This means that over £23,000 a week, or almost £3300 a day was expected to be spent on the coaches, according to contracts with Acklam’s Coaches and East Yorkshire Motor Services, to transport under 200 students.
Transport was provided to students who were offered accommodation in University of Hull halls of residence, after the University of York was not able to accommodate them on campus.
As York Vision reported at the time, many of the students who were later offered Hull housing said they had been verbally offered accommodation in York when they spoke to the University on Results Day.
A University spokesperson told Vision that issues were caused by an “unprecedented demand” for on-campus housing.
This term, students who were living in Hull have moved to rooms in Anne Lister College on Campus East, meaning their rent has more than doubled, from a cost of around £70 a week (subsidised by the University) in Hull to a cost now of £149 a week.
A University spokesperson said: “We had a duty of care and responsibility to support our students who were temporarily accommodated in Hull, and this shuttle bus was a really important part of this.
“We also offered a 25% rent reduction for the autumn term whilst students were in Hull, as well as a free-of-charge removal service to move into our new Anne Lister College. The rent arrangements are now the same as for other students living in comparable accommodation on campus.”
YUSU President Patrick O’Donnell said: “YUSU Officers worked hard to lobby the University for rent reductions for students based in Hull, as well as a free shuttle bus service.
“There are numerous areas of work underway to increase York’s student housing supply from September 2022.