Alliance Rail/GNER Cleethorpes-London Service Application

It's been in the planning stage for a few years, but Alliance Rail yesterday (27th Feb) formally announced an application to operate up to four trains per day between Cleethorpes, Grimsby, Scunthorpe, Doncaster and London Kings Cross from December 2017, using the GNER brand. Services would be operated by Hitachi Super Express Trains (the trains being developed as part of the Intercity Express Programme). Their website also indicates that services would stop at Habrough. Earlier plans for stops at Thorne South and Retford seem to have been scrapped, and the lack of a Barnetby stop remains a surprise.

EYMS Driffield Depot To Close

EYMS have confirmed the closure of their Driffield depot, potentially by June subject to union and staff consultation, as reported by the Hull Daily Mail. EYMS has had a presence in Driffield since 1926. The closure is being blamed on central and local government funding cuts, with EYMS looking to reduce overheads to avoid significant cuts to services, and in turn job losses.

Despite the closure, only minor changes will be made to services, as all routes currently operated from Driffield depot will be reallocated to depots in Hull, Bridlington, Scarborough and/or Pocklington. As a result there will be no reduction in the number of drivers needed, and EYMS note most of Driffield's 33 staff (28 drivers) will have the opportunity to relocate. The changes that will be made include reductions in evening services on route 121 between Hull and Scarborough as buses will no longer be travelling back from Hull or Bridlington to Driffield at the end of the day.

Clearly this is sad news, but preferable to cut overheads than cut services. If EYMS was part of a larger group would Driffield depot have survived this long with just 15 buses and the main service (the 121) serving four other towns/cities with EYMS depots?

EYMS have given assurances to staff that no other depot closures are currently being considered.

EYMS Service 504 April Change

EYMS are amending service 504 in April. From VOSA:

PB0000328/198 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS

Variation Accepted: Operating between Bridlington Bus Station and Bempton given service number 504 effective from 28-Apr-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

East Yorkshire Bus Cuts Coming?

East Riding of Yorkshire Council are to cut £240,000 from the concessionary bus travel scheme, with two further years of cuts expected totalling £750,000. EYMS Chairman Peter Shipp says that while he hopes not to cut any routes entirely, evening, Sunday and off peak journeys will have to be reviewed, and fare rises may be necessary.

See this Driffield Times and Post article for the full story.

North Lincolnshire Bus Cuts in 2016-17 ?

North Lincolnshire Council's proposed 2014-18 Budget includes a £68,000 saving in "bus subsidy procurement" in 2014-15 and a £100,000 reduction in subsidised bus services in 2016-17, with the development of community transport, I presume as a replacement for the affected bus services.

North Lincolnshire has not seen any major cuts to tendered services in the past few years (and the 260 Villager gained a Saturday service). Bigger cuts were actually made in 2006. 10 years after those cuts, further cuts could be coming.

The budget is presented to a full council meeting on 25th February, and the report can be accessed on this page.

EYMS 1E March Changes

January saw the introduction of Hull City Council tendered service 1E, operated by EYMS, between Mizzen Road in North Hull, the city centre and Sibelius Road in West Hull. However it has struggled to run to time, and from Monday 3rd March will be revised.

Currently in West Hull all journeys serve the Royal Infirmary, Rawling Way, Hessle Road Boyes, Boulevard, Selby Street, St George's Road, Hessle Road Asda, Hawthorn Avenue, North Road, Askew Avenue and Pickering Road en-route to Sibelius Road. From next month the 1E will omit Hawthorn Avenue and North Road, instead operating directly from Hessle Road to Askew Avenue via the railway flyover. The 1E is reduced from hourly to operate every two hours, with new service 1D operating in the alternate hours. Service 1D will follow the 1E route between Mizzen Road and Hessle Road Boyes before operating directly along Hessle Road to Asda, omitting Boulevard, Selby Street and St George's Road. After serving Hessle Road Asda service 1D shall provide a replacement service for Hawthorn Avenue and North Road before joining the 1E route to Sibelius Road.

As a result Boulevard, Selby Street, St George's Road, Hawthorn Avenue and North Road go from having an hourly service to having a two hourly service. Compared to recent service standards that level of service is still good, and with a shorter route hopefully the revised 1D/1E will do better at keeping to time.

Love Your X

Today (Saturday 15th February) saw the start of a new timetable for Stagecoach's X62 Ridings Express - or as it is now branded - Love Your X - between Hull, North Ferriby, Brough, Goole, Eggborough, Glasshoughton Junction 32 Shopping Outlet and Leeds.

The service has been increased from 7 return trips Monday to Saturday and 2 on Sundays to 9 Monday to Saturday and 4 on Sunday.

Monday to Saturday Old Departure Times:
Hull - 0630, 0930, 1030, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1700
Leeds - 0900, 1200, 1300, 1430, 1630, 1730, 1910

Monday to Saturday New Departure Times:
Hull - 0450, 0630, 0910, 1010, 1110, 1330, 1430, 1530, 1740
Leeds - 0645, 0845, 1125, 1225, 1325, 1540, 1640, 1740, 1940

Sunday Old Departure Times:
Hull - 1030, 1530
Leeds - 1230, 1730

Sunday New Departure Times:
Hull - 0910, 1010, 1430, 1530
Leeds - 1125, 1225, 1640, 1740

What stands out most is the new 0450 from Hull to Leeds, particularly on Saturdays, which seems to be a bold move catering to very early-bird commuters and those connecting further afield at Leeds. It won't have any 'feed' from local services in Hull. The 0645 return from Leeds, and retimed later last departure from Hull, allows Stagecoach to offer a commuting option into Hull.

It's not just an improved timetable that has been introduced; double deckers have been replaced by coaches, the service has been rebranded, promotional offers started in association with shops in Hull and at Junction 32, and a new Megarider X weekly ticket introduced.

For most of the past decade the X62 has seen fairly frequent timetable changes - this post covers up to 2009. However since an October 2012 change (and that was only for an amended weekday timetable), the timetable has been constant. I presume that timetable has been a success and given Stagecoach the confidence to invest further in the X62 with today's relaunch. Good luck to them.

North Lincolnshire Council 'Review of Contracted Services'

North Lincolnshire Council have issued a public notice that within 28 days from 10th February, a Key Decision will be made in relation to a 'Review of Contracted [Public Transport] Services'. Part, if not all, of the associated report is however exempt from being made available to the public.

I have not found any further information on the council website about what exactly is being considered.

Service 50 makes a welcome return

Back in September Hull City Council replaced tendered Monday to Saturtday daytime service 50 with new route 58, oeprated by EYMS. It continued to link Hull City Centre with Laburnum Avenue,  James Reckitt Avenue, Ings Road, Holderness Road Morrisons and Broadway Drive. However it did not serve the southern end of Holderness Road as the 50 had done, instead operating via Beverley Road, Clough Road and Chamberlain Road; it also did not serve Jalland Lodge in Bilton Grange as the 50 had done.

