Alford gains a second Tuesday bus to Grimsby

Grayscroft Coaches Tuesday 'Shopper' Service 28 from Sandilands to Grimsby, via Sutton on Sea, Mablethorpe and Louth returns on Tuesday 20th April, after being suspended due to COVID-19. Upon restarting it will be extended to start and finish in Alford, operating via Bilsby and Markby to Sandilands, before picking up it's existing route. 

Both Alford and Bilsby have a faster and more direct alternative to Grimsby on Tuesdays, with Hunts Coaches service 44, so only for Markby is this a new Grimsby link. The 28's Alford extension does complement the main 96A service between Mablethorpe and Alford for local travel, but I wonder if it's primary purpose is to reduce 'dead-running' for interworked Alford schools services? Whatever the reason, it's a minor improvement so welcome news.

Bridlington to Flamborough Summer Improvements

On Sunday 18th April, East Yorkshire will commence an hourly Sunday daytime service on route 14 between Bridlington and Flamborough, operating until Sunday 31st October. The timetable matches the Monday to Saturday year round provision, minus the first two morning services in each direction.

The Beachcomber Blue open top service between Bridlington and Flamborough also returns from Saturday 17th April to Sunday 31st October - an extended season compared to 2019 which operated from 25th May to 1st September. Beachcomber Blue operates every weekend and school holiday. Rather than providing the previous two hourly service that also extends beyond Bridlington Town Centre to John Bull World of Rock, the Beachcomber Blue will instead operate hourly between Bridlington and Flamborough, providing a half hourly frequency with service 14. Be aware though, to benefit from the 30 minute frequency, the East Yorkshire publicity leaflet implies you need a Beachcomber day ticket (£5 adult or £3 child and concessions) rather than a standard return ticket (£4 adult or £2 under 16) that is restricted to service 14. 

Clearly these changes are designed to attract Summer tourists, but may also be useful for locals, particularly the Sunday daytime 14. 

North Lincolnshire Retendering and Changing Fortunes

Two previously Hornsby Travel operated North Lincolnshire Council tenders have passed to Stagecoach. Service 90 between Scunthorpe and Crowle made the switch on Thursday 1st April, whilst service 35 between Scunthorpe and Amcotts was operated by Hornsby for the final time yesterday (Saturday 3rd April), before Stagecoach take over on Tuesday (6th April). Both routes continue on the same timetable with Stagecoach that Hornsby had been operating.

A few years ago, Stagecoach's 'out of town' services from Scunthorpe were limited to the Interconnect 100 (& 101) to Gainsborough and Lincoln, 103 Cliffsider to Lincoln, 350 Humber Fastcat to Hull and the evening peak 399 to Westwoodside. However through tender wins from Hornsby it has added the 4's Sunday service to Brigg, the 60 to Whitton and now the 35 and 90. Whilst Hornsby, East Yorkshire and Isle Coaches still have a presence, Stagecoach have clearly  become the main 'out of town' operator in Scunthorpe again.

Hornsby on the other hand have contracted their 'out of town' and non-Scunthorpe services. In addition to the tender losses to Stagecoach, they have also lost the North Lincolnshire demand responsive service to East Yorkshire and have a reduced network in the Brigg area due to council cutbacks. What is left is now limited to the 4 and X4 to Brigg (and Barnetby on the X4) plus the Barton and Brigg Town Services (and some school and college routes).