For The Record: No more Nightbuses in Hull

Suspended at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hull's last nightbuses, operated by East Yorkshire, never returned. Following a change just before suspension, they comprised:

• A University Term Time Only Saturday service 106S from Inglemire Lane (departing 2250) to Spiders Nightclub on Cleveland Street via Cottingham Road, Beverley Road and Bond Street in Hull City Centre
• Three year round Saturday evening/Sunday morning service 106 journeys from Hull Old Town (departing 2330/0030/0130) to Cottingham Burton Road via Bond Street, Beverley Road, Cottingham Road, Cottingham Green and Cottingham Green Lane
• One year round Sunday morning service 106 journey from Spiders (departing 0215) to Cottingham Road via Freetown Way and Beverley Road
• One University Term Time Sunday morning service 106 journey from Spiders (departing 0245) to Cottingham Road via Freetown Way and Beverley Road
• Four University Term Time Thursday morning service 107 circular journeys from Hull University Asylum Nightclub (departing 0115, 0145, 0215 and 0310) via Newland Avenue, Princes Avenue, Spring Bank and Beverley Road back to Asylum

There is a Saturday 2330 service 63 from Hull Paragon Interchange to Cottingham Green and Green Lane which acts as a partial replacement for the 2330 106 journey, but no alternatives post midnight.

Driffield Regains a Friday Town Service

After I posted yesterday about the 530 Driffield Town Service being reduced from Monday to Friday to Tuesday and Thursday only operation in October, a comment left brings good news - a Friday service will be restored from January 6th. More details here.

The 530 is operated by Holderness Area Rural Transport (HART) for Driffield Town Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council. 

Additionally I should note that it appears bustimes.org is not showing the complete service 530 timetable, and that the final 1418 afternoon journey is still running. Again thanks to this comment for pointing this out.

Acklams Coaches cease local bus service operation in Beverley and Driffield

After operation on Saturday 22nd October, Acklams Coaches ceased operation of most of their local bus services, and it's associated BusKing operation ended bus service operation entirely. 

The commercially operated Beverley Town Service 5 and part-commercial/part-tendered service 142 between Beverley and Middleton have been replaced by an East Yorkshire operated combined service 5/142 tender, which commenced on Monday 24th October. Under Acklams operation the 5 and 142 appeared to be largely interworked and were able to use one vehicle across both services other than on Monday to Friday mornings for one journey; East Yorkshire did also have their own service 142 on a Saturday only. Now however one vehicle is used to service both the 5 and 142 all day Monday to Saturday - unsurprisingly that does lead to a slightly reduced level of service overall.

Beverley Town Service 5 operates as a circular from the Bus Station up Norwood before diverting to serve the otherwise unserved Highfield Road and Lilac Avenue areas. It then operates into the Swinemoor Estate, largely also covered by East Yorkshire's commercial B1/B2 services, before routing back to the Bus Station via Sample Avenue and Mill Lane where it is the only service. Acklams service 5 departed Beverley Bus Station at 0930, 1030, 1130, 1330 and 1430 Monday to Saturday, plus an extra 1000 departure on Saturdays, but the new East Yorkshire operated tender has only three journeys at 1020, 1120 and 1320 Monday to Saturday. 

The 142 used to be a fairly complex operation under Acklams Coaches. There was a morning journey from Bainton into Beverley via Middleton, Etton and Cherry Burton at 0920 Monday to Friday, which started back at Kilnwick on Wednesdays. Monday to Saturday there was then a 1100 Beverley-Cherry Burton-Etton-Beverley circular before a 1210 (1200 Wed) Beverley to Bainton service via Cherry Burton, Etton, Middleton and on Wednesday only, Kilnwick. Following this was a 1250 Bainton to Beverley Monday to Saturday, omitting Middleton and a final 1500 Beverley to Etton 'short' via Cherry Burton Monday to Saturday.

On top of this on Saturdays were four East Yorkshire operated journeys. An 0925 'fast' from Beverley to Middleton, a 0945 from Middleton to Beverley, a 1600 Beverley to Middleton and finally a 1638 from Middleton to Beverley that omitted Lockington but still served all other villages en-route. Off note is that the East Yorkshire 142 didn't serve Bainton, leading to the rather strange situation of Bainton only having a lunchtime 142 on Saturdays.

The new 142 timetable is much simpler. There is a Saturday only 'fast' from Beverley to Middleton at 0910, then a Monday to Saturday 0930 Middleton to Beverley via Bainton, a Monday to Saturday 1150 Beverley to Beverley circular via Middleton and Bainton, a Monday to Saturday 1350 Beverley to Bainton via Middleton and finally the Saturday only 1600 Beverley to Middleton and 1638 return omitting Lockington remain. There are actually some improvements here, with the new 1350 departure from Beverley providing an extra service to South Dalton, Holme, Lockington, Lund, Middleton and Bainton. Bainton gets a usable Saturday service and Middleton gets a Saturday afternoon service into Beverley. Cherry Burton and Etton do see a slight reduction in service however and the small village of Kilnwick is now unserved.

BusKing's tendered 135 has passed to East Yorkshire, but has lost it's Monday to Friday peak journeys at 0721 from Wetwang to Driffield, returning at 1710. The Tuesday and Thursday 'shoppers' journeys between Driffield, Wetwang and Sledmere remain however.

East Yorkshire has also gained the tendered 124 between Driffield, Ruston Parva, Boynton and Bridlington from Acklams. Whilst the Wednesday service between Ruston Parva and Bridlington remains unchanged, the Thursday Boynton to Driffield service now operates on Fridays - bad for visiting Driffield market which is held on a Thursday, but presumably good for cost and allows use of the same vehicle that does the 135 on a Thursday.

Leaving the biggest change to last, and BusKing's tendered 530 Driffield Town Service has passed to Holderness Area Rural Transport and reduced from a Monday to Friday operation to Tuesday and Thursday only. Going by bustimes.org, the final 1418 trip around the town has also been dropped. Rising costs are 'blamed' for the reductions to the service, which is equally funded by Driffield Town Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council. 

All that remains of Acklams Coaches bus network is the 131/504 tender in Bridlington, which going by this tweet, I get the impression they don't intend to rebid for when their contract ends in September 2023. Acklams Coaches have an extensive coaching operation, as well as school and college contracts and a Hull City football service, so they retain significant operations - just not local bus services.

Quietly Suspended and Never Returned

Last month I mentioned how East Yorkshire's 122 between Hull, Beverley and Molescroft was suspended due to driver shortages in September 2021 and never returned. That fate was also bestowed on the 103 between Hull Paragon Interchange and the Hull University area. The 103 had operated every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes and every half hour Monday to Saturday evenings and Sunday daytimes from Paragon Interchange via Princes Avenue and Newland Avenue before operating a one way loop via Cranbrook Avenue, Inglemire Lane, Hall Road and Cottingham Road.

In many ways the 103's withdrawal is not a major issue. Other than Inglemire Lane, everywhere else has an alternative; Inglemire Lane does not have a continuous history of bus services and it's passengers can walk to alternatives on Cranbrook Avenue, Hall Road or Cottingham Road instead.

What is striking though is how much overall frequencies are reduced in the area. Pre-COVID, East Yorkshire had nine buses per hour to the University area Monday to Saturday daytimes - the 103, the 104 every 20 minutes via Cranbrook Avenue and the 105 every 20 minutes via Cottingham Road. Now it's five per hour - the 104 every 20 minutes and the 105 every half hour. The 105's frequency reduction is another driver shortage change that has quietly become the new normal - I wish I had now kept better track of what were meant to be only temporary changes.

Stagecoach are now the main operator in the University area, with six buses per hour along Cranbrook Avenue between the 4 and the 5. That's only down two per hour from the eight buses per hour on the 5 pre-COVID - and that frequency was only introduced in November 2019; previously the 5 had been six buses per hour.

Whilst Stagecoach have fared better on Cranbrook Avenue thanks to the diversion of service 4, both them and East Yorkshire have significantly reduced along Newland and Princes Avenue. In October 2019 there were twelve buses per hour (six on each operator across the 5, 103 and 104). Immediately pre-COVID there were fourteen buses per hour (eight Stagecoach/six East Yorkshire). Now it's six buses per hour (three on each operator) with the 5 reduced and 103 withdrawn. 

