West Yorkshire Metro

West Yorkshire Metro is the passenger-information and public-transport brand associated with the transport authority for West Yorkshire, England. Its institutional origins lie in the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, created on 1 April 1974 alongside the metropolitan county of West Yorkshire. The executive brought together the municipal bus operations of Bradford, Leeds, Huddersfield and Halifax, together with the relevant inherited operations, creating a county-wide organization with approximately 1,500 buses, around 6,000 employees, garages and supporting infrastructure. The organization initially operated buses directly under county-level transport policy. It introduced a common corporate identity, using a cream-and-green livery commonly described as Verona green and buttermilk, replacing the distinct municipal liveries of the predecessor operators. From 1976, the bus fleet was increasingly presented as MetroBus, while coach operations were marketed through Metrocoach and Metrocoach Executive. The executive also expanded its operating presence through acquisitions, including Baddeley Brothers in 1976 and United Services in 1977, although these arrangements were later reorganized or disposed of. Metro's role changed substantially after the Transport Act 1985 and bus deregulation in 1986. The directly operated bus division became Yorkshire Rider, while Metro continued as the public-facing name for fares, tickets, timetables, passenger information and transport coordination. The organization also worked with National Bus Company subsidiaries on an integrated Metro-National system before deregulation. Following the abolition of West Yorkshire County Council in 1986, transport responsibilities were exercised through the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority, later renamed the West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority. The Metro brand was formally adopted in 1988 and developed beyond local buses. Metro-supported suburban rail services were marketed as MetroTrain, and the authority helped fund, coordinate or promote a network of lines linking West Yorkshire with surrounding towns and cities. Its long-term rail-investment role included a substantial programme of station reopenings, including Brighouse, Glasshoughton, Apperley Bridge, Kirkstall Forge and Low Moor. Metro has also supported socially necessary bus services, rural links, concessionary travel, integrated ticketing and specialist services such as Metroconnect Accessbus. In 2004, Metro introduced My bus, a dedicated school transport programme using specially equipped yellow buses, fixed student seating, enhanced driver checks and, on some routes, escorts. The scheme sought to reduce car journeys to school while improving safety, punctuality, accessibility and children’s familiarity with public transport. Services were operated by a mixture of contractors and were gradually reviewed as the original fleet aged. The organization promoted the Leeds Supertram proposal in the early 2000s, but the scheme was rejected by central government in 2005 after costs exceeded the available budget. Metro subsequently remained focused on bus, rail, walking, cycling, ticketing and wider transport policy rather than directly operating a tram system. The West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive was formally abolished on 1 April 2014. Its public-transport functions and the Metro brand continued under the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, whose transport committee became the region’s transport authority. In May 2025, West Yorkshire announced that Metro would be phased out as bus franchising was introduced, and unveiled Weaver Network as its intended replacement brand. Metro therefore represents both a historical transport executive and a continuing regional public-transport identity during a transition to a new governance and branding model.

The West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive was established on 1 April 1974 under the local-government reforms that created the metropolitan county of West Yorkshire. It consolidated the municipal bus operations of Bradford City Transport, Leeds City Transport, Huddersfield Corporation Passenger Transport and Halifax Joint Omnibus Committee. The resulting organization inherited a large operating estate, including about 1,500 buses, approximately 6,000 staff, garages and associated street infrastructure. The new executive was required to operate within the policy framework of the West Yorkshire County Council Public Transport Committee. Its immediate task was to create a coordinated county-wide network from formerly separate municipal systems. A unified cream-and-green livery was introduced, and fleet presentation increasingly used the MetroBus name. Coach operations were developed under Metrocoach branding. The organization expanded through the acquisition of Baddeley Brothers in 1976 and United Services in 1977, although the former was later disposed of and the latter was managed as a separate subsidiary for a period. In 1981, MetroBus and the National Bus Company created the Metro-National Transport Company, an integrated operating and branding arrangement covering PTE and NBC services in the region. The partnership sought to make the fragmented operating structure appear more coherent to passengers. Bus deregulation on 26 October 1986 ended the executive’s direct bus-operating role. The bus division was renamed Yorkshire Rider, while Metro became associated with public transport coordination, passenger information, fares, passes and timetables. The abolition of the metropolitan county in 1986 changed the governance structure but did not end the regional transport function. The West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority succeeded the county-level arrangements and was later renamed the West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority. The Metro brand was adopted in 1988 and became the principal public identity for public transport in the area. Rail development became an important part of Metro’s work. Services were promoted under MetroTrain, and the authority supported investment and network development across routes such as the Airedale, Calder Valley, Hallam, Harrogate, Huddersfield, Leeds-Bradford, Penistone, Pontefract, Wakefield, Wharfedale and York and Selby lines. From the 1980s onward, Metro participated in a long programme of reopening or restoring stations, including Deighton, Slaithwaite, Saltaire, Bramley, Brighouse, Glasshoughton, Apperley Bridge, Kirkstall Forge and Low Moor. Metro also developed targeted transport programmes. My bus, launched in 2004, used dedicated yellow school buses with seat belts, low floors, enhanced driver checks and fixed seating for pupils. The scheme was intended to shift journeys away from private cars and improve safety and access. Metroconnect Accessbus provided accessible transport for passengers requiring specialized services, while supported rural and socially necessary bus services helped maintain links that commercial operators might not otherwise provide. Metro’s Leeds Supertram proposal, advanced in the early 2000s, was ultimately rejected in 2005 after its projected cost became unacceptable to central government. The authority continued to focus on integrated transport policy and network support rather than pursuing the tram scheme. On 1 April 2014, the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive was formally abolished. The West Yorkshire Combined Authority assumed the transport-authority role, and Metro continued as the public-facing public-transport brand. The organization’s later remit included coordination of bus and rail information, ticketing, supported services, accessibility and broader regional transport policy. In May 2025, the Combined Authority announced that Metro would be phased out as bus franchising was introduced and unveiled Weaver Network as its replacement identity. This marked the latest transition from a historically municipally operated transport executive to a combined-authority brand and franchising framework.

