Tried and Failed: Weekday late evening Humber Fastcat services

Catching up on Stagecoach's April changes in Hull now, starting with the 350 Humber Fastcat. At the start of 2017, Stagecoach introduced new Monday to Saturday 2220 and 2330 Hull to Barton services, plus a 2255 Barton to Hull. This was a very welcome addition, no doubt in a large part due to City of Culture, but also useful for other reasons, such as train connections from Hull, evening matches at the KC Stadium or attending an evening event in Barton, for example at the Ropewalk.

However the Monday to Friday services were withdrawn from Monday 30th April. At least Stagecoach tried, and gave the journeys 16 months (14-15 months until their withdrawal was registered with VOSA). They weren't withdrawn in haste before they had been given chance to develop custom, although maybe the 'execution' wasn't perfect? Maybe six days a week was too ambitious? Friday and Saturday, or Thursday, Friday and Saturday could have been a better way to start. Maybe they could have been promoted better? Maybe they would have done better if they also served Barton Market Place, Pasture Road and Butts Road? Could the dead running from Barton to Hull just after midnight (I presume Hull depot worked the journeys) have been run in service and picked up the odd passenger? The last Hull to Barton service on weekdays is now at 2120, and from Barton Interchange to Hull at 2052.

The improvement hasn't been an entire failure though, as the late evening journeys continue to run on Saturdays. Hopefully these are doing well and can have a long term future.