(There will be more on Stagecoach's post-strike reductions soon).

Christmas and New Year Bus Services 2022/2023

Time for the annual summary of Christmas and New Year bus services across the Humber Region. The following operators are included, but not their services outside the region:

• Arriva Yorkshire
• CallConnect
• East Yorkshire (excluding JustGo)
• First South Yorkshire (Doncaster Area)
• First York
• Grayscroft Coaches
• Hornsby Travel
• Stagecoach - with a caveat that Stagecoach publicity indicates services to Wren Kitchens in Barton have not been confirmed

Please check exact details before travelling as I have only summarised here, or for any occasions were publicity is incorrect (it's happened before!). Not much luck finding definitive information for many of the region's independent operators sadly this year, but if you have any information for other operators, or to correct any details listed below, please post a comment.

Christmas Eve:

Normal Saturday service with an early finish between approximately 1800 and 2000. 

Christmas Day:

No services.

Boxing Day:

No services, apart from a limited daytime provision operated by East Yorkshire on the following routes:

• 23: Hull-Beverley-Molescroft - Hourly 
• 56: Wymersley Road-Hull-Asda Bilton - Hourly
• 63: Hull-Castle Hill Hospital - Hourly
• 66: Hull-Hessle - Hourly
• 75: Hull-Withernsea - Every two hours, with an extra morning journey to Hull and an extra afternoon journey from Hull.
• 104: Hull-Castle Hill Hospital - Hourly
• 154: Hull-Castle Hill Hospital - Hourly

Compared to 2021, this is a somewhat reduced offering overall. The 23 is new for Boxing Day, but acts as a replacement for the two hourly 121 between Hull, Beverley and Bridlington and the two hourly X46 between Hull, Beverley and York that operated last year. Good for Dunswell, Woodmansey and Molescroft, but not so good for places like Driffield, Bridlington, Pocklington or York. One interesting quirk is that parts of Beverley and Molescroft will have the 23 on Boxing Day, but no service on the 27th and 2nd as the 23 doesn't operate on a Sunday. Elsewhere the 56 is reduced from half hourly to hourly (it's historical Boxing Day norm; the half hourly frequency was only introduced last year).

At least East Yorkshire are providing a Boxing Day service though. For the second year running there are no Stagecoach services in Hull on Boxing Day (last provided in 2020), and as per normal, no service South of the Humber.

Bank Holiday Tuesday 27th December:

A Sunday service will be provided. 

Last year East Yorkshire provided a hybrid Saturday/Sunday daytime and Sunday/Monday evening service on Bank Holidays 27th/28th, but this year it's a standard Sunday service. Whilst in most instances the impact is on frequencies, start and finish times, it does mean no service between Hessle and Beverley on the 25 and between Hull and Gilberdyke on the 55.

Wednesday 28th December:

Predominantly a Saturday service, with the following exceptions:

• Hornsby Travel will operate a normal Wednesday service.
• East Yorkshire services 124 (Ruston Parva-Bridlington) and 360/361 (Goole-Scunthorpe) will operate as normal.
• Stagecoach services 35 (Amcotts-Scunthorpe), 60 (Whitton-Scunthorpe), 90 (Crowle-Scunthorpe) and 260 (Barton Villager) will operate as normal (and presumably the 399 between Scunthorpe and Westwoodside, given that Hornsby are operating a normal service).
• Stagecoach service 291 (Owston Ferry-Doncaster) will not operate (wouldn't usually operate on a Wednesday and will be covered by the normal weekday service on Hornsby's 399)
• East Yorkshire services 18/25/54/63/75/121/X47 Friday and Saturday only evening journeys will not operate (normal Wednesday evening journeys on the 54/63/75/121/X47 will however).

Going by Stagecoach's publicity I would have to assume the usually Saturday only 173 between Withernsea and Hull will be operated Wednesday to Saturday for one week only. Passengers on the East Yorkshire operated 142 between Middleton and Beverley will also benefit from an extra afternoon journey on the Saturday timetable, compared to the standard weekday service.

Thursday 29th December:

Predominantly a Saturday service, with the following exceptions:

• Hornsby Travel will operate a normal Thursday service.
• East Yorkshire services 135 (Driffield-Sledmere), 150 (Swanland-Hessle), 196 (Allerthorpe-York) and 360/361 (Goole-Scunthorpe) will operate as normal.
• Stagecoach services 10 (Ashby Parklands-Ashby), 35 (Amcotts-Scunthorpe), 60 (Whitton-Scunthorpe), 90 (Crowle-Scunthorpe) and 260 (Barton Villager) will operate as normal (and again presumably the 399 as well).
• East Yorkshire service 143 (North Ferriby-Beverley) will not operate (wouldn't usually operate on a Thursday).
• Stagecoach service 291 (Owston Ferry-Doncaster) will not operate (wouldn't usually operate on a Thursday and will be covered by the normal weekday service on Hornsby's 399)
• East Yorkshire services 18/25/54/63/75/121/X47 Friday and Saturday only evening journeys will not operate (normal Thursday evening journeys on the 54/63/75/121/X47 will however).

Friday 30th December:

Predominantly a Saturday service, with the following exceptions:

• Hornsby Travel will operate a normal Friday service.
• East Yorkshire services 124 (Boynton-Driffield), 183 (Hessle Town Service) and 360/361 (Goole-Scunthorpe) will operate as normal.
• Stagecoach services 10 (Burringham-Scunthorpe), 25 (Market Rasen-Grimsby), 35 (Amcotts-Scunthorpe), 60 (Whitton-Scunthorpe), 90 (Crowle-Scunthorpe) and 260 (Barton Villager) will operate as normal (and again presumably the 399 as well).
• East Yorkshire service 143 (North Ferriby-Beverley) will not operate (wouldn't usually operate on a Friday).
• Stagecoach service 291 (Owston Ferry-Doncaster) will not operate (wouldn't usually operate on a Friday and will be covered by the normal weekday service on Hornsby's 399)

New Years Eve:

Normal Saturday service with an early finish between approximately 1800 and 2000. 

New Years Day:

No services (train services will be operating however, in many instances to a normal Sunday timetable apart from early morning services and engineering works related disruption).

Bank Holiday Monday 2nd January:

A Sunday service will be provided.

Tuesday 3rd January:

Services return to normal.

Return of a Withernsea to Beverley link

Holderness Area Rural Transport (HART) commenced operation of a new service 243 between Withernsea and Beverley back on Tuesday 6th September. If this sounds familiar, East Riding of Yorkshire Council used to operate a service 243 between Withernsea and Beverley in-house, once a day Monday to Friday via Roos, Burton Pidsea, Humbleton, Sproatley, Bilton and Skirlaugh. This version of the 243 is a Tuesday only operation though that is far less direct as it also incorporates elements of the old 241 between Aldbrough and Beverley. HART's 243 is being funded by East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

The new 243 leaves Withernsea at 0930 taking 90 minutes to Beverley via Roos, Burton Pidsea, Preston, Sproatley. Flinton, Aldbrough, Withernwick, Skirlaugh and Routh. The return journey departs Beverley at 1315. I am a bit surprised at the inclusion of Preston and Sproatley which already have the 242 to Beverley Monday to Saturday; a re-route via Humbleton would reduce the journey time for Withernsea, Roos and Burton Pidsea passengers. 

Anyway, hopefully the service has had a good first three months of operation.

East Yorkshire Cuts in Anlaby, Kirk Ella, Willerby and Hessle

Finishing off my review of East Yorkshire's 4th September changes, and perhaps the biggest reductions of the changes were to the Hull-Anlaby corridor - "due to low levels of usage".

The hourly Monday to Saturday daytime 151 between Hull, Anlaby, Kirk Ella and Willerby was cut entirely. The 151 shared the same route as the 153 between Hull and Kirk Ella Primary School before continuing via School Lane and Church Lane to Willerby Square and then performing an anti-clockwise loop via The Parkway and Well Lane back to Willerby Square. 

For much of the route this is a story of frequency reduction - Hull to Anlaby goes from three to two buses per hour and Kirk Ella from two to one bus per hour. These are affluent areas, and between Hull City Centre and Anlaby Common the route is shared with other services including the 154 every 20 minutes. Sadly I can understand why cutbacks are being made here. Between Hull and Willerby there are other options on the 54 and 154. 

