Several changes to local bus services are taking place this weekend, 26/27 October 2024.
The most significant of these affects long-standing bus service X84 between Ilkley, Otley and Leeds, operated by First Leeds. From this Sunday, the route will be renumbered as services 25 and 26, with service 26 following the existing X84 route, whilst service 25 will also serve Pool-in-Wharfedale. Together the two services will still provide two buses per hour throughout the day seven days a week between Ilkley, Otley and Leeds, with buses running hourly during the evenings. There will however be significant changes to timings, including earlier and later buses to/from Ilkley. Full details are available on the First Bus website.
Following last year’s successful reintroduction of Winter Saturday buses between Ilkley and Grassington and a Winter Sunday bus between Ilkley and Malham on the DalesBus network both these routes will be running through the winter again this year. On Saturdays DalesBus 74 runs from Ilkley at 1020, 1220 and 1600 to Bolton Abbey and Grassington, returning from Grassington at 1120, 1500 and 1700.
On Sundays Cravenlink bus 864 runs from Ilkley at 1020 to Malham, returning from Malham at 1640.
Elsewhere on the Sunday DalesBus network, DalesBus services 875 and 876 to Hawes have now finished for the winter, but Sunday DalesBus services 864 (Ilkley – Skipton), 873 (Ilkley – Bolton Abbey – Skipton) and 874 (Wetherby – Leeds – Ilkley – Grassington – Buckden) all continue running with only minor timetable changes. Full details are available online at www.dalesbus.org/sundays and in a new “Winter Sunday DalesBus Times” leaflet available from the usual outlets.
Dales and Bowland Community Interest Company, the volunteer-run not-for-profit company which manages the Sunday DalesBus network is already trying to plan services for next summer, and is seeking donations to help support the network at www.localgiving.org/charity/dalesbus. The company is also looking for companies or organisations who might be interested in sponsoring a DalesBus service – anyone interested in finding out more is asked to get in touch via email at info@dalesandbowland.com. They would also like to hear any feedback on the DalesBus network and suggestions for improvements in the future.
The £2 cap on single fares on all local bus services will continue until at least the end of the year.