Humber Bridge tolls halved

In the Chancellor's Autumn Statement today came the very welcome news that the Humber Bridge tolls will be halved. Also announced today is government funding for A164 improvements between the Humber Bridge and Beverley, as well as the Immingham bypass - two important local road schemes.

Simple, but impressive

Last week I picked up a rather anonymous leaflet onboard a Stagecoach operated Humber Fastcat journey - the front page just a wrapped up Christmas present with a star containing the words 'christmas shopping made easy'. Inside I have to say I was rather impressed.

The first part of the leaflet outlines some very simple reasons for using the bus for Christmas shopping, principally in Hull, but also in Scunthorpe and Grimsby. But from where you might think? Thats only explained on the other side of the page, which contains departure times from Barton Market Place to Hull, Scunthorpe and Grimsby on the Humber Fastcat and Humber Flyer. There is also a small route map and basic fare information.

The leaflet keeps things very basic, clearly designed for infrequent or non-bus users. It could be argued it's too basic, for example no mention of EYMS (hope no one asks for a Humber Megarider on a EYMS Fastcat journey!), but on the other hand too much information could be confusing when trying to attract new customers. It's also the first time I have seen a consolidated timetable for the Humber Fastcat and Humber Flyer between Barton and Hull, and the rather impressive three buses an hour frequency promoted - it was one per hour less than three years ago.

The one major drawback is that it's not very clear until you get to the timetable page that the leaflet is designed to promoted the main Stagecoach services from Barton. Maybe it was designed for a leaflet drop within Barton - this would be much less of a problem then. Or a reference to Barton on the front page would have resolved this.

Overall it's very good to see Stagecoach actively promoting Barton's very good bus service, and trying to attract new customers with simple, custom-designed publicity.

To quote the leaflet though - 'A bus is for life not just for Christmas'. Publicity should also be for life, not just for Christmas, so how about a non-Christmas version of the leaflet Stagecoach?

48 Partial Replacement

A comment on this post indicates that in January EYMS will start 2 morning 35 journeys at Maplewood Avenue, and divert 2 afternoon journeys there. Maplewood Avenue is currently served by the 48, which has been cancelled with VOSA from January 8th.

This would maintain basic links from Maplewood Avenue to Hull Royal Infirmary and Hull City Centre. The 35 currently operates hourly, starting in Willerby serving Willerby Parkway, Wold Road, Albert Avenue and Hull Royal Infirmary en-route to Hull City Centre.

It is unclear if Kirklands Road would maintain service with the revised 35.

Current 35 timetable (including route map)
Current 48 timetable (including route map)

While this is clearly a reduction in service for Maplewood Avenue, hopefully the new arrangement will be more commercially sustainable.

EYMS 120 could run in winter in the future

From the minutes of latest Bridlington Bus Forum, held on 9th November. The 120 currently links Bridlington, Filey and Scarborough to various East Coast Holiday Parks in the Summer.

Bridlington – Scarborough 120 Service
Q - Could this service be run
through out the year?
A (BR) – EYMS is looking into the possibility of running the service in the
winter in future years
when the holiday parks are open

Arriva Selby-Goole changes

Arriva will be altering their services between Selby and Goole from January.

VOSA - Bus Registration Search Results: PB0001672/5 - ARRIVA YORKSHIRE NORTH LTD, 24 BARNSLEY ROAD, WAKEFIELD, WF1 5JX
Variation Accepted: Operating between Selby Bus Station and Goole, North Street given service number 400/401/8 effective from 16-Jan-2012. To amend Timetable.

Amvale 50 change

From Monday 5th December, the schooldays only 1452 Grimsby-Cherry Park journey on Amvale service 50 will be withdrawn. Alternative departures from Grimsby Riverhead Bus Station are at 1400 and 1732, both of which operate the full route to Saltfleet.

(Info from Traveline East Midlands)

EYMS Hull University Corridor Service Changes

EYMS are planning January changes to services between Hull City Centre, Hull University and Cottingham.

VOSA - Bus Registration Search Results: PB0000328/273 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS
Variation Accepted: Operating between Hull and The Lawns given service number 102/103/105 effective from 15-Jan-2012. To amend Route and Timetable.