This change did not go down well, as many users of the 50 wanted to go to the shops, banks and other facilities on the southern end of Holderness Road. The aim of the 58 was to offer daytime links to employment sites on Clough Road but I guess these links haven't been well used, and the users of the 50 weren't happy with having to go to Hull City Centre or Morrisons when they would sometimes rather shop on Holderness Road.

At the last Hull Bus Forum, the city council representative called the change a "mistake", and from Monday 10th February it is being reversed with the 58 being replaced by returning service 50, again operated by EYMS. The timetable is reduced with less journeys; the 58 had 7 from Hull and 6 from Broadway Drive while the 50 will have 4 from Hull (5 on Saturdays) plus a 'short' extra from Jalland Lodge to Morrisons and 5 from Morrisons (6 on Saturdays). The operating period is also slightly reduced. The early 0810 from Hull is cancelled, first departure from Hull now 1020 (probably no need for the 0810 now the route no longer serves Clough Road) and the last journey from Hull Interchange is 1640 rather than 1730 - that should please passengers who complained at the Hull Bus Forum the 1600 was too early and 1730 too late with the old 58 timetable.

At least Hull City Council have recognised their mistake and returned the service to what passengers seem to want. Goes to show though that it's not just bus operators that can misjudge public opinion. In those areas such as Tyne and Wear where authorities wish to introduce Quality Contracts and plan the bus network themselves, is the public sector necessarily going to understand bus passengers wishes any better than private sector operators?

EYMS A63 Corridor Changes

From next Sunday, 26th January, EYMS are altering services along the A63 corridor to improve punctuality. There are also some minor improvements and reductions incorporated into the changes.

Petuaria Express X55/X56/X57 Hull-Brough-Howden-Goole

As well as changes to times off up 20 minutes, the changes include:

• The Weekday 0620 X55 from Elloughton to Goole becomes an 0615 X57, additionally serving South Cave and North Cave.
• The Weekday 0820 X55 from Hull to Gilberdyke becomes an 0820 X56 from Hull to Goole, meaning it will additionally serve South Cave and North Cave but omit Gilberdyke village centre
• The Saturday 0836 X55 from Elloughton to Goole becomes an 0855 X56 from Elloughton and Goole
• There is a new Weekday 0841 X56 from Howden to Hull
• The Monday to Saturday 0915 X57 from Gilberdyke to Hull is extended to start at Howden at 0858
• The Weekday 1315 X55 from Hull to Goole becomes a 1320 X55 from Hull to Howden, leaving a three hour afternoon gap in EYMS services from Howden to Goole
• The Weekday 1430 X55 from Goole to Hull is withdrawn
• Some daytime journeys from Goole to Hull swap between being an X55 or X56, and vice versa

There are also some routing changes. Services will no longer serve the city centre loop in Hull between 9am and 3pm (the loop is now only served at peak times, post 6pm and on Sundays). In Goole after operating into the town via the Hospital services will terminate at the Interchange and then serve North Street on their outbound journey.

Wicstun Express X4 Hull-Brough-Market Weighton-York

Times are slightly revised and the 'short' 0807/0812 South Cave-Hull and 1740 Hull-South Cave are withdrawn.

Service 155 Hull-Brough-Howden-Goole

Times are slightly revised. The Saturday 1340 Hull-South Cave will now terminate at South Cave Market Place rather than South Cave West End. The Monday to Saturday 1605 Howden-Hull will start in Goole at 1548 and is 'split' at Elloughton; I presume a change of vehicle will be required. The Monday to Saturday 1745 Goole to Gilberdyke becomes a 1753 from Goole to Elloughton (see also the 153 below). The Monday to Saturday 1945 Goole-Brough becomes a 1953 Goole-Elloughton.

The service will also follow the new Petuaria Express route in Goole.

Service 153 Hull-North Ferriby-Brough-Gilberdyke

The weekday 1445 from Hull to North Ferriby will terminate at Swanland. The Monday to Saturday 1745 from Hull to Swanland is extended to Elloughton, resulting in the withdrawal of the 1825 from Swanland to Hull. The 1820 from Gilberdyke to Hull will now start at Elloughton at 1856 and operate 10 minutes later throughout; as a result the 153 will no longer serve Gilberdyke, Newport Bridge and North Cave. The newly extended 1753 service 155 from Goole connects into the 1856 service 153 at Elloughton.

Comments

These changes are about punctuality not making major changes to service patterns - but they do highlight just how complex the services along the A63 corridor are, something I have raised before. Could service patterns be simplified? For example apart from serving Brantingham don't the 155 and X57 follow the same route between Elloughton and Goole? So unless there is demand from Brantingham why not renumber all the 'short' Elloughton-Goole journeys as the X57, and withdraw the 155 from Goole?

Finally, is there a lot of positioning journeys on the Petuaria Express and 155 - there are quite a few journeys that don't have obvious 'matching working' - e.g. what happens to the vehicle that does the weekday 1320 X55 Hull-Howden afterwards? What happens to the vehicle that does the 0700 X55 from Hull to Gilberdyke? How do the vehicles for the 0841/0858 Howden-Hull Petuaria Express get there? What happens to the vehicle that does the Monday to Saturday 1420 X56 from Hull to North Cave. How does the vehicle for the 1548 155 from Goole get there? School workings might be an explanation on schooldays, but not on school holidays and Saturdays. Could some positioning journeys be run 'in service' or is there a good reason why not?

Stagecoach X62 February Change

Stagecoach have today registered with VOSA to amend the timetable of service X62 (Hull-Brough-Goole-Leeds) from mid-February:

PB0001484/266 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB
Variation Accepted: Operating between Hull Interchange and Goole given service number X62 effective from 15-Feb-2014. To amend Timetable.

PB0001484/267 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB
Variation Accepted: Operating between Goole and Casstleford given service number X62 effective from 15-Feb-2014. To amend Timetable.

PB0001484/268 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB
Variation Accepted: Operating between Castleford and Leeds Coach Station given service number X62 effective from 15-Feb-2014. To amend Timetable.

Stagecoach re-register Europarc Service 20

Stagecoach have today re-registered tendered service 20 between Cleethorpes, Grimsby and the Europarc industrial estate that they had cancelled with VOSA with effect from 1st January.

PB0001484/297 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB

• Registration Accepted by SN
• Starting Point: Cleethorpes
• Finish Point: Europarc
• Via:
• Service Number: 20
• Service Type: Normal Stopping
• Effective Date: 02-JAN-2014
• Other Details: North East Lincolnshire Council have requested that we continue to operate this previously expired Tendered Service.

 

1E: Second Time Lucky?

EYMS have confirmed that at the request of Hull City Council tendered services 1A (Hull-Sibelius Road) and 1C (Kingswood-Hull-Sibelius Road) will be replaced by service 1E (Mizzen Road-Hull-Sibelius Road) from Monday 20th January.