• 2025

  Weaver Network announced

  [1]West Yorkshire Metroen.wikipedia.org

  The Combined Authority announced a successor identity as part of the move toward bus franchising.

• 2014

  WYPTE formally abolished

  [1]West Yorkshire Metroen.wikipedia.org

  The West Yorkshire Combined Authority replaced the former transport institutions, while retaining Metro as a public-transport brand.

• 2004

  My bus launched

  [1]West Yorkshire Metroen.wikipedia.org

  Metro introduced a dedicated school-bus programme with specialist vehicles, fixed seating and enhanced safeguarding arrangements.

• 1988

  Metro adopted as the public transport brand

  [1]West Yorkshire Metroen.wikipedia.org

  The Metro identity became the principal public-facing brand for West Yorkshire public transport.

• 1986

  Bus deregulation and Yorkshire Rider formation

  [1]West Yorkshire Metroen.wikipedia.org

  The directly operated bus division became Yorkshire Rider, while Metro retained coordination and passenger-information functions.

• 1981

  Metro-National integrated system formed

  [1]West Yorkshire Metroen.wikipedia.org

  MetroBus and the National Bus Company created an integrated regional transport and branding arrangement.

• 1976

  MetroBus identity introduced

  [1]West Yorkshire Metroen.wikipedia.org

  The bus fleet began adopting the MetroBus name as part of a more unified regional identity.

• 1974

  West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive established

  [1]West Yorkshire Metroen.wikipedia.org

  The executive was created on 1 April through the consolidation of several municipal bus systems in the newly formed metropolitan county.

A regional public-transport authority and passenger-information brand coordinating bus, rail and accessibility services across West Yorkshire, with a strong emphasis on integrated travel, network development and publicly supported services.

• Bus network coordination and branding · 1976

  MetroBus

  MetroBus was the regional bus identity used for West Yorkshire’s coordinated public-transport system. It emerged in the 1970s after municipal fleets were consolidated and was also used in the Metro-National arrangement with National Bus Company operators. After bus deregulation, the name primarily represented coordinated information, ticketing and network functions rather than a single directly operated bus company.

• Suburban rail promotion and support

  MetroTrain

  MetroTrain was the branding used for suburban and regional rail services supported or promoted by Metro. The network connected West Yorkshire with surrounding destinations through multiple corridors, and Metro participated in station reopening, service development, passenger information and selected rolling-stock arrangements.

• Dedicated school transport · 2004

  My bus

  My bus was a school transport programme launched in 2004. It used dedicated low-floor buses fitted with seat belts, assigned seating and yellow branding. Drivers received enhanced background checks, some routes used escorts, and the vehicles were reserved for school and youth-related activities. The programme aimed to reduce car dependency, improve safety and support inclusive access to education.

• Accessible demand-responsive transport

  Metroconnect Accessbus

  Metroconnect Accessbus provided specialized accessible transport within the West Yorkshire area. It complemented conventional bus and rail services by serving passengers whose mobility or location made ordinary scheduled services difficult to use.

• 2025Weaver Network brand transition

  West Yorkshire

  West Yorkshire announced a transition away from Metro as it prepared to introduce bus franchising and presented Weaver Network as the replacement identity.

  Outcome. The new name was intended to connect the transport network with the region’s textile and industrial heritage. The transition marked a planned change in public-transport branding.

  Source
• 2004My bus school travel programme

  West Yorkshire

  Metro promoted dedicated school buses with specialist equipment, permanent route drivers, safeguarding measures and school-based travel education. The programme sought to replace car journeys and improve safety, punctuality and inclusion.

  Outcome. The programme reported substantial previous car use among primary-school passengers and was associated with goals including lower congestion, reduced emissions and improved school travel safety. Parts of the service were later withdrawn as vehicles aged and local reviews changed provision.

  Source

• 2025

  Transition toward Weaver NetworkStrategy

  Background

  West Yorkshire was preparing for bus franchising and a new model of regional bus governance.

  Action taken

  The authority announced that Metro would be phased out and unveiled Weaver Network as its intended successor brand.

  Aftermath

  Metro entered a planned branding transition while continuing to represent the region’s established public-transport identity.

  Source

• 2001

  Leeds Supertram proposal developedOther

  Background

  Metro sought to reintroduce tram-based urban transport in Leeds.

  Action taken

  It developed a proposed Leeds Supertram network and later submitted a lower-cost version after the original plan exceeded its budget.

  Aftermath

  The re-costed proposal was rejected by the Secretary of State for Transport in 2005, and the scheme did not proceed.

  Source

• 1985

  Direct bus ownership relinquishedStrategy

  Background

  National transport legislation required changes to the structure of publicly owned bus operations before deregulation.

  Action taken

  The bus division was moved into an arm’s-length operating structure that became Yorkshire Rider, while Metro retained transport-coordination and passenger-information responsibilities.

  Aftermath

  Metro continued as a coordinating and public-facing transport identity rather than as the direct operator of the region’s local bus fleet.

  Source

1. 1West Yorkshire Metroen.wikipedia.org
2. 2West Yorkshire Metro official websitewymetro.com