Double Changes for the X45/X46/X47

Over the Summer, East Yorkshire made two sets of changes to their X45/X46/X47 services into York.

Starting with the 20th July changes, and there were three main alterations. Firstly the X45 between Market Weighton, Pocklington and York was extended to start back in Driffield on most journeys, incorporating service 145 between Driffield and Market Weighton and continuing to offer an hourly frequency Monday to Saturday daytimes. Services 145 and X45 were previously interworked offering through journeys at Market Weighton, so in reality this change was just making through working more obvious to passengers, and simplifying the network. The 145's single Market Weighton to Bridlington journey in the Monday to Friday evening peak remains as a X45.

Secondly, using Bus Service Improvement Plan funding, the Friday and Saturday evening only journeys on service X47 between Hull, Beverley, Market Weighton, Pocklington and York started operating on a Monday to Saturday basis. Monday to Thursday from Hull that meant a last departure to York at 2115 rather than 1915, plus a 2250 to Pocklington. From York the last departure to Hull became 2210 rather than 2110, plus an additional 2310 to Pocklington.

Thirdly the routes of the X45, X46 and X47 were amended in York City Centre. In September 2021, the X46 and X47 were amended to operate via James Street and Stonebow, due to congestion at the old Piccadilly stop, a route also followed by the X45 upon it's introduction. Now it's back to past, as the three services are routed via Walmgate to Piccadilly before continuing to/from York Station.

More significant changes came at the end of school Summer holidays on 31st August. Monday to Saturday daytimes the service pattern was amended from:

-1 X45 per hour Driffield-Market Weighton-Pocklington-Dunnington-York

-1 X46 per hour Hull-Beverley-Market Weighton-Pocklington-York

-1 X47 per hour Hull-Beverley-Market Weighton-Pocklington-Wilberfoss-York

Every 20 minutes Market Weighton-Pocklington-York, with a 20-40 minute interval Hull-Market Weighton

To:

1 X45 per hour Driffield-Market Weighton-Pocklington-Wilberfoss-York

1 X45 per hour Pocklington-Wilberfoss-York (these generally start/finish at The Balk in eastern Pocklington - an area with a lot of house building - providing maximum coverage of the town).

2 X46 per hour Hull-Beverley-Market Weighton-Pocklington-Dunnington-York

Every 15 minutes Pocklington to York and every half hour from Hull and Beverley to Market Weighton, Pocklington and York. Market Weighton to Pocklington and York is on a 15-15-30 minute interval.

This is yet further significant growth between Pocklington and York, just 10 months after the corridor went from every half hour to every 20 minutes. Wilberfoss and Barmby Moor get a doubled frequency from hourly to half hourly, as does the East Yorkshire operated service to Dunnington. 

There are reductions into Hull on a Saturday morning, albeit before the main shopping hours. The first arrival is now at 0910 rather than 0748 - earlier services from Beverley into Hull operate on other routes. The 0915 Beverley to Hull is withdrawn and the 0902 Pocklington to Hull truncated to a 0945 Beverley to Hull.

The X47 no longer operates Monday to Saturday daytimes. Two morning peak journeys into York continue, one from Market Weighton and one from Pocklington, serving both Wilberfoss and Dunnington.

Monday to Saturday evenings see fewer alterations. The X47 continues to operate and as per the morning peak, serves both Wilberfoss and Dunnington. The last departure from York, now slightly later at 2320 extends from Pocklington to Market Weighton, giving a 70 minute later last service than previously available. The 2250 from Hull to Pocklington now operates at 2215.

Friday and Saturday evening only variations also returned, with two new York to Dunnington and return X46 'shorts' at 2050 and 2150 from York, and 2120 and 2220 from Dunnington. East Yorkshire now offer an approximately half hourly service from York to Dunnington all day until 2220 Friday and Saturday (plus the later 2320). These evening journeys appear to be interworked with the Friday and Saturday evening only service on the 747.

On Sundays the corridor goes from hourly daytime Hull to York alternating between the X46 and X47, to half hourly daytime Hull to York (i.e. the same frequency as Monday to Saturday), still alternating between the X46 and X47. This means that East Yorkshire are now serving Dunnington on Sundays with the X46. On Sunday's however the X47 does not serve Dunnington, sticking to it's old route via Wilberfoss 'only' - a bit 'messy' to have a different route one day of the week, but serving Dunnington would have a time penalty, and a Sunday only service number would also add complexity.

Overall more impressive growth from East Yorkshire on this corridor. However from Stamford Bridge's perspective, have to hope that the East Yorkshire growth in Dunnington isn't adversely impacting First's route 10 between Stamford Bridge, Dunnington and York too much. There is a little bit of competition built into these developments amongst the genuine growth.