This change had originally been planned for September - see this blog post for full details of what was planned - but was then cancelled less than a week before the change was due to be introduced.

EYMS Services Christmas and New Year 2013-14

EYMS Service Plans this Christmas and New Year:

Christmas Eve - Normal Service with early finish
Christmas Day - No Services
Boxing Day - Hourly Daytime Service on Routes 34, 56, 64C, 66 - and new for 2013, Routes 115 and 154
Friday 27th - Saturday Service, except a Normal Friday Service on Routes 195, 199, S1, S2 and S3 and No Services on Routes X36, 106, 107, 143, 160 and 162
Saturday 28th - Normal Service
Sunday 29th - Normal Service
Monday 30th - Saturday Service, except a Normal Monday Service on Routes 195 and 241, and No Services on Routes X36, 106, 107, 160 and 162. Some Evening Journeys on Services 75 and X47 will not operate
New Years Eve - Saturday Service with early finish, except a Normal Tuesday Service on Routes S2, 195, 196 and 198 and No Services on Routes X36, 106, 107, 143, 160 and 162.
New Years Day - No Services

Stagecoach Hull Area Services Christmas and New Year 2013-14

Stagecoach service plans for the Hull area this Christmas and New Year period:

Christmas Eve - Normal Service until 2000. Any journeys due to start after 2000 will not operate
Christmas Day - No Services
Boxing Day - Special Services, See Below
Friday 27th and Saturday 28th - Normal Saturday Service including Nightbuses
Sunday 29th - Normal Service
Monday 30th - Saturday Service including Nightbuses
New Years Eve - Saturday Service until 2000, LinQ 1+2 operate to almost normal Saturday timetable plus special Nightbus timetable, see below
New Years Day - No Services

Boxing Day:
Hourly Daytime Service on Routes 1, 2, 28B (No service to Kingswood), 30C (North Bransholme-Hull via Sutton Road and Leads Road), 32, 41A (via Holderness Road via Newbridge Road), 43, and 51. Some extra journeys will operate on Routes 30C, 32 and 51
Half Hourly Daytime Service on Routes 13/13A, 14 and 15
Plus Football Routes 31F, 43F and 51F

New Years Eve:
Nightbus N2 operates from Hull at 0030, 0100, 0130 and 0200
Nightbus N2 operates from Hessle at 0055 and 0125
Nightbus N15 operates from Hull at 0055 and 0155
Nightbus N15 operates from Kingswood at 0130
Nightbus N43 operates from Hull at 0030, 0100, 0130 and 0200
Nightbus N51 operates from Hull at 0100 and 0200
Nightbus N51 operates from Kingswood at 0121

If my notes are correct there are no major changes to Boxing Day services this year except for the 30 serving Leads Road. New Years Eve sees a reduced evening service; last year journeys ran post 2000 on routes 1, 2, 15, 31, 43, 51 and 54 whereas the only evening service post 2000 this year will be on LinQ 1+2. The Nightbus network is altered to reflect route changes to the year round Saturday Nightbus network

Stagecoach Grimsby Area Services Christmas and New Year 2013-14

Stagecoach service plans for the Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Immingham areas this Christmas and New Years period:

Christmas Eve - Normal Tuesday Service with early finish
Christmas Day - No Service
Boxing Day - Hourly Daytime Services on Routes 9A (including New Waltham), 13, 14 and 46
Friday 27th - Saturday Service, except Normal Friday Service on Routes 1, 2, 20 and 25
Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th - Normal Service
Monday 30th - Saturday Service, except Normal Monday Service on Routes 1, 2, 20 and 25
New Years Eve - Saturday Service with early finish except Normal Tuesday Services on Routes 1, 2 and 25. Normal Tuesday Service with early finish on Route 20
New Years Day - No Service

The above service pattern is the same as last year.

Stagecoach Scunthorpe Area Services Christmas and New Year 2013-14

Stagecoach service plans for the Scunthorpe area this Christmas and New Year period:

Christmas Eve - Normal Tuesday Service with early finish
Christmas Day - No Service
Boxing Day - No Service
Friday 27th-Monday 30th - Normal Service
New Years Eve - Normal Tuesday Service with early finish
New Years Day - No Service

Compared to last year, the hourly Boxing Day service on Scunthorpe Town Services 31A and 32A will not operate, which is sadly a backwards step in service provision. I presume the services were poorly used last year?

Scunthorpe Hospital Service Changes February 2014

Hornsby Travel are revising services 9 and 90 in February; service 90 is operated under contract to North Lincolnshire Council. The below is taken from Traveline East Midlands.

Serrvice 9 currently provides a 20 minute frequency Monday to Saturday daytime between Scunthorpe Bus Station and Scunthorpe Hospital, operating on an anti-clockwise loop serving Cliff Gardens outbound from Scunthorpe Bus Station and Church Lane inbound. While primarily a hospital shuttle service, it does serve some residential areas. From Saturday 1st February however the Saturday service is severely cutback. Instead of a 20 minute frequency, services will now only operate from Scunthorpe Bus Station at 0845, 1045, 1145, 1345 and 1445, serving the Scunthorpe Hospital Main Entrance at 0855, 1055, 1155, 1355 and 1455.

Additionally a limited number of extra journeys will be provided by revised service 90 between Scunthorpe, Crowle and Luddington. All Saturday journeys will now operate via the hospital grounds, as opposed to stops outside the hospital on Cliff Gardens. These depart Scunthorpe Bus Station at 0720, 0915, 1215, 1515 and 1725, and have slightly revised times towards Crowle/Luddington as a result. In the return direction journeys from Luddington/Crowle have revised times of up to 10 minutes later than at present, and serve Scunthorpe Hospital Main Entrance at 0825, 1020, 1320, 1646 and 1830.

As a result new departure times from Scunthorpe Bus Station for the combined 9/90 will be 0720, 0845, 0915, 1045, 1145, 1215, 1345, 1445, 1515 and 1725. From the main entrance of Scunthorpe Hospital departures will be at 0825, 0855, 1020, 1055, 1155, 1320, 1355, 1455, 1646 and 1830. It should also be noted that there are other services available from between Scunthorpe Bus Station and Cliff Gardens to supplement the 9/90 that operate via the hospital grounds.

Weekday services on route 90 are unchanged, while weekday service 9 has a new 1845 departure between Scunthorpe Bus Station and the outpatients department on Cliff Gardens only.

LinQ Changes

Last Saturday (30th November), Stagecoach in Hull altered their Saturday night LINQ service that commenced on 7th September as a circular service; between 1800 and 2100 operating clockwise from Clough Road via Holwell Road, Sutton Road, Cavendish Road, Ings Road, Holderness Road, Witham, George Street, Alfred Gelder Street, Carr Lane, Ferensway, Princes Avenue and Newland Avenue back to Clough Road, and from 2130 operating anti clockwise. The frequency was every 10 minutes until 2300 then after a few 'short journeys' between Clough Road and Hull the anti-clockwise service resumed on a 50 minute frequency until 0130.

