At a meeting on Friday 25 March, the West Yorkshire's Integrated Transport Authority (ITA) Executive Board gave the go-ahead for the Leeds FreeCityBus to be replaced with a LeedsCityBus service with a 50p flat fare for each journey.

Metro has stepped in to organise the trial in response to widespread concerns about the possible axing of the FreeCityBus service, due to funding cuts, and the many public comments by people saying they would be willing to pay to use it,.

Passengers will be charged 50p per journey and while the exact fare will help minimise delays, change will be given.

Passengers showing valid Day or Season tickets from First or any other West Yorkshire bus operators will travel free and MetroCards and MetroDay tickets will be valid. Concessions such as the English National Concessionary Pass for people aged over 60, and Metro DayRovers will also be valid after 9.30am.

Since its introduction in January 2006, the FreeCityBus has been used by over 7½ million passengers. Research has shown that the service is particularly useful for people with mobility problems and parents with young children. It also helps to limit city centre congestion by encouraging people to leave their cars at home and use connecting trains and buses instead.

LeedsCityBus will follow the same route as the FreeCityBus, connecting Leeds' rail and bus stations, business and shopping districts, the General Infirmary, Universities and Park Lane College. Still in a distinctive red white and blue livery, they will continue to run every few minutes.

The buses, which Metro will loan to the trial’s operator First, and the bus stops will be updated and there will be on-bus information explaining the fares.

Metro staff will be out handing out flyers to FreeCityBus users explaining the LeedsCityBus trial which will start from Friday 1 April...

Current Leeds FreeCityBus information and route