However the relatively short section of route along School Lane and Church Lane is left unserved, and the Kirk Ella to Willerby link is lost - I can't see any easy options for a replacement though. Perhaps the biggest issue is that The Parkway and Well Lane are now also unserved. Parts of these roads are some distance away from alternative services. As much as I like the way East Yorkshire have simplified the Hull to Willerby via Spring Bank services in recent years, maybe the 54A variation via The Parkway needs to return? There isn't another easy option as the 25 between Hessle and Hornsea probably doesn't have enough spare time to divert without risking reliability. 

Service 152 between Hull, Anlaby, Hessle and Bridgehead Business Park was curtailed to run between Hull and Anlaby Lowfield Road only Monday to Saturday daytimes (when it operates hourly), as occurs with the limited daily early evening service. The 152 was extended in January 2021 to replace the 155 around Hessle and to improve services to Bridgehead Business Park. As a side benefit, the new arrangement does reinstate a daytime service from Lowfield Road into Hull; when serving Hessle the 152 had become one-way here.

Again regrettably I can see why East Yorkshire have cut back here. Hessle, and particularly the parts served by the 152 are quite affluent, and there are other - more direct - options from Hull and the eastern parts of Anlaby Road to Bridgehead Business Park. The 55 operates hourly and the 66B at peak times; additionally the 250/255/350 provide approximately three buses per hour within walking distance of the Business Park, albeit with a busy roundabout to cross when walking from the bus stop.

In terms of the route within Hessle, Beverley Road is left with the oddball early morning 55A from Hull to Elloughton and the Friday Only 183 Hessle Town Service, Swanland Road is served by those two services plus the 66B and Tuesday/Thursday Only 150 Hessle/North Ferriby/Swanland/Anlaby circular, Barrow Lane and Ferriby Road by the 55A and 156 and Heads Lane by the 183 - not no service but limited. It should be said the 152 intersected Boothferry Road at Darleys Roundabout, served by the 55/250/255/350 offering four buses per hour and Cemetery Corner served by the 66 offering four buses per hour (when not impacted by driver shortages) plus the two hourly 25.

What is a bit disappointing is that no additional alternatives have been put in place in Hessle, when there appears to be easy options available. I'd argue Boothferry Road does not need the 55 when it has the 250/255/350 offering three buses an hour - so why not divert it west of Darleys Roundabout when there appears to be sufficient layover time at either end of the route to accommodate a small diversion? There are three possible options:

-The current 55A route within Hessle (old 155 route) via Beverley Road, Swanland Road, Barrow Lane and Ferriby Road. This would mean omitting the Bridgehead Business Park, but with the 66B and the 250/255/350 within walking distance, is it needed? Ferriby Road would also be within walking distance of the Business Park

-As per the 55A but via Heads Lane and Bridgehead Business Park instead of underneath the Humber Bridge Approach on Ferriby Road. Would still serve the Business Park but at the expense of a longer journey time.

-A short divert via Beverley Road and Swanland Road back onto Boothferry Road - the quick option that doesn't help Barrow Lane or Ferriby Road but would minimise the impact on the 55's journey time.

Finally hourly daily daytime service 153 between Hull, Anlaby, Kirk Ella and Swanland survives, and gains some extra journeys in a little bit of good news:

-0640, 0840 and 1840 from Hull Monday to Friday (last departure previously 1745, with an 1805 151 for Kirk Ella)

-0725, 0825 and 1840 from Hull Saturday (as weekdays for previous last departures)

-0631, 1524, 1734 and 1832 from Swanland Monday to Friday (previous first departure 0727)

-0639 and 1824 from Swanland Saturday (previous first departure 0735)

Also worth noting is that Saturday afternoon inbound services on the 152/153 now use the Hull city centre loop. 

One final disappointment though - with just the hourly 152 and hourly 153 between Hull and Anlaby Monday to Saturday daytimes, you would hope for a half hourly combined frequency. There isn't though - it's a 20 minute gap followed by a 40 minute gap. Seems to allow the two services to be worked by three vehicles so is probably an efficiency measure - but not passenger friendly. 

Overall I sadly understand the need for cuts, it''s the mitigation that is the let down for me. 

Service 23 extended to Molescroft - partially replaces axed 122

East Yorkshire's service changes back on Sunday 4th September included their service 23 between Hull and Beverley Bus Station via Dunswell. Woodmansey and Flemingate. The service had been operating Monday to Saturday hourly daytimes with a limited evening service, plus a 'one-way' 2310 journey from Hull to Beverley on Sundays.

The September changes brought about two key amendments. Firstly the service was 'de-linked' from the 24 between Hull and Hornsea. Secondly the Monday to Saturday daytime service was extended from Beverley Bus Station to Molescroft (Lockwood Road), mostly along the same route as the B1/B2 and at an almost half hourly interval combined (26/34 minute gaps from Molescroft, 25/35 minute gaps from Beverley).

If extending a Hull to Beverley service to Molescroft sounds familiar, it is. The 122 did this from 2015 to September last year, when the 122 was suspended due to driver shortages and subsequently cancelled. That suspension turned cancellation of the 122 means that the Hull to Beverley service is down to three services per hour Monday to Saturday daytimes, two via Dunswell (23/121) and one via the A1079 (X46). From both Hull and Beverley there are 20/25/15 minute gaps in departures, with 20/40 minute gaps on the Dunswell services. In terms of frequency this takes services back to mid-May 2015. After the May 2015 increase to four buses per hour between Hull and Beverley, three via Dunswell, May 2018 saw a further increase to five buses per hour, four via Dunswell. Post COVID, services were reduced back to four buses per hour, three via Dunswell in September last year. Rather sad to see the development of services 'undone' like this. (The old indirect 61 is excluded from this comparison).

Finally for the record, the 'oddball' Sunday 23 was removed in these changes. It's oddly not included in the printed timetable, but a 2310 Hull to Beverley service 121 operates on Sundays instead. 

East Yorkshire reduce Service 25

Due to "low levels of usage", East Yorkshire made cuts to their service 25 between Hornsea, Beverley, Cottingham, Willerby, Anlaby and Hessle from Sunday 4th September. 

Whilst an hourly Monday to Saturday daytime service remains between Hornsea and Beverley Flemingate, between Beverley Flemingate and Hessle the frequency is reduced to two hourly. There were no cutbacks to the times of the first or last services - indeed the last Saturday departure from Beverley to Hessle is now at 1820 rather than 1735 - so all passengers can hopefully still make their journeys, albeit with a far less convenient timetable.

When not being impacted by strikes, the Stagecoach operated tendered 180 provides an alternative slower option between Beverley and Cottingham every 90 minutes. The section of the 25 between Cottingham and Willerby is also covered by the 104/154 circular every 20 minutes and the 66 duplicates the 25 for local travel within Hessle.

Additionally the evening service between Hornsea and Beverley has been cut back from Monday to Saturday to Friday and Saturday only. Monday to Thursday the last service from Hornsea is now at 1835 rather than 2150 and from Beverley Bus Station at 1745 rather than 2110. Overall Beverley to Hornsea is now in the somewhat contrasting position of a 1745 last departure Monday to Thursday compared to 2340 Friday and Saturday. 

The two hourly Sunday daytime service between Hornsea and Beverley has been unaffected.

Service 277 Morning Reductions (but done with some thought)

On Monday 5th September, East Yorkshire revised their service 277 between Hedon, Preston, Sproatley, Bilton and Hull. It's a reduced service in the mornings, but some care has been taken to minimise the impact for commuters into Hull City Centre.

The morning peak 0720 departure from Hedon to Hull was replaced by a 0652 (Mon-Fri)/0705 (Sat) Hedon to Asda Bilton, from where the service continues as a 57 into Hull City Centre. Journey times are increased due to the 57's slightly less direct route, but if the 277 can't justify a dedicated morning peak bus, then this arrangement is the next best thing. 

Withdrawn entirely was the Monday to Friday only 0855 from Hull to Hedon, which means the first arrival into Hedon from Bilton and Sproatley is at 1110 rather than 0940. Preston does have an 0927 arrival on route 78. 

Most other 277 journeys were also retimed.

