First York

In August 2015, First York commenced operation of a five-year contract to provide services on behalf of the University of York, with vehicles branded in Your Bus livery.[6][7][8][9]

First York operate York Park and Ride services, in partnership with the City of York Council.[10]

There are six park and ride sites across the city, these being located at: Askham Bar, Grimston Bar, Monks Cross, Poppleton Bar, Rawcliffe Bar and York Designer Outlet.

York Park and Ride services are currently operated by a combination of Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 (York Hospital Shuttle Bus), Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE(routes 7 and 8), articulated Mercedes-Benz Citaro (routes 2 and 3), and fully electric Optare Versa (routes 9 and 59).[11][12][13]

A fleet of 21 electric double-deck Optare MetroDeckers are due to be introduced on to York Park and Ride services, with these being originally scheduled for delivery back in October 2019.[14][15][16]

A shuttle bus service operates between York Railway Station and York Racecourse on race days. This service is operated jointly by First, Transdev York and York Pullman. Routes 4, 11 and 12 also operate to stops nearby, with a short walk to the racecourse.[17]

In May 2006, First York took delivery of eleven articulated Wright StreetCar vehicles. They were introduced on to route 4, running between the University of York and Acomb, as part of the ftr scheme being trialled in the city.[18]

The FTR scheme was largely unpopular with people in York for a number of reasons, including frequent problems with ticketing, pricing, punctuality, and the vehicles being excessively long.

Protests were especially heated amongst students, with the University of York's students' union engaging in negotiations with First York, encouraging the company to introduce student discounts.

York Pullman was awarded the contract to operate services on behalf of the University of York, and launched Unibus in 2010. Due to competition from York Pullman's Unibus, the price of the ticket for students on First's (now commercial) route 4 dropped significantly.[19]

The ftr scheme meant that bus stop areas had to be extended in order to accommodate the length of the longer vehicles. However, in many cases, this was done in contravention of the guidance given in the council's highway design document. This led to ftr buses blocking the road, and further adding to traffic congestion.

In 2009, First York replaced the articulated Wright StreetCar vehicles with standard low-floor buses during the evening and on Sundays.

Following their victory at the 2011 local elections, the controlling Labour Party on the City of York Council set about to ensure that the ftr buses were replaced.

The articulated Wright StreetCar vehicles ran in York for the last time on 10 March 2012, being replaced 11 double-deck Wright Eclipse Gemini vehicles from First South Yorkshire's depot in Rotherham.[20]

The vehicles were transferred to other services within First West Yorkshire area, with some later being used on the Hyperlink 72 service between Leeds and Bradford.[21]

In 2009, First York launched a half-hourly X64 express service, running between York, Tadcaster, Seacroft and Leeds, designed to compete with Yorkshire Coastliner. The service was withdrawn in August 2010.[22]

In February 2007, First York introduced an hourly service, linking York with Leeds Bradford Airport. Branded as York Aircoach, it was based on a model and brand successfully used by Aircoach, operating to and from Dublin Airport.[23][24]

Four Volvo B10M coaches were acquired for this operation, all being branded in First's Excel coach branding, with additional York Aircoach branding applied. The service was later rebranded as York Airlink 787, using buses instead of coaches. The service was withdrawn in April 2009.[25]