The circular route is now no more. The LinQ service now operates from North Point via two alternative routes to Holderness Road, Witham, Alfred Gelder Street, Carr Lane, Hull Interchange (journeys from North Point only), Spring Bank, Princes Avenue and Newland Avenue to Clough Road Mecca Bingo. The focus remains on connecting East Hull to the City Centre and the Avenues nightlife, with 6 services an hour from North Point departing between 1800 and 2100 (an even interval 10 minute frequency operates from Holderness Road onwards. Then from 2130 and 2300 a 10 minute frequency operates from Clough Road back to North Point until 2300, followed by 2310 and 2320 Clough Road to Alfred Gelder Street short journeys then a half hourly Clough Road to North Point service between 2330 and 0200 - an improvement on the previous 50 minute service.

Between North Point and Holderness Road, services operate alternatively via Midmere Avenue, Howdale Road, Dunvegan Road and Salthouse Road as LinQ 1 or via Wawne Road, Sutton Road, Gillshill Road, Cavendish Road and Ings Road as LinQ 2. While Ings Road was on the original LinQ route the other areas were not, thus the new routes provide a greatly enhanced Saturday evening/night service to these areas - most notably for Salthouse Road who's previous evening service comprised a solitary 2340 Hull-North Point journey on service 10, 6 hours after the previous departure at 1740.

These changes certainly seem to be an improvement, more buses post midnight, more areas served, easier early evening connections to other services by now serving Hull Interchange. Interesting the circular services has gone; I guess there will be a lot of 'dead' running between Clough Road and North Point though maybe Stagecoach want the option of running to/from their depot on Foster Street on some journeys instead?

I had been sceptical about whether the LinQ service was the best option to improve Saturday evening/night services in Hull, and had thought improving existing services would be a better option, creating a more simple network, and I still think that would be better. However that could mean using more resources as it would need enhancements to the 10, 15, 51 and maybe the 32/32A  and 53 as well. Not for the first time it's a question of network simplicity versus resource efficiency.

Stagecoach's changes do however 'deal' with one point I had raised back when the service was introduced in September:

Stagecoach are also hoping other East Hull travellers will catch existing services to connect with the LinQ, but if so, then why not just promote existing connections available at Paragon Interchange? Is it really so inconvenient to travel into the City Centre en-route to the Avenues? On a cold rainy night wouldn't it be better to wait in an undercover staffed Interchange than at an exposed on-street bus shelter?

Now some key areas of East Hull no longer need to connect to access the LinQ, which I think can only help the LinQ's future. And I still can't fault Stagecoach for trying to improve Saturday evening/night services. It's a commendable initiative.

EYMS January Changes

EYMS have today applied with VOSA to amend the following registrations from 27th January 2014:

 

152/153: Hull-Anlaby-Brough-South Cave

155/155A: Hull-Brough-South Cave-Howden-Goole

X4: Hull-Brough-South Cave-Market Weighton-York

X55/X56/X57 Petuaria Express: Hull-Brough-(South Cave)-Howden-Goole

Arriva 4 January Change

Arriva registered a variation to service 4 between Selby, Howden and Goole with VOSA earlier this week:

 

PB0000582/73 - ARRIVA YORKSHIRE LTD, 24 BARNSLEY ROAD, WAKEFIELD, WF1 5JX

Variation Accepted: Operating between Selby and Goole given service number 4 effective from 27-Jan-2014. To amend Timetable.

Trying Again with the 1E

Back in September, Hull City Council had planned to merge tendered services 1A and 1C into a new service 1E, operated by EYMS. However less than a week before the changes the plan was cancelled with the 1A and 1C remaining in operation. Today's VOSA registrations indicate the 1A and 1C will now be replaced by the 1E in January:

PB0000328/428 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Kingswood and Sibelius Road given service number 1C effective from 20-Jan-2014.

PB0000328/429 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Hull and Sibelius Road given service number 1A effective from 20-Jan-2014.

PB0000328/434 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS

• Registration Accepted
• Starting Point: Mizzen Road
• Finish Point: Sibelius Road
• Via: Hull City Centre
• Service Number: 1E
• Service Type: Normal Stopping
• Effective Date: 20-JAN-2014
• Other Details: Mizzen Road - Sibelius Road

Hornsby Travel February 2014 Changes

Hornsby Travel are amending two of their services in February. From VOSA:

PB0001410/6 - HORNSBY TRAVEL SERVICES LTD, 51-53 ASHBY HIGH STREET, SCUNTHORPE, DN16 2NB
Variation Accepted: Operating between Scunthorpe BS and Scunthorpe Hosp given service number 9 effective from 01-Feb-2014. To amend Timetable.

PB0001410/32 - HORNSBY TRAVEL SERVICES LTD, 51-53 ASHBY HIGH STREET, SCUNTHORPE, DN16 2NB
Variation Accepted: Operating between SCUNTHORPE BUS STATION and CROWE/LUDDINGTON given service number 90 effective from 01-Feb-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

Acklams Coaches revise Beverley Town Services

On Monday 4th November, Acklams Coaches amended two of their Beverley Town Services; the 6 and the 522. The 6 has been reduced from 4 to 3 journeys while all journeys on the 522 operate 15 minutes later than previously.

All Acklams Coaches timetables can be viewed on their website.

Stagecoach's new 31X

From Monday 4^th November, Stagecoach in Hull have converted the Monday to Friday 1710 service 30W journey from Hull to Wawne into a service 30A, omitting Garden Village. Meanwhile the Monday to Friday 0747 service 30W from Wawne To Hull has become a 0750 30A from North Bransholme to Hull, omitting Wawne and Garden Village.

Elsewhere the weekday peaktime service on route 31 between North Bransholme and Hull has been withdrawn; 4 morning peak journeys were provided at 0710, 0730, 0750 and 0810 from North Bransholme, returning from Hull in the evening peak at 1630, 1700, 1730 and 1800. Along Summergangs Road and Gillshill Road the enhanced 10 minute frequency on the 32/32A replaces these journeys.

For other parts of the 31 route, and for Wawne and Garden Village, the above changes are replaced by new service 31X. The 31X operates from Hull via Garden Village (service 30W route), Holwell Road (service 30 route), Barnstaple Road, Noddle Hill Way and North Bransholme (service 31 route) to Wawne. Journeys depart Wawne at 0725 and 0745, and Hull Interchange at 1710, 1730 and 1750. This provides an enhanced peak time service to Garden Village and Wawne, but provides slightly less peak time Noddle Hill Way-Holwell Road buses.

