Extra buses aim to help 'full to bursting' service

The 25 and 26 services make more stops closer to Leeds than the limited stop X84 service they replaced

Additional buses have been introduced to ease pressure on a key route in and around Leeds after passengers described recent service changes as an “utter shambles”.

In October, the X84 limited stop connecting Leeds, Otley and Ilkley was replaced by the 25 and 26, which has frequent stops between Leeds city centre and Headingley.

But some commuters said they had encountered delays to their journeys and reported crowded buses with difficulties in gaining a seat.

First Bus said roadworks had created "severe congestion" for the 25 and 26, with "duplicate buses" introduced during peak times aiming to reduce capacity pressure.

The firm identified the "bunching of buses" serving the Headingley corridor as the issue, with the extra services set to "spread the pick-up of customers".

Dawn Lennie says she is concerned for the safety of school children who use the route when buses are at maximum capacity

Dawn Lennie, who worked near the Merrion Centre in Leeds, said she had to walk down to the bus station in order to guarantee a seat as it was often nearing capacity by the time it arrived at her workplace.

“And that’s only the third stop," said Ms Lennie.

“I’m lucky that I work in the centre of Leeds, but there are people getting on the bus around the university and going back to Otley who are unable to get on because it is full to bursting by the time it gets there."

Ms Lennie said she was concerned for the safety of school children when full buses aren't able to pick them up.

“If the bus goes past them, they’re having to wait an extra hour or so, on dark nights," she said.

'Fills me with dread'

Another commuter, Helen Light, 51, said she also had to head to Leeds City Bus Station to guarantee a seat.

“It’s a sad state of affairs when 50 years ago transport was better," she said.

“The X84 was unreliable in peak early evenings, but fitting in working hours around childcare now fills me with dread as it's even worse."

Liam Brown, 27, who manages a charity shop in Otley, described the new services as “an utter shambles”.

“What was a 40-minute journey is now over an hour on a good day, and that’s if and when the buses actually turn up,” he said.

“I’ve been unable to see my other half, who lives in Leeds, due to the lack of buses, and work-wise I’ve had volunteers stop coming down as they can’t reliably commute.”

The 25 and 26 services replaced the limited stop X84 which ran for 30 years

A spokesperson for First Bus said: “Since the change to this service was introduced at the end of October, an important contributory factor to the delays we have experienced is the severe congestion on this corridor created by roadworks.

“We have conducted a thorough analysis of the 25/26 services and this identified bunching of buses serving the Headingley corridor, causing capacity pressures.

They continued: “From Monday we have introduced duplicate buses on the services immediately preceding the 25/26 during the peak period from approximately 16:00-18:30 GMT Monday to Friday.

"This will alleviate capacity pressure and spread the pick-up of customers."

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