First West Yorkshire changes timetables due to Covid staff absences

The new temporary timetables will come into force on Sunday, January 16, to manage staff absences, with some services in Bradford becoming less frequent.

Rocketing Covid-19 infection rates and case numbers due to the highly transmissible Omicron variant are seeing more and more people forced to self-isolate with the virus.

The latest infection rate in Bradford, of 1,799 infections per 100,000 people, means one in 56 people currently have Covid.

The changes to bus timetables follow recent announcements by train operators Northern and Trans-Pennine Express forced to reduce the frequency of services due to staff shortages caused by Covid.

First West Yorkshire has said the changes will hopefully mean services are more reliable, with less short-notice cancellations leaving passengers high and dry or waiting ages for a bus.

Passengers are required to wear face masks on public transport

In Bradford, the number 72 service which runs between Bradford and Leeds via Thornbury and Stanningley Road, and the X6 service between Bradford and Leeds are both impacted.

Daytime service frequency will change, with the 72 running every 15 minutes, as opposed to the usual 12 minutes, while the X6 will run every 20 minutes rather than the normal 12 minutes.

There are also some changes to early morning and evening services, but no changes to Sunday services.

First has said the changes will "add more resilience to the timetable to avoid short-notice cancellations" while it manages staff absences due to Covid and will only be temporary.

Paul Matthews, managing director of First West Yorkshire, said: “I would like to apologise in advance to all customers who are affected by these timetable changes.

"We want to assure our customers that these frequency changes are only short term and we aim to restore services as soon as possible.

“Along with many other organisations up and down the country, we are experiencing a higher-than-normal level of staff absence due to the current wave of Omicron Covid 19 cases. The safety of our staff and customers will always be our number one priority.

“We are doing everything we can to minimise disruption to services and inconvenience to our customers and our teams are working extra hard to ensure as many buses run as is possible.”

Passengers continue to be required to wear face coverings while using public transport unless they're medically exempt.