The current version of the 31 has always been an unusual service, designed to ‘fill the gaps’ on the 30 and 32, avoiding adding resources to both routes simultaneously, as well as providing a few new links to employment areas around Sutton Road and Holwell Road. The new 31X in part seems to be a reaction to the 32/32A increased frequency along Summergangs Road, meaning the 31 is no longer needed at peak times.

Finally the 31, now just a daily evening service, operates via Drypool Bridge/Alfred Gelder Street instead off North Bridge/George Street to match the 32, with which it provides a co-ordinated service.

Stagecoach cancel Grimsby services 1, 2 and 20

Stagecoach have today cancelled their registration for services 1, 2 and 20 in North East Lincolnshire with VOSA:

PB0001484/271 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB

Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Riby Square and Europarc given service number 20/1/2 effective from 01-Jan-2014.

The 1 links Wybers Wood, Europarc Industrial Estate, Gilbey Road, Lord Street with Grimsby Town Centre, while the 2 links Europarc Industrial Estate, Gilbey Road and Corporation Road with Grimsby Town Centre before continuing to serve Victor Street and Riby Square. Both services operate hourly on weekday daytimes. Meanwhile the 20 provides a limited weekday early morning and evening service between Wybers Wood, Europarc, Corporation Road, Grimsby Town Centre and Cleethorpes, mainly to serve shift changeovers at Europarc.

The 1, 2 and 20 are part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and North East Lincolnshire Council to serve the Europarc Industrial Estate, but also provide the only bus services to the Gilbey Road, Lord Street, Corporation Road and Victor Street areas.

As ever, there is always a chance that Stagecoach or another operator could re-register the services.

Stagecoach Significant Changes to 32 and 51

Since Sunday 2^nd November, Stagecoach have significantly revised services 32 and 51 in North Hull.

The 51 has had a 51A variant added. It follows the current 51 route from Hull City Centre via North Bridge, Holderness Road, Bellfield Avenue, Dunvegan Road and Howdale Road before operating via Noddle Hill Way and Bude Road to Kingswood, instead off serving North Point, Tiverton Road and Bodmin Road as the 51 does.

The combined 51/51A frequency is every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes, with each route operating every 20 minutes; the combined frequency matches the previous weekday frequency and provides an increase from every 15 minutes to every 10 minutes on Saturdays. Sunday daytimes have a combined 15 minute frequency, with each route operating every half hour – an increase from the current half hourly on service 51 only. A half hourly daily evening service is provided on the 51 only, matching the previous Monday to Saturday evening service and doubling the previous hourly Sunday service.

One notable aspect is the first 51A from Noddle Hill to Kingswood is not until 1010 Monday to Saturdays due to a lower outbound morning frequency from Hull City Centre.

The aim of this is to provide a Noddle Hill Way to Kingswood link, though it comes at the expense of a lower frequency link to the North Point Shopping Centre. Bodmin Road also has the 28A and 30 so remains well served despite the frequency reduction on the 51.

All service 51’s and 51A’s will be extended to Kingswood Leisure Park, however Monday to Saturday daytime journeys will cease to operate into Kingswood Retail Park on their outward journey from Hull. I presume this is to save putting extra resource into the service, which already has a lengthy detour along Holderness Road on inbound journeys due to road safety issues with turning right onto Holderness Road. While the outbound journeys will still operate to the main retail park bus stops for any ‘bag-laden’ shoppers, this is not exactly ideal.

Major changes have also been made to the 32. Since Sunday, the 32 has also gained a 32A variant. With the 51A now serving Noddle Hill Way, only half the 32’s do. Other journeys operate as a 32A, following the 32 route from Hull via Summergangs Road and Gillshill Road to Sutton Village before operating a loop around Howdale Road and Dunvegan Road. This reintroduces a link from the Old Town area of Hull City Centre to Howdale Road and Dunvegan Road that the 51 can not provide without extra resources being put into the service, and also provides a means of ‘turning round’ journeys no longer serving Noddle Hill Way and North Point.

Monday to Saturday daytimes the 32 and 32A combined provide a service every 10 minutes between Hull and Sutton, an increase from the previous 15 minute frequency on the 32 only. Each variant operates every 20 minutes, which again means the new service pattern has come at the expense of less frequent links to North Point. Sundays retain a half hourly daytime service on the 32, while daily evenings retain a service 32 every hour along with a service 31 every hour.

As a result of these changes the 32 and 51A will combine to provide a service every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime between Hull and Noddle Hill Way, compared to the previous 15 minute frequency.

Overall these changes do include significant enhancements, with new Noddle Hill Way-Kingswood links, new Old Town-Howdale Road/Dunvegan Road links and enhanced frequencies for many. However the changes have made the network more complex and reduced links to North Point. Is complexity a price worth paying sometimes? Do reduced frequencies to North Point matter when 20 minute frequencies remain?

Stagecoach Peak Time 28A Extension

Today (Monday 4^th November) Stagecoach in Hull have extended a small number of peak time journeys on service 28A between Hull City Centre, Beverley Road, Sutton Park, North Point and Kingswood Retail Park to Kingswood Leisure Park – though I guess the Leisure Park is merely a convenient terminus. Between the Retail and Leisure Parks they operate via new housing development around Runnymede Way, Richmond Lane and Barnes Way. Services will operate from the Leisure Park at 0700, 0720, 0740 and 0800 Monday to Friday, and at 0700, 0730 and 0800 on Saturdays. Return journeys to the Leisure Park from Hull Interchange operate at 1702, 1732 and 1802 Monday to Saturday.

Hornsby win 327 contract

It would seem Hornsby Travel will commence operation of the Friday only service 327 from Dragonby to Scunthorpe tomorrow. Stagecoach, the previous operator's of this North Lincolnshire Council tendered service, cancelled their service last week.

From VOSA:

PB0001410/33 - HORNSBY TRAVEL SERVICES LTD, 51-53 ASHBY HIGH STREET, SCUNTHORPE, DN16 2NB

1. • Registration Accepted by SN
   • Starting Point: SCUNTHORPE BUS STATION
   • Finish Point: DRAGONBY
   • Via: DRAGONBY
   • Service Number: 327
   • Service Type: Normal Stopping
   • Effective Date: 01-NOV-2013
   • Other Details: FRIDAY ONLY

Two more routes to gain Boxing Day services?

It would appear EYMS routes 115 (Hull-Cottingham-Castle Hill Hospital) and 154 (Hull-Willerby-Castle Hill Hospital) are gaining Boxing Day services this year. From VOSA:

PB0000328/431 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS

1. • Registration Accepted
   • Starting Point: Hull
   • Finish Point: Castle Hill Hospital
   • Via:
   • Service Number: 115
   • Service Type: Normal Stopping
   • Effective Date: 26-DEC-2013
   • Other Details: Hull - Castle Hill Hospital

PB0000328/432 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS

1. • Registration Accepted
   • Starting Point: Hull
   • Finish Point: Castle Hill Hospital
   • Via:
   • Service Number: 154
   • Service Type: Normal Stopping
   • Effective Date: 26-DEC-2013
   • Other Details: Hull - Castle Hill Hospital

Stagecoach Evening and Sunday improvements in Grimsby and Cleethorpes

From Monday 28th October, Stagecoach are improving evening and Sunday services in the Grimsby and Cleethorpes area.

