Wednesday 19 August 2009

From the start of the new academic year, Metro will be funding direct peak-time bus links between Wakefield and Wakefield College's skillsXchange in Glasshoughton.

Previously students travelling to the skillsXchange from Wakefield in the morning and evening peak have had to change at Castleford but by agreeing to support the rush-hour journeys for bus service 183, Councillors at Metro's August Tendered Services Working Group have provided them with a direct link.

Metro will subsidise M Travel to run the extra peak-time journeys, at a cost of £8,653, between Monday 31 August 2009 and Sunday 11 December 2009, which will allow time to establish whether the level of take up by students is sufficient to support the service commercially.

"I am pleased that by subsidising these peak-time journeys, Metro is able to support local people who are trying to improve their opportunities by attending the skillsXchange to gain the qualifications and abilities that employers are seeking," said Metro's Wakefield Spokesperson Cllr Graham Phelps.

Located at Junction 32 of the M62 between Castleford and Pontefract, Glasshoughton, the £30million new build opened its doors to students in February, and is now home to more than 2,500 full and part-time students as well as 300 members of staff.

New timetables are being produced.