Transdev is to stop running its Unibus 44 service in York, from the city centre to the University of York campuses in Heslington.
The service started operating on a commercial basis in 2015 after Transdev lost the tender to First.
The Unibus services will cease on December 4, 2016. A section of the 44 between Acomb and the city will continue under contract to the City of York Council – though it will no longer be under the Unibus brand. A new timetable is expected to be launched online shortly.
Tripper tickets will continue to be valid on Unibus up until December 4, when they will expire.
In a statement online, Transdev said: “We’ve enjoyed many fantastic years serving you, our lovely customers in York, on Unibus. We were the first to run buses in York 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the first to bring live bus departure times on phones with our Unibus app.
“We know that most of all, passengers love our amazing friendly drivers, who are voted consistently – in all of the University of York’s own transport surveys – as the best on campus.
“Even when the University decided not to award us the new transport contract, despite what you told them in all of their own surveys, we decided to go it alone and run Unibus without their financial support.
“We wanted to keep on providing you with that amazing friendly service for which we have become known across the city. We refreshed our buses, and we were the first to offer amazing features such as free WiFi and USB power points on all of our buses.
“However, with lots of other buses running along the route, often copying what we do with the back-up of the University, it has made life very difficult for us. Sadly, no business can keep on running without making any money.”