Service 8 between Grimsby Town Centre, Scartho, New Waltham and North Sea Lane gains a half hourly daytime service on Sunday and Bank Holidays and an hourly service on Sunday and Bank Holiday evenings - matching the Monday to Saturday frequencies and replacing the Sunday only extensions of the 9A from North Sea Lane to New Waltham. Sunday service 8 will interwork with the 9A at North Sea Lane for through links to Cleethorpes, as it does Monday to Saturdays.

The hourly Monday to Saturday evening service on the 9 between Waltham and Grimsby becomes a service 9A, extended through to Cleethorpes and North Sea Lane, in line with daily daytimes and Sunday evenings. As a result the Monday to Saturday evening service on route 46 between Immingham, Grimsby and Cleethorpes will terminate at Cleethorpes Pier and no longer extend down to North Sea Lane, matching the route of service 46 on Sundays.

Finally the last departure on Monday to Saturday evenings on service 8 from Grimsby moves later from 2245 to 2315, but from North Sea Lane moves earlier from 2315 to 2245.

Overall these changes bring the evening and Sunday network 'into line' with the Monday to Saturday dayime network. Hopefully the more simple, enhanced services will be well used.

Stagecoach cancel 327

From VOSA:

PB0001484/171 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB

• Cancellation Accepted by SN: Operating between Scunthorpe Bus Station and Dragonby given service number 327 effective from 28-Oct-2013.

The service, which operates on Fridays, is operated under contract to North Lincolnshire Council, so it is possible that Stagecoach have simply lost the tender and another operator will take the route over,

Hull Bus Forum notes

A few interesting things from yesterday's Hull Bus Forum.

Graham Hall from Hull City Council admitted the replacement of the tendered 50 with the 58 last month was a "mistake", and the city council is looking to make alterations as soon as possible, however it is not yet clear if the service will have to be retendered; the current operator is EYMS. The main issue has been the loss of links to shops, banks and other facilities at the southern end of Holderness Road.

Next month's Stagecoach changes will see 6 buses an hour from Noddle Hill Way to Hull City Centre Monday to Saturday, and 4 on Sundays, of which half will serve Kingswood; a Noddle Hill Way to Kingswood link is not currently provided. There will be new 32A and 51A variants, with the 32A running to Howdale Road.

Also the Stagecoach commercial manager expects to see the trend of more frequent single decker operated services replacing double decker operated routes continue into the future, and noted how single deckers often have more "accessible" seats.

Thornes Independent cancel York and Doncaster services

Thornes Independent are cancelling their weekly shopper services from North Cave via Howden to York and Doncaster in December. From VOSA:

PB0000555/12 - THORNES INDEPENDENT LTD, THE COACH STATION, HULL ROAD, HEMINGBROUGH, SELBY, YO8 6QG
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between North Cave and York given service number PATH 2 effective from 25-Dec-2013.

PB0000555/15 - THORNES INDEPENDENT LTD, THE COACH STATION, HULL ROAD, HEMINGBROUGH, SELBY, YO8 6QG
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between North Cave Memorial and Doncaster, Duke Street given service number PATH 5 effective from 21-Dec-2013.

I guess it is possible these services continue as a coach excursion?

Holloways end Grimsby Shopper

Earlier this week Holloways Coaches cancelled their weekly 'shopper' service from Scunthorpe and Brigg to Grimsby. From VOSA:

PB0001403/3 - HOLLOWAYS COACHES LTD, COTTAGE BECK ROAD, SCUNTHORPE, DN16 1TP

• Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Holloways Garage and Grimsby Bus Station given service number FP1 effective from 10-Dec-2013.

At one time I think there were around 4 different services from across North Lincolnshire to Grimsby operated by Holloways. I certainly recall a weekly service through Barton.

Seems an odd time to cancel the service just before Christmas, though I had wondered if maybe Holloways are going to keep operating the route as a weekly coach trip, as opposed to a local bus service? (pure speculation by me)

LINQ to be altered in November

After three months of operation, Stagecoach in Hull will be altering their Saturday evening/night service LINQ. From VOSA - note mention of North Point which is not currently served by the route:

Variation Accepted: Operating between North Point and Newland Avenue given service number LINQ1/LINQ/LINQ2 effective from 30-Nov-2013. To amend Route, Start & Finish Point, Stopping Places and Timetable.

Brigg Town Service Changes

From Tuesday 1st October, the Brigg Town Service is being amended; it is operated by Hornsby Travel for North Lincolnshire Council and was last amended in June 2006 according to the date on Hornsby's current timetable. The service, comprised of 3 routes, operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with differing levels of service on each day.

The first route is the 91 which has two variations. Almost all journeys currently operate from Cary Lane in Brigg Town Centre via St Helens Road and Churchill Avenue before some journeys operate via the neighbouring village of Wrawby and return to Cary Lane via their outwards route; other journeys operate from Churchill Avenue via Woodbine Avenue back to Cary Lane. Three journeys operate on a Tuesday, four on a Saturday and five on a Thursday.

In the new timetable:

• The current 0915 from Cary Lane to Wrawby and return becomes an 0913 from Wrawby to Brigg
• There is a new 0945 from Cary Lane to the Churchill Avenue/St Helens Road area and return
• The current 1025 Thursday and Saturday only journey from Cary Lane to Chuchill Avenue and Woodbine Avenue becomes a Thursday and Saturday only 1050 serving the Churchill Avenue/St Helens Road area only
• The 1145 from Cary Lane to Wrawby and return moves to 1130 and returns from Wrawby directly into Brigg, not serving Churchill Avenue
• The current 1245 from Cary Lane to Chuchill Avenue and Woodbine Avenue becomes a 1240 serving the Churchill Avenue/St Helens Road area only
• Similarly the Thursday only 1400 from Cary Lane moves to 1340 with the same route alterations.

Nice and simple - not. Surely the timetable could be a bit more simplified and easier to understand than this? One idea I have wondered about in the past is whether the 68 Villager service could provide a regular weekday service to the St Helens Road and Churchill Avenue areas?

The second route is the 92 which operates from Cary Lane to Polar Drive in Northern Brigg via Redcombe Lane, Grammar School Road and Spring Bank, with two Tuesday journeys, three on Saturdays and six on Thursdays. The new timetable adds an extra journey on Tuesdays and Saturdays, a welcome improvement, while retaining six on Thursdays. Times are revised by up to 20 minutes.

