A Sunday bus service will launch next year to serve residents in Woodthorpe, Bishopthorpe, and along Bishopthorpe Road.
Run by East Yorkshire Buses, the new Service 15 will serve these areas of York from Sunday 25 January until Easter on a trial basis. If it’s a success it could be extended.
It mirrors the company’s Services 12 and 14 that run on Monday to Saturdays.
These communities have been without any Sunday service since it was withdrawn during the Covid pandemic.
The new Service 15 will operate on a fully commercial basis, without any public funding.
The route will run from Woodthorpe, Bishopthorpe and Bishopthorpe Road to York, giving residents access to the city centre for shopping, leisure, work, and social visits on Sundays.
East Yorkshire, part of the Go-Ahead Group, began considering the trial after a speech in Parliament by Luke Charters, MP for York Outer, highlighting the lack of Sunday connections – particularly to Bishopthorpe.
Commercial director at East Yorkshire Stuart Fillingham said: “This new Sunday service is a great example of what we can achieve when we stay close to the communities we serve.
“It’s also been great working with our local stakeholders to help bring this service forward, ensuring it truly meets the needs of the community.
“Service 15 is a commercially-funded trial that restores a vital link for local residents and complements our weekday and Saturday services on routes 12 and 14.
“We’re excited to see how it develops. If people use and support it, we’ll be in a strong position to consider expanding Sunday travel even further.”
Labour MP for York Outer Luke Charters said: “I’ve been working hard to secure a Sunday bus service for Bish, and I’m delighted to see East Yorkshire Buses responding so quickly to the needs of our community.
“For too long, residents have been left without a reliable way to get into York on Sundays – whether for work, shopping, worship, or to see family and friends.
“This trial is a really positive step, and I urge residents to make full use of it so we can secure a lasting, sustainable Sunday service for the future.”
