First wins University of York contract

Following a competitive tender process, First York has won the five year contract to operate the University of York bus services from August this year. The newly named UoY66 high frequency service will run from 2 August between York Railway Station, the city centre, the University and York Sport Village via Lakeside Way. The contract includes the provision of the University’s free shuttle bus, Ub1, which will run every 30 minutes using an electric vehicle, as well as the late night clubbers’ bus and early morning University to Hospital service. A new service, UoY56, will complement the UoY66 serving the University and Kings Manor from a city centre loop. These services will be integrated into the First York local bus network.

First has committed to running a premium UoY66 service with low emission Euro4 and Euro5 hybrids equipped with Wi-Fi and the Cycle Alert safety tool. The drivers will be given a bespoke new uniform, part of a new brand that will be adopted across the fleet and information channels. The UoY66 service will provide nine buses per hour Monday to Saturday daytime and every 20 minutes on evenings and Sundays. These will be supported by additional Q-Buster buses if needed during weekdays. Heslington East transport hub will continue to be linked by bus to Tang Hall on a frequent basis. Students will be able to use a new 20-trip £17 smartcard ticket available on the ‘Yorkey Card’.