York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority will take over delivery of bus services in York and North Yorkshire from April 2027.
For local information on current bus services, please visit the below pages:
Covering 3,214 square miles, York and North Yorkshire includes a diverse mix of urban, rural and coastal communities. Whilst this creates challenges for delivering bus services, it also provides an opportunity to develop a network that better connects people to jobs, education, services and leisure opportunities.
In September 2026, we published our Bus Service Improvement Plan, setting out a vision to improve bus services across the region, you can read more about this plan below.
Bus Service Improvement Plan
Our Bus Service Improvement Plan sets out a vision to improve bus services across the region helping make journeys more reliable, affordable and accessible for residents and visitors alike.
We have eight key objectives:
Improving reliability and punctuality
A bus service that is dependable supports access to employment, education and key services. We'll work to ensure bus services operate consistently, helping make buses the trusted choice for everyday journeys.
Creating a well-connected network
We will enable more people to reach jobs, education and healthcare more easily by strengthening connections across the region; linking urban centres, market towns and rural communities.
Strengthening rural and visitor connectivity
Bus services play a vital role in supporting rural communities and the visitor economy across York and North Yorkshire. We'll strengthen services that are already in demand to improve resilience and prioritise improving connectivity between visitor destinations, helping support local businesses and reducing reliance on cars.
Keeping fares simple and affordable
We'll make bus travel more affordable and easier to use through simpler fares, flexible ticketing and targeted discounts. This will help more people choose the bus and reduce the cost of travelling across York and North Yorkshire.
Enabling inclusive access for all
We will reduce barriers to bus use for disabled people, older residents and younger people by making sure vehicles, infrastructure and information meet inclusive design standards across the network. Inclusive access will be embedded as a core principle of network planning and investment.
Creating a safe and welcoming network
We'll focus on improving both actual and perceived safety of passengers and drivers with a particular focus on waiting environments, interchanges and onboard journeys. This will help encourage travel outside peak periods in both urban and rural areas.
Accelerating decarbonisation
We want to accelerate our transition towards to a cleaner bus fleet through the introduction of additional zero and low‑emission vehicles.
Delivering high-quality, informed and integrated journeys
We want every bus journey to be easy, comfortable and reliable. By improving information, waiting facilities and connections with rail, walking and cycling routes, we'll create a more joined-up transport network across York and North Yorkshire.
Read the Bus Service Improvement Plan in full.
Rural Bus Franchising Study
In early October 2026, the Mayor and Cabinet Members of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority approved the first steps in exploring options for local bus reform by endorsing the Mayor's intention to sign a Notice of Statutory Intent to Prepare an Assessment of Proposed Franchising Scheme. This notice was issued by Mayor David Skaith following this endorsement. Read more here.
