Major Stagecoach changes in Greatfield and Bilton Grange

From 27th July Stagecoach are proposing to make major changes to their Greatfield and Bilton Grange services, as explained in great depth on their website, something which I commend them for.

In summary the changes are as follows:

The 43 to Greatfield and 54 to Bilton Grange will link up. The 54 will have a new route. It will continue to serve Holderness Road, but only as far as Portobello Street. It will then follow the current service 42 route down Portobello Street before returning to the current service 54 route along Staveley Road, Barham Road and Amethyst Road. Finally it will then continue to Grange Road and change to service number 43 to return into Hull via Preston Road, The current service 43 route shall be unchanged.

The frequency on both services shall be every 10 minutes on weekdays, every 15 minutes on Saturdays and every 30 minutes on Sundays. Both routes shall become frequento services, and be operated by low floor buses - currently only service 54 has such a status.

Service 40 which largely duplicates the 43, apart from a diversion down Newbridge Road, shall be withdrawn. Newbridge Road is also served by EYMS service 41, which is unchanged.

The 40 also served Falkland Road in Greatfield, which shall in future be served solely by service 42. This service shall also see a new route; instead of operating via Portobello Street it shall operate along Southcoates Lane, Preston Road, Marfleet Lane and Staveley Road before picking up the current route at Wingfield Road. The frequency shall be every 10 minutes weekday peaks, very 12 minutes weekday daytime, every 15 minutes Saturdays, every half hour Sunday and every hour in the evenings daily.

Stagecoach say the changes are an attempt to combat falling usage and are an attempt to simplify the network, as well as improving reliability. Lets hope it works.