Can a reduced service be a better service?

Saturday 9th November 2024 might go down in local bus history as a notable day - the last day of East Yorkshire operating a share of the 350 between Hull, Barton and Scunthorpe. Since I think 1981 and the opening of the Humber Bridge, EYMS/East Yorkshire had operated a one bus share of the 350 every three hours Monday to Saturday daytimes, and for various periods in the evening as well, sometimes full route, sometimes just between Hull and Barton. For most if not all of this century, EYMS/East Yorkshire had also provided a one bus share of the Sunday service.

For reasons unknown East Yorkshire pulled of the 350, leaving the route entirely to Stagecoach. Whilst there was a few weeks of uncertainty after East Yorkshire's announcement, ultimately Stagecoach have replaced East Yorkshire's share of the route. Monday to Saturday this was done on a 'like for like' basis, with Stagecoach's Hull depot picking up an extra 'diagram' so that both Hull and Scunthorpe each provide three vehicles during the daytime. Sundays have been revised though.

Previously there were seven journeys each way on a Sunday between Hull and Scunthorpe, with most extending from/to Ashby High Street. Intervals between journeys varied between one hour, two hours and three hours. Stagecoach's Scunthorpe depot provided two vehicles, albeit one only needed until 1051, whilst East Yorkshire provided one.

Since Sunday 10th November, the Sunday 350 is exclusively the domain of Stagecoach's Scunthorpe depot with a new two hourly timetable providing six journeys each way (i.e. one less) using two vehicles and no Ashby extensions. The first service from Hull is notably later at 0940 rather than 0830, as is the last service from Scunthorpe, now at 1815 rather than 1955. There is no attempt to provide train connections at Barton.

That sounds like a poorer service, and for a small number of travellers it may well be. However I think the even interval two hourly frequency makes for a better service - the inconvenient three hour gaps are gone. Connections to a four month a year Summer rail service are no longer dictating the timetable, which I think was a case of the tail wagging the dog. I fully support bus-rail connections wherever possible, but at Barton they sadly seem little used whatever the day of the week. In contrast there are plenty of bus travellers between Barton and Hull and the potential to grow with a more attractive Sunday timetable.

It's also worth noting that the Ashby to Scunthorpe section had received substantially improved Sunday services in 2024, with a new Sunday service on route 6 and extra journeys on route 4. Maybe the Sunday 350 extensions lost their purpose?

For the record, the last remnant of service 355 from Scunthorpe to Barton Wren Kitchens ceased at the start of September; the 1710 departure from Barton.