Flyer (bus service)
 | |
.jpg){kind=spacer} A Flyer Optare Versa in Harrogate operating service A2 in August 2022 | |
| Parent | Transdev Blazefield |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2020 |
| Headquarters | Harrogate, North Yorkshire England |
| Service area | |
| Service type | Bus and coach |
| Stations | Leeds Bradford Airport |
| Depots | Idle, Bradford |
| Fleet | 11 (at July 2024) |
| Operator | Yorkshire Coastliner |
| Managing Director | Henri Rohard[1] |
| Website | transdevbus |
Flyer is the brand name of a trio of local bus services, which link Leeds Bradford Airport with the cities of Bradford and Leeds, and towns of Harrogate and Otley.
History
[edit]The route was formerly operated under the Centrebus brand as Airport Direct.[2]
In May 2014, the routes were rebranded by Yorkshire Tiger as Flying Tiger and new Optare Versa buses were introduced.[3][4][5] On 3 July 2017, new Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC buses were introduced on route 737 and 747 alongside the previous Optare Versa vehicles which continued to operate mainly on service 757. [6]
In 2020, Yorkshire Tiger stopped running the 757 route. It had previously been operated on a commercial basis however this was no longer viable during the COVID-19 pandemic. The West Yorkshire Combined Authority subsequently awarded a temporary contract to CT Plus who operated the route under the Runway 757 brand. In August 2020, Yorkshire Coastliner took over operation of all three routes and also acquired the Yorkshire Tiger depot in Idle.[7][8] The routes were renumbered A1, A2 and A3.[9]
As of 2024, service A1 now operates at a half-hourly frequency (and finishes service two-hours earlier compared to its previous timetable), whilst services A2 and A3 each operate at an hourly frequency. Service A2 has had its Harrogate night services recently withdrawn whilst service A3 has had an extension to its route added in Otley (Newall) on evenings to substitute the Otley Dash service which Transdev withdrew in 2023.
The current fleet of Optare Versa buses will be replaced by a fleet of 15 Mercedes-Benz Citaro hybrid electric single-deck vehicles, an order worth £4 million, which are expected to enter service by the end of 2024.[10][11][12][13]
Services
[edit]As of October 2024[update], the services operated under the Flyer brand are:
| Route | To | From | Via |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Leeds  
|
Leeds Bradford Airport 
|
Burley, Kirkstall, Horsforth , Rawdon & Yeadon
|
| A2 | Bradford
|
Harrogate
|
Greengates, Apperley Bridge, Rawdon, Yeadon, Leeds Bradford Airport , Pool-in-Wharfedale, Huby, North Rigston, Spacey Houses & Oatlands
|
| A3 | Otley
|
Manningham, Frizinghall, Shipley , Guiseley , Yeadon, Leeds Bradford Airport & Pool-in-Wharfedale
|
References
[edit]- ^ "Our new electric buses". Transdev. 16 August 2023. Archived from the original on 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- ^ "Yorkshire Tiger, hidden dragon?". Passenger Transport. 2014-05-28. Retrieved 2022-07-18.
- ^ Cole, David (2014-05-02). "Airport Direct becomes Flying Tigers". Bus & Coach Buyer. Retrieved 2022-07-18.
- ^ Harrison, Matt (2019-03-16). "#AYearOfBuses 75: Flying Tiger Leeds – Leeds Bradford Airport". Transport Designed. Retrieved 2022-07-18.
- ^ "Arriva runs Optare Versas on Yorkshire Tigers' Leeds Bradford Airport route". Route One. 2015-10-26. Retrieved 2022-07-18.
- ^ Dougall, Emily (2017-07-04). "Yorkshire Tiger launches new E200 fleet". Coach & Bus Week. Retrieved 2022-07-18.
- ^ Transdev Flyer takes off to Leeds Bradford Airport Coach & Bus Week issue 1439 8 September 2020 page 8
- ^ Tiger Quits Bradford Buses issue 787 October 2020 page 30
- ^ "From Tiger to Flyer". BusAndTrainUser. 2020-09-02. Retrieved 2022-07-18.
- ^ "Transdev chooses Mercedes-Benz Citaro hybrid for Flyer services". Routeone. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ Chalmers, Graham (15 July 2024). "New £4 million bus fleet is announced for key Harrogate bus route by Transdev". Harrogate Advertiser. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ Plummer, John (15 July 2024). "Transdev announces 15 new buses for airport Flyer bus". The Stray Ferret. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ "New £4m hybrid buses coming to FLYER". Transdev. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.