Hornsby Travel to operate the Wolds Villager

Explaining why North Lincolnshire Council cancelled their registration, Hornsby Travel have today registered the 68 'Wolds Villager'

VOSA - Bus Registration Search Results: PB0001410/28 - HORNSBY TRAVEL SERVICES LTD, 51 - 53 ASHBY HIGH STREET, SCUNTHORPE, DN16 2NB
Registration Accepted by SN
Starting Point: Barnetby, South Street
Finish Point: Barnetby, South Street
Via: Brigg
Service Number: 68
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 21-NOV-2011
Other Details: Monday to Friday Not on bank holidays

This is a short notice change, and was only received by VOSA on November 16th.

However it doesn't explain the Thursday Ulceby to Brigg 68/366 duplication, mentioned yesterday.

Wolds Villager (Service 68)

Posted on VOSA today:

VOSA - Bus Registration Search Results: PB0004332/8 - NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL, HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORT, PO BOX 42, SCUNTHORPE, DN15 6XQ
Cancellation Accepted by SN: Operating between Kirmington, Chapel and Brigg Leisure Centre given service number 68 effective from 21-Nov-2011.

Seems odd since I have seen nothing on the North Lincolnshire Council website about any changes due, either in the public transport section or as a report to the responsible cabinet member. Could be reregistered I guess.

However to confuse things a bit more I checked the Traveline East Midlands website and found the 68 still running, complete with a new (to me) timetable, providing clockface departures from Brigg and a Tuesday/Thursday extension beyond Kirmington to Ulceby. The sort of extension that could replace the Thursday journey on the Stagecoach operated tendered 366 between Brigg and Ulceby. Except both Traveline East Midlands and Stagecoach show no changes to the Thursday 366. Surely there is not a 0920 68 followed by a 0925 366 from Ulceby to Brigg every Thursday?

So can anyone clear up what is going on?

EYMS Christmas/New Year 2011/12

EYMS have released detailed information about services over Christmas and New Year. A summary:

Christmas Eve - Normal Saturday Service with early finish around 8pm. No Nightbuses
Christmas Day - No service
Boxing Day - Usual hourly daytime 34C (Hull-Willerby), 56 (Hull-Longhill-Asda Bilton) and 64C (Hull-Cottingham-Castle Hill Hospital-Willerby)
Bank Holiday Tuesday 27th - Sunday service

Wednesday 27th-Friday 29th - Saturday service except:
Nightbuses 107 (Cottingham) - No service
182 (Beverley-Hessle) - The 2.30pm from Beverley shall not operate
195/6/8/9 (Pocklington Area) - normal weekday service
270 (Driffield-Beeford) - normal weekday service
Fastcat 350 - normal weekday service (memo to EYMS. The Weekday and Saturday services are now identical, so no need to confuse customers here)
747 - normal weekday service
X47 (Hull-York) - some evening services will not run
X55 (Hull-Gilberdyke) - normal weekday service

In addition:
On the Wednesday only:
Services 160/2 (Goole) - normal Wednesday service
Service 241 (Aldbrough-Beverley) - Normal service
Nightbus 106 (Cottingham) - will not operate

On the Thursday only:
Service 134 (Driffield) - shall operate as normal
Service 135 (Driffield-Sledmere) - the 9.10/11.40 from Driffield shall operate as on normal Thursdays, other nomral Thursday journeys will not operate
Service 143 (Melton-Beverley) - will not operate
Services 160/2 (Goole) - will not operate
Nightbus 106 (Cottingham) - will not operate

On the Friday only:
Service 143 (Melton-Beverley) - will not operate
Services 160/2 (Goole) - will not operate
Services S1-3 (Market Weighton) - normal Friday service

New Years Eve - Normal Saturday service will early finish around 8pm. No Nightbus services.
New Years Day - No service this year (the 34C/56/64C operated last New Years Day)
Bank Holiday Monday 2nd - Sunday service
Tuesday 3rd January - back to normal

Willerby Corridor January Changes

Changes will happen to EYMS service on the Hull to Willerby corridor in January

VOSA - Bus Registration Search Results: PB0000328/48 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS
Variation Accepted: Operating between Hull and Willerby Square given service number 33/34/34C/35/35A/44/44A/44C effective from 08-Jan-2012. To amend Route and Timetable.

