People in and around Hebden Bridge and Todmorden will be able to take advantage of an extra five days' free travel on local bus services next week, courtesy of Metro and First.

All journeys on Hebden Bridge services A, B, C. D & E and Todmorden services T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 T6, T8 & T9, FlexiBus services 1 & 2 and service 906 will be free until Friday 29 June in recognition of the problems there have been providing replacement services since Tyrer Buses stopped running them on Saturday..

"Metro, First and Calderdale Community Transport stepped in to pick up services from Sunday but lack of vehicles and drivers available at such short notice has made it difficult to run the full Hebden Bridge and Todmorden networks, said Metro's Assistant Director Transport Services Dave Pearson. "As a result we have agreed with First, which takes over the contract for running the services from this Sunday, to run them free for an extra five days."

Metro announced the free services last week in recognition of the frustration and inconvenience passengers had experiencing with the local services over the past few weeks while it had been working to sort out the situation.

Latest service update

From Sunday 24 June these local bus services will be run by First, except summer service 906, which will be run by Community Transport Calderdale. With the change of operator Metro has taken the opportunity to make some minor changes to the services, details of which can be found in the new Temporary Timetable Guide (pdf, 764k - opens in a new window).

"When Metro began receiving reports of problems from the services' current operator and local passengers, we stepped in and began talks to resolve the problem," said Metro's Assistant Director Transport Services Dave Pearson. "As a result, from Monday 25 June, First will take over running local services, which Tyrer Buses cease running on Saturday.

"Metro recognises that passengers have been experiencing frustration and inconvenience with services over the past few weeks while we have been working to sort out the situation and has therefore agreed to pay for all journeys for the interim week between operators.

"In addition to restoring existing passengers' confidence in these popular services, this is an ideal opportunity for local people who haven't used them, to give them a try."

Bus stop timetables and local timetable leaflets with details of the new services from Monday 25 June are being prepared and will be distributed next week. There will be no changes and fares will still be payable next week on Calder Valley services 1, 65, 392, 500, 517, 589, 590, 591, 591T, 592, 593, 594, 900, 901 and CT1.