Every 20 Minutes from Market Weighton to York

One of the most notable aspects of East Yorkshire's 10th November 2024 service changes was the introduction of new service X45 between Market Weighton, Pocklington, Dunnington and York, as well as substantial enhancements to the 145 between Market Weighton and Driffield.

The Market Weighton to York corridor had been provided with half hourly services Monday to Saturday daytimes across hourly routes X46 and X47 between Hull, Beverley, Market Weighton, Pocklington and York. Both the X46 and X47 remain hourly, twice per hour combined, but now at 20-40 minute intervals; this is unfortunate, but with part of the route at two buses per hour and another part now at three buses per hour, one part has to have an uneven frequency (or a long mid-route pause).

The new X45 also runs hourly, giving departures every 20 minutes from Market Weighton, Shiptonthorpe, Hayton and Pocklington to York, and from York City Centre back to Hull Road in York, Pocklington, Hayton, Shiptonthorpe and Market Weighton. The X45's route via Dunnington restores a Dunnington to Pocklington link for the first time since September 2019, as well as providing an all day service for Common Road in Dunnington, otherwise only served by First's early morning 10A.

East Yorkshire's press release also includes a 'jibe' at First's AI timetabling, which leads to uneven frequencies on Dunnington's main service, route 10. As someone who much prefers memorable evenly spaced times, I totally agree on this one:

Stuart Fillingham, Head of Commercial at East Yorkshire Buses, commented on the new services: "We are pleased to respond to the phenomenal growth of the X46 and X47 routes by introducing this new service, which provides buses up to every 20 minutes between Market Weighton, Pocklington, Hull Road, and York. We are also delighted to return to Dunnington after a long absence. Not only will customers be able to benefit from journeys to Pocklington and Market Weighton, but they will also enjoy a new hourly service to York."

Mr Fillingham added: "We’ve worked hard to ensure, where possible, our new trips into Dunnington and from York follow a consistent timetable, with departures at the same time each hour. Our customers tell us they appreciate regular, easy-to-remember departure times, and we’re looking forward to welcoming both new and returning passengers on board. Additionally, we will be furnishing our new customers with user-friendly printed timetables to help them on their journeys."

The X46 and X47 have been revised in York City Centre to operate a loop via Skeldergate, Nunnery Lane, York Station and Rougier Street, as opposed to serving Rougier Street en-route to/from the Station in both directions, and then turning round 'out of service'. The X45 also follows this loop.

Looking at some of the specific detail, the first X45 Monday to Friday from Pocklington is at 0520 Monday to Friday, arriving at York Station for 0555; previous first service from Pocklington was the 0555 X46, arriving at York Station at 0637. This is great for early morning commuters and rail connections. On Friday and Saturday evenings the 2220 Pocklington to York X47 now starts in Hull at 2115, providing a one hour later Hull to York last service.

Overall the Market Weighton-Pocklington-York corridor is rather impressive with a service every 20 minutes over a long route that includes plenty of fields. There is plenty of housebuilding to help in Market Weighton and Pocklington, but credit to East Yorkshire for really developing the market here.

Service 145 between Driffield and Market Weighton had previously operated in certain respects as two separate services; a Monday to Friday peak time service for connections to York at Market Weighton, and with the evening peak departure from Market Weighton extended to Bridlington - then a Monday to Saturday hourly off peak (with lunch break) Driffield to Lund service, operating the same route as the Market Weighton journeys between Driffield and Middleton, before then serving Lund instead off Market Weighton.

Since 11th November and funded by East Riding of Yorkshire Council's Bus Service Improvement Plan allocation, the 145 is now a Monday to Saturday hourly daytime service between Driffield and Market Weighton, with most services continuing as a X45 to/from York. The Monday to Friday evening peak extension to Bridlington remains. The enhanced 145 is a substantial improvement for both local and longer distance travel.

As most journeys operate as a through service at Market Weighton, it is a shame there is a service number change. Maybe this is to separate out the council funded 145 and commercial X45? Or to keep 'options open' if either the 145 or X45 don't work out? 

The one place that doesn't benefit is Lund, which is no longer served by the 145. However I suspect the very small village of Lund was only served because there was spare time, rather than because of significant demand. Lund retains the 142 to Beverley.