X84 bus to be reinstated following backlash

A recently axed bus service is to be reinstated following calls from service users, campaigners and MPs.

First Bus said the X84 service between Otley, Ilkley and Leeds city centre would be reintroduced in February.

The route was pulled in October and replaced by alternative services in December, with an online petition against the change signed by more than 3,000 people.

Sarah Carmody, from Adel, who launched the petition, said she was "delighted that the voices of people have been listened to."

Katie White, MP for Leeds North West, who also campaigned against the change said she had heard "heart-breaking stories and a lot of frustration" from constituents about the impact of the route being scrapped.

"People were coming to us saying they were late for school, they were late for hospital appointments, they were struggling to make sure that they got to work in time," she said.

"It was completely unreliable and it wasn't working," she added.

She described news the X84 would be reinstated, with additional weekday services at peak times, as "an early Christmas present".

However, the changes mean Pool-in-Wharfedale, which had been included on the replacement services, will no longer have a direct service to Leeds city centre.

White said: "What we need to do is make sure that we have a bus service that works for people across the whole of Leeds north-west, and we will be working with Tracy Brabin to do that.

"It's not the end of the bus service story and we will continue to work to make sure that we get the right services for constituents."

A spokesperson for First Bus said: "This decision is the result of an extensive review and builds on the immediate actions we took to improve journeys on the existing 25/26 service which replaced the X84.

"We will introduce further resources from January 2025 to support reliability on the overall Headingley corridor which should also benefit customers travelling from Otley."

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