Harrogate and District to take over X99

The main village bus service between Leeds and Wetherby will be operated by Harrogate and District buses from October2nd. There will be no change to route or timetable.

In a press release the company says:
FirstLeeds will no longer run these buses from this date and we will pick up from where they left off. We will run to the same X98/X99 timetable and route as now, early ‘til late, 7 days per week. All FirstBus tickets will be accepted for free for the first two weeks. From day one, you’ll be able to buy Transdev’s range of week and day tickets – and the usual Metro M-Card tickets can be used as normal too.

We will run our pioneering SkyClass brand of twin-deck buses on these routes, which will offer advanced levels of comfort and quality – including airline high-back seating, some set out individually, others in pairs and some at tables. Free WiFi and wireless & USB device charging will be available at every seat. Next stop information will be available on board. Double glazing and a glass roof will be fitted to maximise your views and the enjoyment of your journey.

Our team of drivers will be handpicked for this route. They will generally only be seen on the X98/X99, meaning they’ll get to know you, and you’ll get to know them – we do this elsewhere and know our customers appreciate this familiar, friendly brand of service.

Fares will be great value too. It’ll be no more than £2 single to travel with us, and no more than £4.50 a day with us and on any bus route right across West Yorkshire. 7 day passes for travel with X98/X99 and other Transdev buses in West Yorkshire will cost just £20, with monthly and pay-as-you-go bundle tickets available too, or you can use the current selection of West Yorkshire M Card products – see here for more information.

Want info and tickets in the palm of your hand? The Transdev Go app will be your ideal travel companion. You can track buses live, see departures from your stop, check how busy the bus is and buy mobile tickets. Download it now here.

This is just the beginning of our journey together. We think the route is ripe for further improvement, we are here to stay and we are keen to enhance things further. Once we understand more about the X98/X99 and the needs of you – our customers – we will form a long-term plan and give it a dedicated, stand-out brand with distinctive identity, something that reflects the route and the people & places we serve.

We’ll keep you posted as our research gathers pace and we prepare for serving you even better in the future.

We look forward to serving you – in SkyClass comfort along the way.