FreeCityBus

Infobox Bus transit
name = Metro Connect FreeCityBus
Metro Connect FreeTownBus

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image_caption = The Huddersfield FreeTownBus
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parent = West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive
founded = January 2006
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service_area = West Yorkshire
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destinations = Leeds
Wakefield
Huddersfield
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website = [http://www.wymetro.com/ www.wymetro.com]

FreeCityBus or FreeTownBus is a family of free bus services which are operated in the centres of several cities and towns in the English county of West Yorkshire. The services operate as "FreeCityBus" in the cities of Leeds, Bradford, and Wakefield and as "FreeTownBus" in the town of Huddersfield. The service is run under contract to Metro Connect.

ervices

Leeds

The Leeds service began on 30 January 2006 and was the first bus service in West Yorkshire to use this format. [cite web|url=http://www.wymetro.com/BusTravel/FCB.htm|title=Leeds FreeCityBus Service|publisher=West Yorkshire Metro] The service currently runs on a fleet of six buses.

Timetable

*Monday-Friday - Every few minutes between 6:30am and 7:30pm
*Saturday - Every few minutes between 6:30am and 7:30pm
*Sunday - No Service

Route

The service runs in a circle, linking key nodes in the city centre:

* Stop 1 - City Rail Station
* Stop 2 - King Street
* Stop 3 - Headrow/Town Hall
* Stop 4 - Westgate/Courts
* Stop 5 - Park Lane College
* Stop 6 - Clarendon Road/Maternity Hospital
* Stop 7 - Dental Hospital
* Stop 8 - Leeds University
* Stop 9 - LGI - (Leeds General Infirmary)
* Stop 10 - Leeds Metropolitan University
* Stop 11 - Merrion Centre
* Stop 12 - St John's Centre
* Stop 13 - Headrow
* Stop 14 - Eastgate
* Stop 15 - Bus & Coach Station
* Stop 16 - The Markets
* Stop 17 - Duncan Street

Huddersfield

This service began on 30 October 2006, after the success of the Leeds service earlier that year. [cite web|url=http://www.wymetro.com/BusTravel/HDFTB.htm|title=Huddersfield FreeTownBus Service|publisher=West Yorkshire Metro] In under six months the Huddersfield FreeTownBus had carried over 100,000 passengers. [cite web|url=http://www.wymetro.com/News/070420-2.htm|title=Huddersfield FreeTownBus carries over 100,000 in six months|publisher=West Yorkshire Metro] This service was originally introduced on the basis of a nine month trial with two buses. The contract was later extended until 2011 depending on funding. [cite web |url=http://www.wypta.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/F6B9DC05-8568-4473-85DB-5D8C17BCCA3C/0/TSWG14MAY2007.pdf |title=West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority meeting minutes |date=2007-05-14 |format=pdf |accessdate=2008-08-11]

Timetable

*Monday-Friday - Every 10 minutes between 7:30am and 7:00pm
*Saturday - Every 10 minutes between 8:30am and 5:30pm
*Sunday - No Service

A Boxing Day service is to be introduced in 2007, following funding from Metro. [cite web|url=http://www.wymetro.com/News/071025-1.htm|title=Metro: Boxing Day buses|publisher=Metro]

Route

Unlike the Leeds and Wakefield services, the service makes a complete circle without backtracking, and runs in an anti-clockwise direction.

* Stop 1 - Rail Station
* Stop 2 - John William Street
* Stop 3 - Market Place
* Stop 4 - Market Street
* Stop 5 - Bus Station
* Stop 6 - High Street
* Stop 7 - Indoor Market
* Stop 8 - The University of Huddersfield (Queen Street)
* Stop 9 - Kingsgate
* Stop 10 - Cross Church Street
* Stop 11 - Parish Church
* Stop 12 - Lord Street
* Stop 13 - Outdoor Market

Wakefield

The Wakefield service was announced early 2007 to begin at the end of April [cite web|url=http://www.wymetro.com/BusTravel/070207.htm|title=Wakefield FreeCityBus Service|publisher=West Yorkshire Metro] , it did begin at the planned time and the first run was around 7:30am on Monday 23 April 2007. Four hundred and fifty passengers used the service on its first running day. [cite web|url=http://www.wymetro.com/News/0704020-1.htm|title=Four hundred and fifty passengers used Wakefield FreeCityBus on first day|publisher=West Yorkshire Metro] The service currently runs on a fleet of three buses.

Timetable

*Monday-Friday - Every 10 minutes between 7:30am and 7:00pm
*Saturday - Every 10 minutes between 8:30am and 5:00pm
*Sunday - No Service

Route

The service is the first bus to connect both train stations, also the first to connect The Ridings, Market and main shopping area to the retail parks.

* Stop 1 - Bus & Coach Station - Stand 1 in Wakefield bus station at :00, :10, :20, etc
* Stop 2 - Cathedral/The Springs - (Main shopping area, Market and The Ridings) Stops on West Moreland Street
* Stop 3 - Kirkgate/Ridings Centre - (Main shopping area and The Ridings) Stops on Kirkgate
* Stop 4 - Kirkgate Rail Station - Stops at bus stop in car park
* Stop 5 - Ings Road Retail Park - Stops on Ings Road
* Stop 6 - Sainsbury's - Stops on Ings Road
* Stop 7 - Charlesworth Way - Stops on Charlesworth Way, outside the Dixon car sales garage
* Stop 8 - Cineworld - Stops on Charlesworth Way
* Stop 9 - Westgate Retail & Leisure Park - Stops on Ings Road
* Stop 10 - Westgate Rail Station - Stops at bus stop in car park
* Stop 11 - Westgate - (Main shopping area) Stops across the road from Argos
* Stop 12 - Bull Ring/Union Street (alighting only) - Stops about 100 metres before Bus Station

ee also

* West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive
* Leeds
* Wakefield
* Huddersfield
* Zero-fare public transport

References