78/79 Minor Reductions

East Yorkshire withdrew three journeys across associated services 78 and 79 between Hull, Victoria Dock and Hedon from Monday 5th September, due to 'low levels of usage'. The 78 and 79 are broadly hourly Monday to Saturday daytimes, two hourly on each route, and combined with the hourly 75 and X7 to offer three buses per hour between Hull and Hedon. As can be seen below the withdrawals are relatively minor.

The only journey from Hull withdrawn was the 0815 service 79; there is an alternative service 75 journey at 0830 Mon-Fri/0810 Sat between Hull and Hedon, and a service 78 at 0850. For the small village of Paull, served only by the 79, Monday to Friday they now have no link into Hedon between 0725 and 1018, and on Saturdays no Hedon service until 1018. 

The return 0855 service 78 from Hedon to Hull was also cancelled. There is a X7 from Hedon into Hull at 0847 Mon-Fri/0852 Sat, and a service 79 at 0930. Villagers in Preston, served by the 78 but not the 79, have the 0942 service 277 as their 'closest' alternative service into Hull. 

Finally the Monday to Friday only 1620 service 79 from Hedon to Hull was removed. There is a now a gap between 1530 and 1805 on service 79, similar to Saturdays; from Hedon to Hull there is an alternate service 75 at 1612.

I should also point out that between Hull and Victoria Dock there is additionally the hourly Stagecoach service 16, apart from during the current strike when it has been suspended. 

Consistent 66B

On Monday 5th September, East Yorkshire introduced a consistent route to their Monday to Friday peak service 66B between Hull Paragon Interchange and Bridgehead Business Park in Hessle. Previously morning journeys had operated as an extension of service 66 between Paragon Interchange, the Boothferry Estate and Hessle Square, whilst the single afternoon journey operated from Bridgehead Business Park direct via Boothferry Road and Anlaby Road into Paragon Interchange, omitting Hessle Town Centre and the Boothferry Estate - or in other words, the afternoon 66B was effectively a 'short' journey on the service 55 route.

Since last month's change the afternoon service 66B - at 1715 from Bridgehead Business Park - follows the morning 66B route via Hessle Square in reverse. Consistency does have a drawback in this case though - journeys times into Hull City Centre increase by 10 minutes.

Small Improvements between Hull and York

East Yorkshire amended their X46 (and X47 variant) between Hull, Beverley, Market Weighton, Pocklington and York on Sunday 4th September.

A new 0515 Hull to York journey was added Monday to Friday, an hour earlier than the previous first service from Hull and offering a York arrival just after 0700. Also new was a Monday to Friday 0605 from Beverley to Hull. From York departures to Hull at 0632 and 0854, along with the 0805 Pocklington to Hull and 0920 Beverley to Hull were replaced with three York to Hull journeys at 0642, 0734 and 0834, offering an improved service from York. One negative was the withdrawal of the Monday to Friday 0635 Hull to Pocklington (for a York connection on service 46); this journey had operated as an extra over and above the standard hourly service, and it's removal appears to be as a consequence of the new 0515 Hull to York and improved York to Pocklington morning peak service. Overall a clear improvement which is good to see amongst many negative changes elsewhere on the East Yorkshire network.

On Saturday mornings the first journeys were revised to operate slightly earlier; at 0605 rather than than 0620 from Pocklington to York (X47 variant), at 0620 rather than 0645 from Hull to York, at 0625 rather than 0640 from Pocklington to Hull and at 0647 rather than 0702 from York to Hull.

Sundays saw the 0910 X46 Pocklington to York replaced by a 0800 X46 from Hull to York, offering almost an hour earlier first arrival into York from Hull. A new 0910 from Pocklington to Hull was also commenced, previous first service at 1038.

Daytime times were extensively revised on all days of the week. The Monday to Saturday 1910 X46 from Hull to Pocklington became a 1905 departure operating as the X47 variant via Cottingham. Meanwhile one oddity was the retiming of the 2330 Sunday to Thursday X47 from Beverley to Hull to operate at 2340, whilst the Friday and Saturday 2205 York to Hull continues to depart Beverley at 2330.

In terms of route amendments, the biggest change was in York where arrivals now run via Rougier Street to terminate opposite the railway station, instead of operating a loop via Nunnery Lane to terminate outside the station. Saturday afternoon inbound buses in Hull City Centre now use the City Centre loop, which remains omitted Monday to Friday afternoons.

To maintain coordination between Market Weighton, Pocklington and York, the 46 between Holme on Spalding Moor, Market Weighton, Pocklington and York was also retimed, along with the single daily service 45 between Bridlington, Driffield, Market Weighton, Pocklington and York and the peaktime 145 between Market Weighton, Driffield and Bridlington. Frequency on the 46 remains hourly between Market Weighton and York, with five services a day from/to Holme on Spalding Moor. The small number of short York to Pocklington journeys were extended from the East Yorkshire bus depot in Pocklington to 'The Balk' Roundabout south of the town, so as to serve a new housing estate.

East Yorkshire go Saturday only on the 142 (temporarily)

After operation on Friday 2nd September, East Yorkshire withdrew from the 142 between Cherry Burton and Beverley Monday to Friday, leaving just their Saturday 142 between Middleton, Cherry Burton and Beverley. East Yorkshire had provided one morning journey from Cherry Burton into Beverley at 0810 schooldays/0818 school holidays, plus a schooldays only 1520 Beverley to Cherry Burton and a 1730 every weekday Beverley to Cherry Burton. As a result of this change, Cherry Burton lost it's only peaktime bus service.

A week on Monday (24th October), East Yorkshire will be back on the weekday 142 replacing Acklams Coaches off-peak service - but more on that in a later post.

Beverley Locals Evening Service Withdrawn

In September 2021, East Yorkshire revamped it's Beverley town services with new routes B1 and B2, operating under 'Beverley Locals' branding. One aspect of these changes was the introduction of a Friday and Saturday evening service, with journeys provided approximately every 90 minutes on each route. 

Sadly, after a year, East Yorkshire 'pulled the plug' following service on Saturday 3rd September, and the B1 and B2 became daytime only services. East Yorkshire stated the change was "due to low levels of usage". Disappointing, but at least East Yorkshire tried something that hadn't been available in Beverley for a number of years, and they gave it a full year to try and become established. 

Evening services cut north of Leconfield Sunday to Thursday

East Yorkshire withdrew the Sunday to Thursday evening service on route 121 (Hull-Beverley-Leconfield-Driffield-Nafferton-Bridlington) between Leconfield and Nafferton from Sunday 4th September, stating this was due to "very low levels of usage". Friday and Saturday evening services are unaffected. Northern Rail do offer an alternative though for the three largest settlements impacted - Hutton Cranswick, Driffield and Nafferton - which are the only settlements of any notable size on the section of route concerned.

In detail this means the 1935 and 2135 from Hull to Nafferton have been truncated at Leconfield Sunday to Thursday, with the last bus from Hull now at 1730 5 days a week. In the opposite direction, the 2051 from Nafferton to Hull has been withdrawn between Nafferton and Beverley Monday to Thursday and entirely on Sundays, whilst the 2251 from Nafferton to Beverley has been withdrawn Sunday to Thursday. 

On the plus side a new 1835 from Hull Paragon Interchange to Beverley has been added Monday to Saturday, as have 2030 and 2230 journeys from Beverley to Hull on Sundays. Away from the evenings and the 0653(Mon-Fri)/0703(Sat) Driffield to Hull now start in Nafferton, whilst all weekend afternoon journeys now serve the Hull City Centre loop inbound (remains omitted on weekday afternoons). 

New early morning Withernsea to Hornsea service.

East Yorkshire revised service 129 between Withernsea and Hornsea on Sunday 4th September. The route operates Monday to Saturdays plus Summer Sundays with financial support from East Riding of Yorkshire Council. In some ways the 4th September was an odd date to revise the 129, whilst it did coincide with East Yorkshire's other changes, it was also the last Summer Sunday service 129 of the year, meaning a new timetable for the final Sunday of the season. 

Firstly a new Monday to Saturday 0710 from Withernsea to Hornsea was added to the timetable, previous first service at 0845. The new 0710 omits Aldbrough Cliffs and unlike all other service 129's, serves and terminates in the Hornsea Freeport grounds. From here it continues in service around Hornsea as town service 550, with passengers able to stay onboard. I suspect the new 0710 is simply running the positioning journey for the 550 'in-service', with only a little extra mileage en-route. Hopefully it's useful to some, and if not I doubt the marginal cost is significant so worth a try.

