YORK’S biggest bus operator has announced a series of major service changes, following a public consultation.

First says it has listened to customers and is making the network improvements from September 29 to meet their needs.

A spokesman said the changes included additional journeys between Haxby and York, with four arrivals in the centre by 9am.

Service 13 from Haxby to Copmanthorpe has  an  unchanged  route  and frequency, but the timetable has been amended  to improve reliability.

Additional journeys between Haxby and York will  be  provided  by  new  service 13A which will extend to Acomb via the present  service 16 route and Tudor Road on outward journeys meaning there will be two buses an hour from Monday  to  Saturday daytime between Haxby and York, and vice-versa.

He said there would be three extra early morning Service 2 buses to York Railway Station from Clifton Moor, via Rawcliffe Bar, and Service 4 would now operate at frequent intervals between Acomb, York City Centre and the University of York Heslington East campus.

“This change restores the link to the University and in the Acomb area, addresses a number of points raised in public consultations. It increases the frequency from the south of Acomb to Front Street and removes the confusion around inter linking with service 5.”

He revealed more than 600 people had given their views during the consultation, which included eight meetings and an online survey, and First had gone through all the feedback to use as the base for improvements.

Simon Pearson, commercial director for First in York, said: “This is the beginning of a new and exciting journey for First in York.

“Our aim is to grow the number of people using First buses in York and we believe that by listening to what our customers and the wider York communities say then we are in a stronger position to achieve this in the future.

“We plan to make further positive announcements in the next few weeks which I believe will change the perception of many people towards bus travel in the city.”

Coun Dave Merrett, City of York Council’s Transport Cabinet Member, said: “This is great news for York bus users and we’re delighted that First has taken these steps, has listened to customers’ views and are now making these significant changes.”