Bus link between Preston and Yorkshire is saved

Preston Bus has announced it will operate the 180/280/X80 to Skipton seven days a week, without public subsidy.

The service is currently operated on behalf of Lacashire County Council, but was threatened with cancellation from early April under major budget cuts.

The bus, which more than 250,000 passengers use each year, will continue to operate on the same route seven days per week.

Preston Bus managing director, Bob Dunn, said: “The fact Preston Bus is taking over the operation of service linking Preston with Yorkshire demonstrates my ambition to improve public transport in and around Preston. I am pleased that we are now able to bring the Preston Bus brand into new areas for the first time.”

Bosses at Preston Bus say the current timetable will be kept with some small variations, including the times of buses on Sunday.

They say no changes will be made to the prices of single or return tickets, and a range of daily and weekly tickets will be launched allowing travel on the Preston Bus city network as well.

They also said the company was in discussions with DalesBus over the availability of tickets and connections to other services in Skipton, with a further announcement expected shortly.

The buses on the route call at stops including Whalley and Clitheroe.

The service is currently operated by Transdev. Preston Bus said concessionary passes would still be valid along the whole route.

Transdev tickets and passes will be accepted for travel until Sunday 17th April 17.

The move comes after Preston Bus announced a shake-up of its services, including dismantling the orbit service.