proceed with the rollout.
I guess it could be one of the reasons why it has influenced the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to hold a consultation on bus specifications.
This is certainly something that I suggested in 2024 to Transport for London, Transport for Greater Manchester and other authorities. This is especially relevant as the three-door, two-staircase hybrid New Routemasters are approaching their 14-year life cycle in passenger service. As I went through the consultation reports in previous years, there were still a number of comments suggesting more New Routemasters and tram-style buses.
I have also reviewed TfL's New Bus Specification version 2.6 and compared it with TfGM's bus specification, as it is time for a common bus specification that subsumes London and the city regions. I also suggested the number of doors that should be used for specific bus routes, especially the use of three doors for high-frequency and Bus Rapid Transit services.
I have also suggested that London should have a bespoke bus, supported by the results of the opinion polls I posted on X, and in response to the Mayor's recent comment on the New Routemasters as they reach the end of their 14-year lifecycle.
I almost forgot to mention South Yorkshire; here is an excerpt from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority press release:
Passengers across South Yorkshire have said that reliable services, clear information and improved safety should be at the heart of the region’s new bus fleet.
Now, with thousands of people across South Yorkshire having helped shape the next generation of local buses, the search is underway for the company that will build and deliver them.
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) has formally launched the procurement process for the new buses that will be delivered when bus franchising is introduced from 2027.
Under bus franchising, decisions about bus routes, timetables and tickets across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield will all be decided locally. The launch of the tender marks the next major step in the transformation of South Yorkshire’s bus network, with passengers’ feedback directly informing the specification issued to manufacturers.
More than 3,500 people gave their views on safety and accessibility features they would like to see on the new buses.
The feedback has been incorporated into the design specification and manufacturers who want to bid to build and provide the new buses are being asked to make sure they include:
• Dedicated accessible spaces for wheelchairs and pushchairs
• Low floors and step-free boarding
• Audio and visual next-stop announcements
• Better handrails and grab-points
• CCTV coverage
• Improved lighting and visibility
Read more
Conclusion and Future Outlook for West Yorkshire Bus Design
The consultation findings clearly indicate that the inclusion of multiple doors is a significant priority for many passengers. Data from the report shows that dozens of respondents specifically requested designs featuring double or triple doors to facilitate smoother entry and exit and to reduce boarding congestion. This feedback suggests a strong public appetite for a more sophisticated vehicle specification that can handle high passenger volumes more efficiently.
These recent findings provide an interesting contrast to previous discussions regarding a New Bus for West Yorkshire. Although there were earlier proposals for a unique, high-specification vehicle tailored specifically to the region, that particular vision never came to light. Instead, the focus has shifted towards the current franchising model and the Weaver Network, using the detailed feedback from this consultation to ensure the new fleet meets modern standards for accessibility and layout, even if the original bespoke vehicle concept was not pursued.
This momentum for change is mirrored in South Yorkshire, where the Mayoral Combined Authority has also launched its procurement process for a new franchised fleet starting in 2027. Following a consultation with over 3,500 people, South Yorkshire’s specification similarly prioritises safety and accessibility, including low floors, audio-visual announcements, and dedicated spaces for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Both regions are now moving towards a future where passenger feedback directly dictates the design of a modern, publicly controlled bus network.
I would like to extend an invite for you to follow me on X (formerly Twitter) for transport-related updates. You can find me by searching for @CLondoner92 or by clicking on the direct link to my X page here. I am also present on BlueSky and Mastodon. I look forward to connecting with you on these platforms. Thank you for your support
