First York

First York. It is a bus operator providing services within the City of York and surrounding areas in North Yorkshire, England. A subsidiary of the multinational transport group FirstGroup, the company plays a major role in the city's public transport network, operating a fleet of modern vehicles across numerous routes. Its operations include high-frequency urban services, park & ride schemes, and contracted services for local authorities.

History

The origins of the company trace back to the deregulation of bus services in the 1980s, following the Transport Act 1985. It was initially formed in 1987 from the former National Bus Company subsidiary York-West Yorkshire, which itself had roots in the municipal operator York City Transport. Following the privatization of the National Bus Company, the operation was acquired by the Badgerline group, which later merged with GRT Group to form FirstBus in 1995. The operation was subsequently rebranded under the corporate identity of its ultimate parent, FirstGroup, which was created from the merger of FirstBus and Aberdeen-based Grampian Regional Transport. Key developments in its history include the introduction of the pioneering park and ride services in the 1990s and the major fleet upgrade program initiated in the 2010s.

Operations

The company manages a comprehensive network of bus routes primarily focused on the City of York, with some services extending to nearby towns and villages in North Yorkshire such as Tadcaster, Selby, and Pocklington. A cornerstone of its operations is the management of all six dedicated park and ride sites, including those at Monk's Cross, Poppleton Bar, and Grimston Bar, which are funded through a partnership with City of York Council. Other significant contracted services include school buses and supported routes for the local authority. The company's main operational and administrative hub is located at the James Street depot in the Layerthorpe area of the city.

Fleet

As of the early 2020s, the fleet consists of over 120 vehicles, featuring a mix of single-decker and double-decker buses. A significant portion of the fleet comprises low-emission vehicles, including a large number of Alexander Dennis Enviro400 double-deckers and Optare Solo single-deckers. In a major investment, the company introduced a fleet of Volvo B5LH hybrid double-deckers for its park and ride services. The company has also operated innovative vehicles such as the Optare Versa and has trialed fully electric buses on certain city centre routes. All vehicles feature modern accessibility standards including low-floor design and are fitted with next-stop audio-visual announcement systems.

Services

The service portfolio includes high-frequency urban routes, such as the number 1 service to Acomb and the number 4 service to Fulford. The extensive park and ride network provides frequent connections from strategic sites on the city's periphery to the city centre and key destinations like the York Railway Station and the University of York. Other notable services include the 415/425 route to Selby via Tadcaster, and the 36 service to Pocklington. The company also operates seasonal and tourist-focused services, including routes to attractions like the York Designer Outlet at Fulford and the National Railway Museum.

Depots

The primary operating base and maintenance facility is the James Street depot in Layerthorpe, which houses the majority of the fleet and provides full engineering support. This site has been the central depot since the era of York City Transport. A secondary outstation is maintained to support the operation of the park and ride services, particularly those based at the Monk's Cross site. The James Street depot also functions as the company's headquarters, containing offices for management, planning, and customer service teams.

Category:Bus companies of England Category:Companies based in York Category:FirstGroup