The final Brigg Town Service route is the 93, between Cary Lane and Brigg Garden Centre, which currently has two journeys on a Tuesday, four on a Thursday and three on a Saturday. However from next week the route is substantially revised. It now becomes a Cary Lane-Garden Centre-Howsham-Cadney-Cary Lane circular service with a 1000 departure from Cary Lane serving Brigg Garden Centre before Howsham and Cadney and an 1150 return serving Cadney and Howsham before Brigg Garden Centre. These journeys will operate Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. This change reintroduces a bus service for the villages of Howsham and Cadney while still maintaining a basic link for Brigg residents to visit Brigg Garden Centre.

Overall it seems the entire Brigg Town Service timetable has been rewritten to incorporate Howsham and Cadney. Reintroducing bus services to these villages is a positive step forward, but it's a shame to see such irregular pattern timetables remain on the 91 and 92, and with three different timetables for the three days of the week the service operates. The Brigg Town Service is probably never going to see significantly increased usage, but irregular pattern timetables aren't going to help increase usage, even a little bit.

(The new timetable was taken from Traveline East Midlands. Apologies if there are any errors - with multiple 'codes' the timetable isn't the easiest to read)

Stagecoach Service 37 Alterations

From Monday 28th October, Stagecoach are altering their Monday to Saturday daytime Scunthorpe Town Service 37 between Scunthorpe Bus Station, Scunthorpe Hospital, the Berkeley area and Skippingdale Retail Park.

From Scunthorpe Bus Station services will operate at :40 minutes past the hour rather than :55 minutes past the hour, and have an increased running time of 25 minutes rather than the present 20 minutes. Returning from Skippingdale Retail Park journeys will depart at :05 minutes past the hour rather than  :15 minutes past the hour. Additionally a new 1740 from Scunthorpe Bus Station shall be added (current last departure 1655), returning at 1805 (current last departure 1715).

Hornsby 60 November Change

Hornsby Travel be amending their service 60 in November. From VOSA:

PB0001410/29 - HORNSBY TRAVEL SERVICES LTD, 51-53 ASHBY HIGH STREET, SCUNTHORPE, DN16 2NB

• Variation Accepted: Operating between Scunthorpe Bus Station and Whitton given service number 60 effective from 25-Nov-2013. To amend Route and Timetable.

Scunthorpe Service 38 Retimed

From Monday 28th October, Stagecoach are retiming most journeys on their Scunthorpe Town Service 38, which provides an hourly circular services to/from the Crosby area of the town on Monday to Saturday daytimes. All journeys from 0935 to 1735 inclusive will now operate 15 minutes earlier, leaving Scunthorpe Bus Station at :20 minutes past the hour. The 0732 and 0832 departures are unaffected.

5 Minutes Earlier

From Monday 28th October, Stagecoach Scunthorpe Town Service 11 will operate 5 minutes earlier, departing Scunthorpe Bus Station on the hour as opposed to at 5 minutes past the hour, and operate 5 minutes earlier throughout. The 11 operates a circular route to Ashby and Bottesford every hour Monday to Saturday daytimes.

Reversing Changes in Flamborough

Due to passenger feedback, EYMS are reversing the changes they made to the route of service 510 between Bridlington and Flamborough from Monday 30th September. The services will resume operating via Quay Road and Queensgate in Bridlington, instead off the Promenade.

In Flamborough, some services once again will serve High Street and South Sea Road, meaning the frequency to North Landing is reduced from hourly to every two hours.

EYMS had altered the 510 in June, and added extra journeys during the school summer holidays, partially replacing previous service 100. It is unclear if those extra journeys will return in 2014, and if so in what 'format'.

[These changes had previously been noted by a commentor on this blog post]

EYMS University, West Hull and Cottingham Changes

EYMS have released details of their changes to services in West Hull and Cottingham from Sunday 29th September.

Currently the main services between Hull and Cottingham are the 105 and 115; the 105 operates from Hull Interchange via Beverley Road, Cottingham Road (Hull University) and Cottingham Village Centre to The Lawns Halls of Residence, while the 115 operates from Hull Interchange to Castle Hill Hospital via Princes Avenue, Newland Avenue, Cranbrook Avenue, Endike Lane and Cottingham Village Centre. The Monday to Saturday daytime frequency on both routes is every 20 minutes.

Supplementing the 115 are the 215 and 315 between Hull and Endike Lane which operate every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime, giving a 10 minute frequency combined with the 115 between Hull, Newland Avenue and Endike Lane. The 315 is a short working of the 115, while the 215 operates via Cottingham Road instead of Cranbrook Avenue. In the morning the 215 operates from Hull City Centre and the 315 back into Hull City Centre, before the two services reverse direction in the afternoon.

In addition to these routes two University term time only services have also been operated by EYMS, the 102 and 103. The 102 was extra workings of the 105, principally between the University and The Lawns only every 20 minutes on weekday daytimes. The 103 is an amalagm of the 105 and 115 routes, operating from Hull Interchange via Princes Avenue, Newland Avenue, Cottingham Road and Cottingham Village Centre to The Lawns. During the last University year the 103 had operated occasionally on weekday daytimes and every hour on Monday to Saturday evenings and Sunday daytimes.

EYMS's late September changes see the 102, 215 and 315 withdrawn in favour of a much enhanced 103. The 103 now becomes a year round service operating every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes and every hour Monday to Saturday evenings and Sunday daytimes - a change which seems to be positive for almost everyone.

Combined the 103 and 115 will maintain EYMS's 10 minute Monday to Saturday daytime frequency along Princes Avenue and Newland Avenue currently provides by the 115/215/315 combination. The changes also mean that the Hull to Cottingham via Cottingham Road service increases from every 20 to every 10 minutes, and likewise so does the Princes Avenue/Newland Avenue-Cottingham frequency. Meanwhile in the evenings and Sunday the currently University semester time only journeys on the 103 become year round.

The two areas that don't benefit are Cranbrook Avenue and Endike Lane. Cranbrook Avenue also has Stagecoach in Hull service 15 so no major issues there, but Endike Lane reduces from a 10 minute frequency to every 20 minutes.

Endike Road aside this is a significant improvement to services in West Hull and Cottingham, and with the withdrawal of the 102, 215 and 315 the network is simplified into three services, the 103, 105 and 115.

More Stagecoach November Alterations

Stagecoach in Hull are altering three more 'service groups' in November, all of which saw changes earlier this month. From VOSA:

PB0001484/243 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB
Variation Accepted: Operating between Hull Interchange and Kingswood Asda given service number 15/N15 effective from 03-Nov-2013. To amend Route and Timetable.

PB0001484/246 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB
Variation Accepted: Operating between Hull Interchange and North Point Shopping Centre given service number 32/31/31F/31X/32A effective from 03-Nov-2013. To amend Route and Timetable.

