First Bus is launching a new express service between Halifax and Huddersfield as part of a series of improvements to connectivity in Calderdale and Kirklees which started on Sunday (18 February).
The X1 service will operate on a corridor linking the two towns via Elland and Ainley Top.
A 501 service will replace the existing 503 to serve Calderdale Royal Infirmary and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary with a 15-minute frequency and additional early and late journeys.
This has been developed in partnership with West Yorkshire Combined Authority and funding support around the Superbus project.
Together, the X1 and 501 will provide up to eight journeys an hour between Halifax and Huddersfield. Buses will operate from the new Halifax Bus Station.
Kayleigh Ingham, commercial director of First West Yorkshire, said: “We are pleased to introduce these service improvements to support customers in Calderdale and Kirklees and those making trips to hospital appointments.
“There will be a revised 501 service together with a new X1 express, both operating to provide eight buses an hour between Halifax and Huddersfield. Later evening journeys are also being added to a number of other services, together with timetable changes to improve punctuality and reliability.
“We work closely with the Combined Authority to review the network and these latest enhancements have been achieved through our strong partnership.”
Other service improvements include:
Bradford and Halifax
543 Halifax-Siddal
New service operating between Halifax Bus Station and Siddal, directly replacing the 541/542 on this section of route. 541/542 will continue to operate between Halifax Bus Station and Norton Tower.
548/549 Halifax- Brighouse – Huddersfield
Service 548 increased to operate every 30 minutes between Halifax and Rastrick Monday-Saturday daytime, combining with service 549 to operate a 15-minute service between Rastrick, Brighouse and Halifax.
576 Halifax-Queensbury-Bradford
Later evening journeys with the last bus from Halifax at 22:50 and from Bradford at 23:30.
590/591/592 Halifax – Hebden Bridge-Todmorden – Rochdale/Burnley
Peak time frequency every 15 minutes between Halifax and Todmorden, Mon-Fri off peak and Saturday daytime will run every 20 minutes, with two buses an hour continuing to Burnley and one bus per hour running through to Rochdale.
Huddersfield
307/308 Huddersfield – Honley – Holmfirth
New service 307 to operate between Huddersfield and Honley via Newsome Road (replacing daytime ‘short’ 308 trips). All 308 journey’s to operate via Cross Lane.
372 Lindley – Huddersfield – Almondbury
Only operates between Huddersfield and Almondbury, with weekday services continuing a 15 minute frequency and 20 minutes on Saturday. Buses to operate from Huddersfield Bus Station allowing interchange from all other services. The section between Huddersfield and Lindley will be served by service 501.
373 (NC) Huddersfield – Huddersfield New College
Renamed to 373 with service now running from Huddersfield Bus Station. Peak time journeys retimed and certain low use journeys withdrawn.
Full details of the changes can be found by visiting the First Bus website and selecting the region:
Halifax & Huddersfield https://www.firstbus.co.uk/halifax-calder-valley-huddersfield/news-and-service-updates/service-updates/service-changes-18