Early termination of the East Leeds Flexibus demand responsive transport trial has been proposed by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA). It follows difficulties largely relating to finances and poor usage, including recovery via the farebox of just 12% of the direct cost of providing the service.
The trial began in September 2021. It was to run for three years, although a break clause was provided. Seven Mellor Orion E battery-electric minibuses are used. Six are required at peak, but papers to go before WYCA’s Transport Committee on 7 July and first noted by the BusAndTrainUser blog show that around 242 people per week currently use the service, making 627 trips on average.
A fare of £2 is charged to adults who must pay, although concessionary passes and MCards are accepted. The service currently costs £16.03 per passenger to deliver based on operating expenses. The average cost per passenger on a WYCA tendered fixed-route bus service is around £3.
A review of the trial carried out by Go Travel Solutions in 2022 noted that the full cost of the pilot, including all fixed outgoings, was £18,000 per week at that time, of which around £9,500 was paid to First West Yorkshire to operate it. Around 5% of all costs were being covered from all farebox revenue based on an average per-passenger yield of £1.50.
Modal shift aspirations not delivered by trial
In making the recommendation to terminate the trial early, the July report to WYCA cites other difficulties with East Leeds Flexibus. Little interchange with other public transport services has been made, while only 9% of users previously made their Flexibus trips by car. 59% moved from walking or other public transport.
Meanwhile, external finance for the service – drawn from pots including the Better Bus Fund and developer support – has been exhausted. An anticipated £225,000 of further Section 106 money has been delayed after work on a housing development was pushed back. If the service was to continue, it would thus need to be funded by WYCA.
In addition, the report notes that First West Yorkshire has “indicated that the fixed price submitted for the service underestimated the supervision resource element of [its] original bid,” which sits with higher than expected maintenance and parts costs. Significant inflationary pressure is also in play, the document continues.
“The company [is] seeking a significant increase in the base annual cost of the service which, if the current level of patronage was to be maintained, would result in an average cost per passenger trip of approximately £40.” First was awarded a three-year contract valued at around £1.5 million in 2020 to operate the service.
Difficulties have also been experienced with the customer app and scheduling software used, with the latter having “limitations” when compared to bespoke a bespoke DRT product. Because of that, an average peak utilisation of 1.8 passengers has been achieved. Driver availability at some points has also proved problematic, the report says.
“Operational challenges have impacted on service delivery and cost escalation is an issue influencing options from this point,” it continues. “Subsequently, early termination of the trial was agreed by the Combined Authority’s Internal Leadership Board on 6 June.”
‘Lessons to be learned’ from East Leeds Flexibus, says WYCA
Despite the financially disastrous trial, the WYCA document states that “lessons learned” from East Leeds Flexibus “will inform a further report to [the] Transport Committee on the strategy for future DRT operation.”
The Orion Es may suit to an alternative DRT service in the future, WYCA says. For now they are likely to be used as spare vehicles within the established AccessBus dial-a-ride service. They were purchased at a cost of £1.54 million.
