Substantial Evening Improvements to the 350

Service 350 between Hull, Barton and Scunthorpe gained a substantially improved Monday to Saturday evening service from Tuesday 2nd April, funded by North Lincolnshire Council's Bus Service Improvement Plan Plus funding allocation. All the extra and revised journeys are operated by Stagecoach.

Previously, after the East Yorkshire operated 1815 from Scunthorpe, there was just one later Stagecoach service at 1910. Since 2nd April, Stagecoach departures have operated at 1830, 1920, 2020 and 2120. From Hull the evening service comprised a 1835 and 2030 until March, but since April the 1835 is followed by a 1950, 2050, 2150 and 2300. 

As can be seen, from Hull at least there is now what could be considered a 'full' evening service six days a week. Meanwhile from Scunthorpe the last service is now two hours 10 minutes later. It should also be said that anyone wanting an evening out in Barton also benefits; a 2205 last departure from Barton Interchange to Hull and 2324 to Scunthorpe. Put simply, it's a massive improvement.

The enhanced evening service also benefits rail connections at Barton. The 2200 (2156 Sat) rail arrival at Barton from Cleethorpes previously had no bus connection onto Hull - well on Monday to Friday you could walk to Barton Market Place for the 2322 255 if you really wanted too. Now there is a 350 departure at 2205 to Hull six days a week. Connecting to the 2205 (2202 Sat) rail service from Barton to Cleethorpes meant using the 2030 350 from Hull and waiting nearly an hour in Barton, but now there is a slightly better connection at 2050 from Hull.

The new timetable isn't perfect though, but the below can probably be considered nit-picking. One notable feature is having a departure from Scunthorpe at 1815 followed by another at 1830. Not great spacing at all. This probably comes down to one or two things - the 1815 being operated by East Yorkshire and the 1830 by Stagecoach and/or ensuring that the 2300 from Hull is operated by Stagecoach Scunthorpe depot to avoid a post-midnight Scunthorpe to Hull run; the 1830 from Scunthorpe then covers the 1950 from Hull, 2120 from Scunthorpe and 2300 from Hull.

The 2120 from Scunthorpe has a 25 minute layover in Hull before returning. Unless the driver needs a mandatory short break in Hull, it seems a shame that the 2120, as the last departure from Scunthorpe, doesn't operate a little later, reducing the layover in Hull.

Finally the spacing of services along Boothferry Road in Hull. From Hull Paragon Interchange after the 1950 350, there is a 1955 66, a 2025 55 Fri/Sat only, a 2050 350, a 2055 66, a 2150 350, a 2155 66, then at 2300 a 66, a 350 and on Fri/Sat also a 55. I fully accept there are a lot of factors in play when it comes to timetabling, and intervals can't be perfect everywhere all of the time. However it's less than ideal, generally two buses within five minutes then nothing for fifty five minutes. Then at 2300, two or three services at once. 

For the record, the 0455 Monday to Friday 355 from Scunthorpe to Barton Wren Kitchens was withdrawn at this timetable change. First service from Scunthorpe to Barton is now the 0605 350.