Transdev York has been awarded new contracts by North Yorkshire County Council to replace services formerly run by Stephensons of Easingwold. As a result, Transdev will operate two daytime services and three school services under contract to the council from Monday, February 19.
Transdev said the award for the contract means that a rapid expansion of the driving team is required at Transdev’s depot in York, with a new team of drivers required to run the new services.
Transdev CEO Alex Hornby said: “Today’s announcement is great news, both for passengers and for the local economy. We’re delighted that as a result of winning this contract, we’ll be able to create new jobs at our depot on Hospital Fields Road in York.
“We’ll be taking on a team of up to four new drivers to expand our current team and make sure we can provide a stable and high quality service on these routes.
“We were delighted to welcome a number of former Stephensons drivers into the Transdev family following the collapse during January, and with the news that we’ll be running these routes on a permanent basis, we’re hoping to open our arms to more ex-Stephensons colleagues.
“We’re also delighted for customers, as it ends uncertainty and secures their bus services after the previous operator went into liquidation.
“When that happened we stepped in straight away to take over some of the services involved, and we’re delighted that in awarding these new contracts, the county council has recognised that we are in a position to operate and develop these services for the longer term.”
The contract award will be complemented by the creation of a new identity for buses across York and the wider county, with the creation of a new local brand to sit alongside the popular Coastliner and Cityzap brands: York & Country. The new identity reflects Transdev’s expansion in York and further into the North Yorkshire countryside, with the new routes branded York & Country alongside other existing routes based at Transdev’s York and Malton bus depots.
The new services which will be operated by Transdev York from Monday, February 19, are:
• 181 Malton – Castle Howard;
• 194 Malton – Hovingham;
• 195R Hovingham – Malton schools;
• 226R Acklam – Norton College; and
• 256R Easingwold – Ryedale School.