Secondly the previous two hourly frequency during the daytime has been replaced with a 2 hour 15 minute frequency, enabling the daytime service to be worked by one vehicle and also providing a slightly longer operating day. The 0845, 1045, 1245 and 1445 from Withernsea become 0830, 1045, 1300 and 1515 departures (the later not schooldays), with the 0952, 1152, 1352 and 1552 from Hornsea becoming 0935, 1150, 1405 and 1620 departures (again the later not schooldays). The final 1610 Withernsea to Sand Le Mere Holiday Village 'short' remains when the holiday village is open.

Hornsea-Hull Cut to Every 90 Minutes

As part of their 4th September changes, East Yorkshire reduced the Monday to Saturday timetable on service 24 between Hornsea, Leven and Hull from hourly daytimes to approximately every 90 minutes. This is a disappointing alteration, but in the current environment it could have been worse. Hopefully it hasn't dissuaded too many passengers from using the 24.

Monday to Saturday the first bus from Hornsea is now at 0700 Mon-Fri/0735 Sat rather than 0630, whilst the last bus is slightly later at 2010 rather than 2000, though the 2150 service 25/23 through journey from Hornsea to Hull via Beverley no longer operates Monday to Thursday. From Hull the first bus is now at 0550 Mon-Fri rather than 0630 (remains 0630 Sat), with the last bus slightly later at 1900 rather than 1845, however with the later 2035 23/25 Hull to Hornsea through service reduced from Monday to Saturday to Friday and Saturday only.

As part of these changes the through link between service 24 and service 23 between Hull and Beverley Monday to Saturday daytimes has been withdrawn. I was skeptical it was ever going to get much use, so I'm not surprised by this and can't imagine it has caused any significant problems.

As a side effect of these changes, the half hourly Monday to Saturday daytime service between Hornsea and Leven across routes 24 and 25 is no more, and unfortunately there are some instances of the 24 and 25 operating at identical times on this section, although at other times the co-ordination is perfect, with the 24 precisely fitting halfway between the hourly 25.

Sunday service 24 remains every 2 hours during the daytime.

New Hospital 'Shorts' in Scunthorpe

On Monday 5th September, Stagecoach added some new Monday to Saturday evening peak 'shorts' to Scunthorpe Town Circular service 1, on the section between Scunthorpe Bus Station and Scunthorpe Hospital. Between 1605 and 1805 from Scunthorpe Bus Station, and 1613 and 1813 from Scunthorpe Hospital, a 20 minute frequency is provided on these 'shorts', in addition to the main half hourly service.

Stagecoach Saturday Morning Reductions in Scunthorpe

From Saturday 10th September, Stagecoach withdrew the Saturday Only 0800 service 7 from Scunthorpe Bus Station to Skippingdale Retail Park, with the first bus now at 0900, matching the Monday to Friday timetable. On service 8 the Saturday Only 0822 from Skippingdale Retail Park to Scunthorpe Bus Station was replaced by a 0842 Crosby Avenue to Scunthorpe Bus Station 'short', again matching the weekday service.

Service 90 extended to Eastoft

North Lincolnshire Council tendered service 90 between Crowle and Scunthorpe, operated by Stagecoach, is amended from tomorrow - Monday 5th September. The changes appear to be a replacement for college day service 590 between Eastoft and the Scunthorpe Colleges, which I assume has been cancelled, but also affect college holidays and Saturdays.

Monday to Saturday the 0720 Scunthorpe to Crowle now departs at 0655, extending to Eastoft on college days only. The 0755 Crowle to Scunthorpe is retimed to 0745, and on college days only starts back in Eastoft and operates via the Scunthorpe Colleges to Scunthorpe Bus Station. Interestingly during college holidays and on Saturdays, the vehicle and driver wait in Crowle rather than extend to Eastoft - presumably the marginal cost of fuel isn't deemed worthwhile. The first Monday to Friday service from Eastoft to Scunthorpe is currently 1006 and on Saturdays at 0858 (service 361).

Later in the day, the Monday to Friday 1510 from Crowle to Scunthorpe is retimed to 1530 and on college days only diverts after Scunthorpe Hospital to John Leggott College - Scunthorpe Bus Station is not served. The 1630 Scunthorpe to Crowle on college days only now starts at the Scunthorpe Colleges before extending to Eastoft. The current last service from Scunthorpe to Eastoft Monday to Friday is at 1330 (service 361). Finally the Monday to Friday 1710 Crowle to Scunthorpe now departs at 1720, starting from Eastoft on college days. Again during college holidays the vehicle and driver wait time in Crowle instead.

Service 180 passes to Stagecoach

East Riding of Yorkshire Council tendered service 180 between Beverley, Walkington, Little Weighton, Skidby, Cottingham and Castle Hill Hospital was operated by Acklams Coaches for the final time today (Saturday 3rd September). On Monday (5th), new operator Stagecoach takes over with an unchanged timetable of six journeys each way Monday to Saturday between Beverley and Cottingham; three of these in each direction extend to Castle Hill Hospital.

Stagecoach Hull Summer Changes

Stagecoach have 'book-ended' the school Summer Holidays with two sets of service changes in Hull - on Sunday 24th July and then on Sunday 4th September. Below are what I consider to be the main changes.

Service 1: Hull Paragon Interchange to Boothferry Estate

Since 24th July, service 1 has been reduced from every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes to every 15 minutes. The 1W variation via Smith and Nephew was withdrawn and the last bus from Paragon Interchange Monday to Saturday moved from 2305 to 2320. Some enhancements have been made on Sunday mornings with the first bus from Paragon Interchange now at 0730 rather than 0830 and from the Boothferry Estate at 0740 instead off 0820.

Service 2: Wawne-North Bransholme-North Point-Hull City Centre-Boothferry Estate

From 24th July, service 2 was amended from every 20 minutes between North Bransholme and the Boothferry Estate and every 10 minutes between Hull City Centre and the Boothferry Estate Monday to Saturday daytimes, to every 15 minutes between North Bransholme and the Boothferry Estate. This coincided with service 7 being rerouted away from North Bransholme where it had been operating every 20 minutes Monday to Friday daytimes and every half hour Saturday daytimes. All Monday to Saturday daytime service 2's now serve Paragon Interchange (services from North Bransholme had been omitting), whilst morning peak variation 2X via Sutton Fields Industrial Estate has been withdrawn. 

Hourly Monday to Saturday daytime Wawne extensions remain as before, but with some evening improvements. Rather than a last service from Paragon Interchange at 1800, departures to the village are now at 1817, 1905 and 2330. From Wawne, the last service is now at 1907 rather than 1702. 

The last service from North Bransholme is earlier at 2215 rather than 2240 Monday to Saturday, but from Paragon Interchange to North Bransholme is now at 2330 rather than 2300.

The use of the 2A suffix for evening and Sunday journeys via Sutton Park was dropped as part of these changes, whilst on Sunday daytimes rather than a half hourly service between North Bransholme and the Boothferry Estate via Sutton Park there is now an hourly service from Wawne to the Boothferry Estate via the Monday to Saturday daytime route, and an hourly North Bransholme to the Boothferry Estate service via Sutton Park. This restores a Sunday service to Wawne.

Service 3: Bilton Grange-Greatfield-Hull Paragon Interchange-Orchard Park

The 24th July changes saw the Monday to Friday 10 minute frequency from Bilton Grange start to be reduced post 1707 rather than post 1847. Monday to Saturday late evening services have been increased from hourly to half hourly.

Service 4: Bilton Grange-Hull Paragon Interchange-Orchard Park

As part of the 24th July revisions, the Monday to Friday daytime frequency was reduced from every 10 to every 15 minutes, but the Sunday frequency increased from hourly to half hourly. The last service from Paragon Interchange to Orchard Park is slightly later Monday to Saturday at 1912 rather than 1850 Mon-Fri/1845 Sat. 

Service 5: Hull Paragon Interchange-Orchard Park-Kingswood-North Point-Hull Paragon Interchange

Since 24th July the Monday to Friday daytime frequency has been reduced from every 10 minutes between Paragon Interchange and Orchard Park and every 20 minutes for the full route to every 15 minutes between Paragon Interchange and Orchard Park, and every half hour for the full route. Between Hull Paragon Interchange and North Point in East Hull, a combined 15 minute frequency is offered with service 8. On Sunday daytimes, the hourly Paragon Interchange to Orchard Park 'shorts' are extended to Kingswood.

