Wednesday 8 April 2009

Humber Flyer

Stagecoach have released details of the new Humber Flyer service that will replace the current X1 from 20th April.

The new Humber Flyer (HF) service will run from Cleethorpes North Sea Lane (Pleasure Island) via the Pier and the High Street in Cleethorpes before joining Clee Road. It then operates via Weelsby Road and Hainton Avenue into Grimsby. Parts of Weelsby Road and Clee Road do not currently have a bus service so this is a welcome new link, while still being a direct route between Cleethorpes and Grimsby.

From Grimsby it follows the existing X1 route through Laceby and Keelby to Humberside Airport. There is then a guarenteed connection to a separate Humberside Airport-Hull service. Or is this the same service registered in two parts to get around what your author thinks are some well intentioned but practically stupid EU rules on driver hours and the use of tachographs? The timetable seems to indicate the service will be a through service rather than two separate ones. Separate service or not, through fares are available.

The wait at the airport is only two minutes (so no big issue) before the service departs to Barnetby Top and goes up the A15 and over the Humber Bridge. In Hull it will operate down Boothferry Road and Anlaby Road instead of Clive Sullivan Way as the X1 currently does. Hull Royal Infirmary is still served before terminating in Hull Interchange at coach stand D.

The basic daytime frequency is hourly Monday to Saturday with peak journeys being off pattern. First departure from Grimsby is 0620 and the last departure from Hull is 1900.

Overall the new service looks good, serving Pleasure Island and being less of a local service in Grimsby. Hopefully passengers can remain onboard the bus at the airport though.

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