How to make a joke of EU driver hour rules

How to make a joke off the EU rules concerning driver working hours on long routes ... split it into three sections and operate under domestic rules with no tachographs.! The EU rules may be well intended, but in reality they are either easily avoided, or add expense for operators, or lead to cutbacks to services.

VOSA - Bus Registration Search Results: PB0001987/94 - CLEVELAND TRANSIT LTD T/A STAGECOACH NORTHEAST, ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, WHEATSHEAF, SUNDERLAND, SR5 1AQ
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Hull Interchange and Leeds Bus Station given service number X62 effective from 03-Jan-2012.

PB0001987/294 - CLEVELAND TRANSIT LTD T/A STAGECOACH NORTHEAST, ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, WHEATSHEAF, SUNDERLAND, SR5 1AQ
Registration Accepted
Starting Point: Hull Interchange
Finish Point: Goole
Via:
Service Number: X62
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 03-JAN-2012
Other Details: Monday to Friday 5 journeys per day, Saturday 7 journeys per day, Sunday 2 journeys per day.

PB0001987/295 - CLEVELAND TRANSIT LTD T/A STAGECOACH NORTHEAST, ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, WHEATSHEAF, SUNDERLAND, SR5 1AQ
Registration Accepted
Starting Point: Goole
Finish Point: Castleford
Via:
Service Number: X62
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 03-JAN-2012
Other Details: Monday to Friday 5 journeys per day. Saturday 7 journey per day, Sundays 2 journeys per day.

PB0001987/296 - CLEVELAND TRANSIT LTD T/A STAGECOACH NORTHEAST, ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, WHEATSHEAF, SUNDERLAND, SR5 1AQ
Registration Accepted
Starting Point: Castleford
Finish Point: Leeds Bus Station
Via:
Service Number: X62
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 03-JAN-2012
Other Details: Monday to Friday 5 journeys, Saturdays 7 journeys, Sundays 2 journeys.

It doesn't look like Stagecoach are taking the opportunity to improve the frequency as hinted at here - it does however mean the possible smaller vehicles to be used on the X62 wouldn't need tachographs.

48 cancelled?

VOSA - Bus Registration Search Results: PB0000328/373 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Hull interchange and Maplewood Avenue given service number 48 effective from 08-Jan-2012.

The service was proposed to be cancelled earlier in the year, but was 'saved' back in May, with EYMS encouraging pensioners to make a voluntary donation to keep the service going. The 48 operates every 70 minutes, 7 days a week, serving various 'side roads' in West Hull and parts of East Yorkshire.

Scunthorpe-Goole minor change

From Monday (14th November) Sweyne Coaches are withdrawing the 1000 Scunthorpe-Goole service 357, which currently operates on college days only.

New Blog Features

Some new features now available on the right hand side of the page:

Subscribe to the blog by email (and through some other services that I'm not quite sure how they work!)
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Recent comments section

Any feedback about the blog is always welcome.

Humber Fastcat Changes Loose Ends

To clear up some loose ends with the 350 Humber Fastcat changes next week.

The 'big mystery' as to why EYMS are pulling the early morning journeys and Stagecoach taking them over apparently isn't such a big mystery after all. An informed comment said they were tendered and Stagecoach are taking them on commercially. I'd been under the impression that the Humber Fastcat had been 100% commercial since the March 2009 relaunch. North Lincolnshire Council have removed all reference to tendered journey's from their timetables since then. Which then leads to the question, do North Lincolnshire Council support any other 350 journeys that they don't admit to in their own publicity?

The current 0707 from Barton to Scunthorpe, which will start in Hull at 0620 from Monday will now leave Barton Station at 0700 and run 7 minutes earlier throughout. So no 15 minute waits in Barton!

And the 'missing' balancing evening cut from Scunthorpe to Hull I had previously wondered about is the 1840 departure.

New timetable valid from Monday 7th November 2011