On Wednesday 3 January 2007, bus operator First introduced two brand-new ftr vehicles on service 4 between Pudsey, Leeds city centre, Seacroft and Whinmoor.

First says it wants to give customers and staff the chance to try out the new vehicles, before they are rolled out on a larger scale later in 2007.

What is ftr?

ftr is an articulated, single-deck vehicle with low-floor easy-access for buggies and wheelchairs.

First has purchased 17 new ftr vehicles. Metro is upgrading stops and shelters along the route and installing ‘yournextbus’ displays that provide passengers with real-time information about ftr and other services. Leeds City Council has invested in new stopping arrangements and highway improvements to accommodate ftr vehicles.

How will I buy my ticket?

First is introducing Customer Service Hosts who will travel on each ftr to provide assistance and answer any questions about ftr as the first two vehicles start to run.

Valid MetroCards, Metro concessionary passes and Metro’s West Yorkshire DayRovers can be used on ftr.

Will the ftr affect the timetable or journey times?

Service 4 remains part of First's Overground network, with high-frequency services arriving up to every 10 minutes.

Special measures such as traffic light priority systems and the priority lane on Wellington Road have been installed to give ftr priority over other traffic. Buying tickets from a Customer Service Host instead of the driver should also reduce boarding times.

Find out more about ftr at www.goftr.com.