Service 7: Hull Paragon Interchange-Sutton Park-North Point-Kingswood/North Bransholme

The only major route change Stagecoach have made in Hull is to re-route the 7 from North Bransholme to Kingswood Retail and Leisure Parks, a change introduced in the July amendments - this reintroduces a direct service from North Point and Bodmin Road to Kingswood Retail Park and a service of any kind from Sutton Park to Kingswood. Given the 2 to North Bransholme being increased in frequency, this is an amendment which seems logical. 

Monday to Friday the frequency is reduced from every 20 minutes to every half hour, coordinated with the 8 for a 15 minute interval between Paragon Interchange and North Point. The last service from Kingswood is at 1815 rather than 1655 Mon-Fri/1650 Sat when previously departing North Bransholme - again logical as Kingswood is a destination in a way North Bransholme isn't.

Service 8: Hull Paragon Interchange-Sutton Park-North Point-Salthouse Road-Hull Paragon Interchange

From 24th July, the Monday to Friday daytime frequency was reduced from every 20 minutes to every half hour. The Monday to Saturday morning peak 8X variation was renumbered as service 8, still serving Clough Road but as per bustimes.org, omitting Sutton Fields Industrial Estate - in combination with the 2X withdrawal, that leaves Sutton Fields without a bus service penetrating the estate.

Monday to Saturday evening the last clockwise circular from Paragon Interchange was moved from 2010 to 1935, but a new 2320 Paragon Interchange to North Point via Sutton Park 'short' was added.

On Sunday mornings, two new North Point to Paragon Interchange via Sutton Park 'shorts' were introduced at 0745 and 0845.

Service 12/12A: Hull Paragon Interchange-Sutton-North Point

The 24th July changes saw the withdrawal of the Monday to Saturday 1825 12A from Paragon Interchange, with the last 12A now at 1755, and alternative service 12's at 1810 and 1840. The 2310 service 12 from Paragon Interchange was retimed to 2320.

Service 14: Hull Paragon Interchange-Greatfield

An extra Sunday morning journey was added on 24th July, at 0725 - previous first departure 0835.

Service 16: Hull Paragon Interchange-Victoria Dock-Sutton-North Point

Whilst the 'headline' remains an hourly Monday to Saturday frequency, there were a number of changes introduced in July:

• The Monday to Saturday 0720 Paragon Interchange to North Point became a 0730 Paragon Interchange to Siemens.
• The Monday to Saturday 0909 Morrisons to North Point became a Saturday only 0840 Paragon Interchange to North Point, with the first weekday North Point arrival now not until 1033.
• The 1440 North Point to Paragon Interchange was withdrawn Monday to Friday but not on Saturdays
• The Monday to Saturday 1625 and 1735 Morrisons to Paragon Interchange were replaced by a Saturday only 1545 North Point to Paragon Interchange and a Monday to Saturday 1645 North Point to Paragon Interchange.
• In contrast, the differing Monday to Friday and Saturday late afternoon timetables from Paragon Interchange were standardised. The Monday to Friday 1445 to North Point, 1555/1705 to Morrisons and 1815 to North Point plus the Saturday 1440 to North Point, 1540 to Morrisons and 1640/1740/1810 to North Point became a six day a week 1445/1555/1705/1815 to North Point

Next month's changes add a 1555 North Point to Paragon Interchange Monday to Friday.

Service 20/22: Priory Park, Park and Ride

From Monday 5th September, Monday to Friday morning post-peak and lunchtime journeys and all Saturday journeys will be re-routed via Hessle Road, Askew Avenue, Boothferry Road and Anlaby Road rather than the A63 and Rawling Way between Priory Park and Hull Royal Infirmary - this is the current service 22 route, though all journeys will operate as service 20 regardless of route followed. This is big news for Askew Avenue which currently has no daytime service and now gains a 20 minute frequency. It also partially makes up for the service 1 and 2 frequency reductions on Hessle Road and Anlaby Road respectively.

Additionally it seems as if the 20 will be re-routed away from Paragon Interchange in Hull City Centre, instead operating direct from Carr Lane to Anlaby Road. I can't see this being a major issue as the Interchange passengers can use the stop on Anlaby Road opposite the station side entrance, whilst there are plenty of other direct services from the Interchange to Hull Royal Infirmary such as the Stagecoach 2/250/255/350.

Service 70: Ferrybus

This route which runs daily from Paragon Interchange to connect to/from the overnight P&O North Sea Ferry between Hull King George Dock and Rotterdam, resumes on 4th September - I presume for the first time since the pandemic.

Service 99: Hull Paragon Interchange-Bridlington

For the record, this service resumed for Summer 2022 on Sunday 24th July, to the same timetable as last year.

Service 255: North Bransholme-North Point-Sutton Park-Hull Paragon Interchange-Barton-Wren Kitchens

From Monday 5th September, some Wren Kitchens workers will get a bit longer in bed! The 0420 from North Bransholme is retimed to depart at 0430, whilst the 2320 from Wren Kitchens is speeded up to arrive at North Bransholme at 0015 rather than 0037 (leaves Hull Truck Theatre at 2345 rather than 0000).

Service 350: Hull Paragon Interchange-Barton-Scunthorpe

As off 5th September, the college day extension of the 1625 Scunthorpe Bus Station to Hull to start back at the Scunthorpe Colleges, only introduced in April, is withdrawn. The VOSA registration indicates this is because service 90 to Crowle will now be serving the colleges - presumably the intention is for passengers to connect from service 90 to the 350 at Scunthorpe Bus Station.

From the same date, the Monday to Saturday 1910 from Scunthorpe Bus Station to Hull Paragon Interchange is retimed, taking eight minutes longer. The return 2020 now departs at 2030 as a result.

If I've missed anything major please post a comment below. Stagecoach provided very little in the way of commentary for these changes, so it's a case of comparing timetables to work out what has changed.

(There is also a tender win for Stagecoach's Hull depot, but as that route doesn't serve the City of Hull, I will cover in a separate post)

Extra Hornsby 399 Journeys

In June I reported that the replacement arrangements for former Isle Coaches service 399 had created an anomaly whereby there was a morning peak bus from the southern Isle of Axholme to Scunthorpe on Saturdays, but not Monday to Friday. That oddity was removed on 11th July, with enhancements to Hornsby's Monday to Friday service 399 that will also replace Isle Coaches college service 647 from Misterton to the Scunthorpe Colleges via the Isle of Axholme, once the new college year begins in September.

Two additional journeys have been added to the Hornsby 399 in each direction. There is firstly a 0645 from Scunthorpe to Graizelound via the A18, Belton, Epworth and Low Burnham. Next a 0725 Graizelound to Scunthorpe had commenced, operating via Westwoodside, Owston Ferry, Epworth, Belton, West Butterwick and Gunness, with an extension beyond Scunthorpe Bus Station to the Scunthorpe Colleges on college days.

In the afternoon there is a new 1605 college days/1620 college holidays from Scunthorpe Bus Station to Graizelound, operating via the colleges during term times, but otherwise as per the reverse of the 0725. Finally a 1725 from Graizelound to Scunthorpe has commenced, operating direct to Owston Ferry but then via Epworth, Belton, West Buterwick and Gunness. 

Overall there are now five buses per day Monday to Friday from Scunthorpe to the southern Isle of Axholme (four Hornsby, one Stagecoach) - one less than when the Isle Coaches 399 was in operation - and six in the other direction (five Hornsby, one Stagecoach) - matching the Isle Coaches provision. The new arrangements are unfortunately rather messy though - every Hornsby journey to Scunthorpe has a slightly different route, as does every journey from Scunthorpe, and then a totally different timetable on Saturdays with Stagecoach. Still it's an improvement on the initial Isle 399 replacement, so the extra Hornsby 399's are good news.

(Any students from Misterton to the Scunthorpe Colleges can use JLC Bus Route 9 instead of the 647).

First Dalesbus, now Moorsbus

Earlier this year, Pocklington joined the Dalesbus network, thanks to East Yorkshire winning the contract to provide the 822 Sunday service between York and Grassington, along with an interworked service 875 journey between Grassington and Hawes.

