THE LOSS of a late-night bus and other services are among the changes in a shake-up of public transport for later this month.

Wharfedale and Aireborough’s biggest bus operator First says it is axing the last NightRider service from Leeds and cutting daytime buses to Horsforth, Guiseley and Menston, because of low passenger numbers.

A Leeds Bradford Airport service is also to be withdrawn.

But transport bosses say timetable alterations to the much-used X84 service on Sundays will provide better connections to Skipton and the Yorkshire Dales.

And a detour on a late-night journey from Keighley will connect Airedale General Hospital with Addingham and Ilkley.

West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive and Authority, Metro, has announced details of changes to several services on April 26 and 27.

Among the ones to be withdrawn is the area’s last NightRider service. The 928 runs two journeys from Leeds to Otley, via Pool-in-Wharfedale, in the early hours of Saturday and Sunday, from Leeds.

Metro chairman and Menston resident, Councillor Chris Greaves (Con, Wharfedale), said the decision was to withdraw the service was a commercial decision made by the bus company, and he questioned whether Metro would be able to justify using public money to subsidise such as service.

An off-peak daytime service linking Otley, Guiseley, Yeadon and Horsforth with Leeds is also facing the axe because of low passenger numbers.

The Service 731, which also calls at Bradford Road, Menston, will be withdrawn on Sunday April 26.

Menston will lose another of its bus links when the 649, calling at Hawksworth Village, Esholt, Shipley and Bradford, has its route cut short on Monday, April 27. The bus will run between Bradford and Esholt after this date.

First is also withdrawing its York Air Link service, from Leeds Bradford Airport to York. It currently calls at Weeton Station.

A new timetable will be brought in on the X84 service – connecting Leeds, Bramhope, Otley and Ilkley – on Sundays, beginning on April 26.

Metro says the retiming of the X84 on Sundays will improve connections for passengers heading on to Skipton and North Yorkshire.

First previously cut the Addingham and Skipton leg of the X84’s journey after losing a North Yorkshire County Council subsidy.

Calls from various passenger groups have failed to restore it.

However, Cravenlink and DalesBus services now run between Ilkley, Addingham and Skipton on Sundays. The retimed X84 buses will connect with these.

Minor alterations will also take place on the Service 762, from Ilkley and Addingham to Keighley, and the 903, from Addingham to Keighley via Airedale General Hospital.

From Sunday April 26, the 762’s journey leaving Keighley at 10.25pm will call at Airedale General Hospital, heading for Addingham and Ilkley.

Timetable information is available by calling Metroline on 0113 2457676.