PB0001484/250 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB
Variation Accepted: Operating between Hull Interchange and Kingswood given service number 51/51A/51F/N51 effective from 03-Nov-2013. To amend Route and Timetable.

Stagecoach November Alterations

Stagecoach in Hull are altering their 28 and 30 'corridors' in North Hull from early November. Neither service groups were altered in Stagecoach's changes earlier this month. From VOSA:

PB0001484/244 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB
Variation Accepted: Operating between Hull Interchange and Kingswood given service number 28A/28 effective from 03-Nov-2013. To amend Route and Timetable.

PB0001484/245 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB
Variation Accepted: Operating between Hull Interchange and North Bransholme Wawne given service number 30X/30/30A/30B/30W effective from 03-Nov-2013. To amend Timetable.

LinQ Revisited

Earlier this month I previewed the new Saturday night LinQ service in Hull, operated by Stagecoach. I had thought the service had received some sort of funding, as it would make more sense for Stagecoach to strengthen frequencies on existing services instead, making existing evening services stronger.

"I'm wondering if Stagecoach have received some funding for this service as an attempt to connect many key locations in Hull's evening/night life economy? From Stagecoach's perspective I would have thought however it would make more sense to strengthen Saturday evening frequencies on existing routes such as the 15 along Princes Avenue and Newland Avenue, and the 51 along Holderness Road and Ings Road. Both routes also serve Kingswood, another important leisure destination. It will be very interesting to see how the LinQ performs." 

Today I see Stagecoach have been speaking to the Hull Daily Mail about the new service, and the article gives the impression it is a commercial venture by Stagecoach. Good to see them trying to develop new opportunities and support the night time economy of Hull.

It seems the service has two main aims - to link East Hull to the Avenues, and to serve the Old Town area of Hull City Centre - both the Avenues and the Old Town are key areas of nightlife. However I'm still a bit sceptical that LinQ is the best way to do this. The Old Town can easily be served by slightly re-routing existing city centre services that don't currently serve it.

The direct East Hull to the Avenues link isn't something any existing evening routes offer, but LinQ only serves a limited part of East Hull anyway. Stagecoach are also hoping other East Hull travellers will catch existing services to connect with the LinQ, but if so, then why not just promote existing connections available at Paragon Interchange? Is it really so inconvenient to travel into the City Centre en-route to the Avenues? On a cold rainy night wouldn't it be better to wait in an undercover staffed Interchange than at an exposed on-street bus shelter? Other options to improve cross-Hull connectivity could be to consider offering - and promoting - cross Hull evening services similar to the N15/N51 nightbuses. Stagecoach could also consider starting the N43 in the Avenues area before serving the City Centre.

By Stagecoach;s own admission "it's very much a tester", with the service only guaranteed until the start of next year. Initially Stagecoach are aiming for 600 travellers a night, with sustainability reached if 1000 travellers use the service each night. If LinQ is successful, it could also operate on extra nights.

Stagecoach's intentions are good, but personally I'm not convinced they are implementing them in the best way. Time will tell.

Stagecoach in Hull Service 13 Changes

One Stagecoach in Hull change that commenced last Monday (2nd September) that I didn't cover at the time was alterations to the 13 between Hull and Orchard Park Tesco via Spring Bank, Chanterlands Avenue, Fairfax Avenue and Hall Road. Previously all journeys followed this route, with the exception of some weekday morning journeys that operated via Kelvin Hall School, numbered 13S.

Since last Monday however, a much more frequent service has been provided via Kelvin Hall School and Hotham Shops, omitting Fairfax Avenue and numbered service 13A. Every half hour Monday to Saturday daytimes, and every hour evenings and Sundays, journeys on route 13 have become 13A's. Journey times on the 13A are the same as on route 13 despite the longer route.

New route map showing the 13A diversion

Also worth noting is that the 13B suffix has been withdrawn. The 13B used to represent journeys that did not operate as a circular with service 14 - such journeys are now are just highlighted in the timetable.

Stagecoach Scunthorpe October Changes

Stagecoach are revising three Scunthorpe town service routes from Monday 28th October, plus launching a new route 40 between the town centre, West Common Lane (John Leggott College) and Gallagher Retail Park (home to Tesco amongst other stores, and in the future a new Marks and Spencer will be located opposite).

From VOSA:

PB0001484/157 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB
Variation Accepted: Operating between Scunthorpe Bus Station and Skippingdale Retail Park given service number 37 effective from 28-Oct-2013. To amend Timetable.

PB0001484/158 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB
Variation Accepted: Operating between Scunthorpe Bus Station and Old Crosby given service number 38 effective from 28-Oct-2013. To amend Timetable.

PB0001484/159 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB
Variation Accepted: Operating between Scuntorpe Bus Station and Valley Veiw Drive given service number 11 effective from 28-Oct-2013. To amend Timetable.

PB0001484/296 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB

• Registration Accepted
• Starting Point: Scunthorpe Bus Station
• Finish Point: Gallagher Retail Park
• Via:
• Service Number: 40
• Service Type: Normal Stopping
• Effective Date: 28-OCT-2013
• Other Details: A new off peak half hourly service between Scunthorpe Bus Station, West Common Lane and Gallagher Retail Park. Hail & Ride will operate where traffic and safety conditions allow.

Stagecoach North East Lincolnshire October Changes

Stagecoach have registered alterations to three service groups in North East Lincolnshire from Monday 28th October. From VOSA:

PB0001484/274 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB
Variation Accepted: Operating between Grimsby Bus Station and North Sea Lane given service number 8 effective from 28-Oct-2013. To amend Timetable.

PB0001484/275 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB
Variation Accepted: Operating between Waltham and North Sea Lane given service number 9/9A effective from 28-Oct-2013. To amend Timetable.

PB0001484/281 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB
Variation Accepted: Operating between Grimsby and South Killingholme given service number 45M/45/45C/46 effective from 28-Oct-2013. To amend Timetable.

Brigg Town Service Change

Hornsby Travel Services will be altering their Brigg Town Services from Tuesday 1st October. From VOSA:

PB0001410/17 - HORNSBY TRAVEL SERVICES LTD, 51-53 ASHBY HIGH STREET, SCUNTHORPE, DN16 2NB
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Brigg Carey lane and Brigg Carey lane given service number 091 effective from 01-Oct-2013. To amend Timetable.

PB0001410/18 - HORNSBY TRAVEL SERVICES LTD, 51-53 ASHBY HIGH STREET, SCUNTHORPE, DN16 2NB
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Brigg Carey lane and Brigg Carey Lane given service number 092 effective from 01-Oct-2013. To amend Timetable.

PB0001410/19 - HORNSBY TRAVEL SERVICES LTD, 51-53 ASHBY HIGH STREET, SCUNTHORPE, DN16 2NB
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Brigg Carey lane and Brigg Carey Lane given service number 093 effective from 01-Oct-2013. To amend Route and Timetable.