Now in similar circumstances, Pocklington has joined the Moorsbus network after East Yorkshire won the contract to provide one bus every Saturday, Sunday (and August Bank Holiday Monday) between 2nd July and 25th September inclusive. Service M31 provides one service from Pocklington via York and Easingwold to Helmsley every operating day, further extending to Kirkbymoorside and Pickering on Saturdays only. The M31 leaves Pocklington at 0840 Saturdays and 0835 Sundays and Bank Holiday Monday, returning at 1838 Saturday and 1912 Sundays and Bank Holiday Monday. As with the 875, the M31 sticks to the A1079 between Pocklington and York but does serve all the stops it passes.

Whilst in the Yorkshire Moors, East Yorkshire will operate on service M3 on Saturdays and service M4 on Sundays and Bank Holiday Monday. The Saturday M31 immediately becomes a M3 at Pickering travelling to Danby, then works a Danby-Pickering-Malton round trip before a Danby-Pickering service that continues as the homeward M31. On Sundays and Bank Holiday Monday the M31 immediately becomes a M4 at Helmsley travelling onto Guisborough via Stokesley; there is then a Guisborough-Helmsley-Sutton Bank round trip before a final Guisborough to Helmsley service and returning to Pocklington on the M31.

The Sunday M4 is notable in that it takes East Yorkshire into the Tees Valley area as a consequence of serving Guisborough. 

Evening Peak 145 extended to Bridlington

From Monday (4th July), the Monday to Friday 1740 service 145 from Market Weighton to Driffield will be retimed to 1750, to improve the reliability of the connection out of the 1625 service 46 from York at Market Weighton. In addition it will be extended beyond Driffield to Bridlington Morrisons, via Nafferton and Burton Agnes. Between Driffield and Bridlington, the 145 departure from Driffield at 1824 fits in between the 1740 and 1845 service 121 departures. The evening peak 145 from Market Weighton is operated by East Yorkshire's Bridlington depot, so the extension is probably a cheap and easy improvement to make.

Service 145 is operated by East Yorkshire on behalf of East Riding of Yorkshire Council. The morning peak and Monday to Saturday off-peak journeys are unchanged.

Extra Wren Kitchens Services

In April, Stagecoach introduced a couple of extra journeys from Wren Kitchens in Barton; a 1450 455 to Cleethorpes via Immingham and Grimsby Monday to Saturday and a 1450 255 to North Bransholme via Hull Paragon Interchange on a Saturday (already operated weekdays). Presumably due to them being introduced at short notice, they were initially operated as 'closed door' staff services. 

However since yesterday (Monday 27th June), they are being advertised for use by the general public. A Saturday 1335 255 from Paragon Interchange to Wren Kitchens has also been added (again already operated on weekdays).

New early morning service in Scunthorpe - and potential big boost to Sunday daytime services

Stagecoach have announced on their website that there are "some slight amends to service 1 timetable in Scunthorpe" from Sunday 26th June. From a review of the timetable, some times are slightly revised and there are new 'shorts' from Scunthorpe Bus Station to Tesco via the Hospital at 0540 Monday to Saturday, returning from Tesco at 0600. Presumably there is an early morning commuter flow that Stagecoach are aiming to serve. 

The new Stagecoach pdf timetable also shows the Sunday daytime service on evening and Sunday variant 1A, increasing from hourly to half hourly - reversing a change made almost a year ago. Excellent news worth promoting you would think - more than a "slight" amendment? As such the lack of publicity has made me dubious as to whether the 1A Sunday daytime increase is actually happening, or just a mistake in the pdf timetable. On further checking, as off now (Saturday 25th at 0930), it is not loaded into the Stagecoach website journey planner, and it's not showing on bustimes.org, which states it updated the 1A timetable data yesterday (24th). So I'm not really sure what's correct and what isn't. If the 1A is being increased then publicity for it is exceptionally poor, and if it isn't being increased then a very unfortunate mistake has been made. Not good either way.

Isle Coaches end their 291 and 399

Saturday 11th June was the last day of operation by Isle Coaches of their 291 Owston Ferry to Doncaster and 399 Scunthorpe to Doncaster services. These routes had formed the main services for the southern Isle of Axholme area in North Lincolnshire, centred on Epworth. Isle Coaches now only operate the college day 647 service between Misterton, the Isle of Axholme and the Scunthorpe Colleges.

Isle's 291 had operated twice per day Monday to Saturday daytimes, and their 399 five times per day Monday to Saturday between Scunthorpe and Westwoodside, extending to/from Doncaster once per day. I believe these were mostly operated on a commercial basis.

Hornsby last month registered a very basic replacement 399, albeit on a commercial basis - which is encouraging. Their plan was for a 0910 between Belton and Haxey in the Isle of Axholme, followed by an 0925 Haxey to Scunthorpe, 1215 Scunthorpe to Haxey and 1302 Haxey to Scunthorpe, Monday to Friday only. Unlike the Isle 399, these would not have served Westwoodside (or Doncaster), and between Haxey and Epworth would have taken the direct route via Low Burnham, as opposed to serving East Lound and Owston Ferry. 

That however is not the final timetable. The subsidy 'status' of the route has changed from 'No' to 'In Part' so I assume North Lincolnshire Council have funded the improvements which have been made. The 0910 from Belton extends from Haxey to Westwoodside, the 0925 from Haxey to Scunthorpe starts at Westwoodside at 0930 and operates via East Lound and Owston Ferry, the 1215 from Scunthorpe to Haxey is now a 1230 Scunthorpe to Westwoodside via Owston Ferry and East Lound, whilst the 1302 Haxey to Scunthorpe becomes a 1327 Westwoodside to Scunthorpe, still via Low Burnham and operating direct between Belton and Gunness via the A18.

In addition there has also been an 0830 Scunthorpe to Doncaster and 1215 return added to the timetable, still Monday to Friday only. These Doncaster journeys operate via Owston Ferry in both directions and ensure a basic weekday shopping link to South Yorkshire's newest city remains.

Combined with the First operated 57f morning peak Epworth to Doncaster service and the Stagecoach operated 399 evening peak Scunthorpe to Westwoodside and return (slightly retimed) - both Monday to Saturday and operated on a tendered basis - that had looked to be the final provision for the Isle of Axholme in terms of 'timetabled' buses to Scunthorpe and Doncaster. A very basic shoppers service, plus some one direction peak services (albeit that evening peak 399 does also offer a return option for afternoon shoppers). Otherwise there is the JustGo demand responsive service which does cover Isle of Axholme to Scunthorpe journeys, and also serves Blaxton for bus connections to Doncaster.

However during the past week, in what seems to be a very late change, further services have been added for the Isle of Axholme, all on Saturdays and operated by Stagecoach - I assume funded by North Lincolnshire Council.

Firstly the Stagecoach Saturday 399 has gone from one to four journeys in each direction - 0620, 0840, 1320 and 1735 from Scunthorpe, returning from Westwoodside at 0730, 1000, 1430 and 1845. Not necessarily four useful journeys in each direction - I can't see the 0620 getting much use - but certainly enough to offer a basic shopping link and to serve any Saturday commuters. That last point is rather curious though given that Isle Coaches Monday to Friday morning peak service to Scunthorpe hasn't been replaced. 

Secondly the 291 survives as a Saturday only service, still with two journeys in each direction serving Doncaster shopping and leisure travellers. Going by bustimes.org, a Gainsborough depot vehicle operated yesterday's inaugural Stagecoach operated service.

The end result is the southern Isle of Axholme has a better service on Saturdays than during the week! Perhaps not so surprising though when the timetable is primarily geared towards shopping and leisure use rather than commuters or students.

Overall the Isle of Axholme has a worse service after the past week's changes, even on Saturdays. This is a backwards step for bus services in the area. However in current circumstances retaining six day a week links to both Scunthorpe and Doncaster, the former on a part commercial basis, feels like a case of 'could easily have ended up worse than this', especially with the existence of JustGo. 

New Monday Burton Pidsea to Withernsea service

Tomorrow - Monday 30th May - a new Monday only bus service is introduced between Burton Pidsea, Roos and Withernsea. Operated by Holderness Area Rural Transport (HART), the 72 will depart Burton Pidsea at 1100, returning from Withernsea at 1320.

Burton Pidsea is currently without a usable service to Withernsea (and has been since the withdrawal of the 76C in I think 2018), however between Roos and Withernsea there is the two hourly 129 operating either daily in Summer or Monday to Saturday in winter. From Roos there is a 1028 129 to Withernsea and a 1245 return, so the new 72 does appear a bit 'luxurious' for Roos, unless I am missing something? Perhaps the 72 should be routed via Tunstall or Halsham instead? Either way this is good news for Burton Pidsea.

Also oddly, there is very little online publicity. I can't find any mention on Burton Pidsea or Roos Parish Council's websites, not on the HART website, nor on the East Riding of Yorkshire Council news pages (are they funding it?). I only became aware of the new 72 via VOSA's Notices and Proceedings, then found the timetable on bustimes.org. Hopefully the residents of Burton Pidsea are well informed about the new service.

Service 196 extended to Allerthorpe and Melbourne

Since Thursday (26th May), East Yorkshire operated service 196 between Aughton and York has been extended to start/finish at Allerthorpe, and additionally serves Melbourne. Service 196 operates one journey in each direction on a Thursday only as a shoppers service, operated on behalf of East Riding of Yorkshire Council. 

This does have the feel of a bus that would otherwise operate 'out of service' from Pocklington to Aughton, now operating in service as it's a very indirect route for anyone traveling from Allerthorpe or Melbourne to York - but an indirect service is better than no York shoppers service at all, which was the situation until this week.

Stagecoach Fare Changes

Stagecoach East Midlands made their first change to bus fares in three years last Monday (25th April). Other than the services I use, I don't closely follow bus fares, but what caught my attention is that this wasn't just a simple increase, but rather a more complex set of changes that will be either positive or negative depending on the journeys you make. I should say this blog post isn't meant to be a comprehensive overview of the changes, rather a review of what I have spotted.

One eye catching change is that the 'young person' fares age limit has risen from 16 to 19, meaning that older teenagers no longer have to pay adult fares. Hopefully this will encourage more young people to use the bus and then some maybe continue doing so once they have to pay adult prices. There are changes to the composition of travellers allowed when purchasing a group ticket - still 5 people but no requirement for 3 to be children - as well as new flexi tickets.

Single and return fares outside of city or town megarider areas have been grouped into four bands, with each band having a set price, which has led to some significant changes. I've looked at a range of prices from my home town of Barton Upon Humber to see the impact of the changes:

Hillside Drive, Barton (last stop on Ferriby Road going out of the town)

• Was £1 Adult Single, £1.60 Adult Return, 50p Child Single, 80p Child Return
• Now £1 Adult Single, £2 Adult Return, 70p Young Person Single, £1.40 Young Person Return

South Ferriby

• Was £1.50 Adult Single, £2.70 Adult Return, 75p Child Single, £1.35 Child Return
• Now £2 Adult Single, £4 Adult Return, £1.40 Young Person Single, £2.70 Young Person Return

Barrow Upon Humber on service 250

• Was £2.70 Adult Single, £4.80 Adult Return, £1.35 Child Single, £2.40 Child Return
• Now as per the pdf fare table £2 Adult Single, £4 Adult Return, £1.40 Young Person Single, £2.70 Young Person Return
• Now as per the Stagecoach Journey Planner £3 Adult Single, £6 Adult Return, £2 Young Person Single, £4 Young Person Return

Barrow Upon Humber on service 260

• Was £2 Adult Single, £3.40 Adult Return, £1.30 Child Single, £1.70 Child Return
• Now £2 Adult Single, £4 Adult Return, £1.40 Young Person Single, £2.70 Young Person Return

Goxhill

• Was £2.75 Adult Single, £4.95 Adult Return, £1.40 Child Single, £2.50 Child Return
• Now £3 Adult Single, £6 Adult Return, £2 Young Person Single, £4 Young Person Return

Ulceby, Humber Bridge North Side

• Was £3.60 Adult Single, £6.40 Adult Return, £1.80 Child Single, £3.20 Child Return
• Now £3 Adult Single, £6 Adult Return, £2 Young Person Single, £4 Young Person Return

Winterton, Hull Royal Infirmary

• Was £4.10 Adult Single, £7.60 Adult Return, £2.05 Child Single, £3.80 Child Return
• Now £4.50 Adult Single, £7.80 Adult Return, £3 Young Person Single, £5 Young Person Return

Grimsby, Hull Paragon Interchange and Scunthorpe

• Was £5 Adult Single, £9 Adult Return, £2.50 Child Single, £4.50 Child Return
• Now £4.50 Adult Single, £7.80 Adult Return, £3 Young Person Single, £5 Young Person Return

Cleethorpes

• Was £5.90 Adult Single, £9.20 Adult Return, £2.95 Child Single, £4.60 Child Return
• Now £4.50 Adult Single, £7.80 Adult Return, £3 Young Person Single, £5 Young Person Return

Other Tickets I've Checked

Priory Park Park and Ride to Hull City Centre

• Was £2 Adult Single, £3 Adult Return, £1.30 Child Single, £1.80 Child Return
• Now £2.50 Adult Single, £4 Adult Return, £1.50 Young Person Single, £2.70 Young Person Return

North Point Shopping Centre to Hull Paragon Interchange

• Was £2 Adult Single, £3.50 Adult Return, £1.30 Child Single, £2.30 Child Return
• Now £2.50 Adult Single, £4 Adult Return, £1.50 Young Person Single, £2.70 Young Person Return

Hull and Scunthorpe Dayrider

• Was £3.70 for Adults
• Now £4 for Adults

Grimsby Dayrider

• Was £3.60 for Adults in Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Laceby, £4.30 for wider area extending to Immingham to Ulceby
• Now £4 for wider area with the addition of Holton Le Clay, but cheaper Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Laceby area only ticket withdrawn

East Midlands Day Out

• Was £9.30 Adults, £4.65 Child
• Now £7.80 Adults, £5 Young Person

Grimsby Megarider (weekly ticket)

• Was £13 for Adults in Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Laceby, £15.50 for wider area extending to Immingham to Ulceby
• Now £14.50 for wider area with the addition of Holton Le Clay, but cheaper Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Laceby area only ticket withdrawn

Hull Megarider 

• Was £13 Adults
• Now £15 Adults
• But the all operator HullCard is £14.90!!!!

Scunthorpe Megarider

• Was £12 Adults
• Now £14 Adults

Megarider Humber

• Was £27 Adults
• Now withdrawn, £28 Megarider Connect is the alternative

Megarider Connect (valid across Stagecoach East Midlands)

• Was £30 Adults
• Now £28 Adults

There are some big increases, some small increases and some notable decreases. Based on the above sample, generally the reductions seem to be for those travelling longer distances.

For me, the bus fare from Barton to Hull City Centre has been too high for some time. £9 return makes no financial sense for me as a car owner compared to £3 park and ride, £2.70 bridge toll (with Humber Tag) and a little bit of petrol and 'car wear and tear'. Now whilst £7.80 is still expensive for just over half an hour each way on the bus, with the £1.20 (13%) reduction to the Barton to Hull adult return fare and the £1 increase in the park and ride adult return price, I might just leave the car at home next time and catch the bus all the way. The cost of being more environmentally friendly has reduced significantly in this example.

Hornsby Brigg Area Changes

Last Tuesday (19th April), Hornsby Travel revised their services 4, X4 and 94 in the Brigg area. 

Starting with the X4 between Scunthorpe, Scawby, Brigg, Wrawby, Melton Ross and Barnetby; this service has been almost entirely withdrawn due to "passenger demand". All that remains are Monday to Friday journeys at 0800 from Scunthorpe to Brigg and 1745 from Brigg to Scunthorpe. Previously the X4 had operated 7 journeys a day, every two hours with some extras, Monday to Friday, between Scunthorpe and Barnetby. As I will explain below, Scawby, Wrawby, Barnetby and Melton Ross receive alternatives, so the biggest loss is the fast service between Scunthorpe and Brigg. Cutting back the X4 isn't going to attract new passengers to use the bus, but aside from the few properties at Greetwell Crossroads no community is 'cut-off' (and Greetwell retains the residual X4 plus JustGo).

Moving onto service 4, the main route between Scunthorpe and Brigg via Ashby and Broughton; here the main Monday to Saturday daytime service remains hourly whilst the limited mid-evening journeys are retimed to operate slightly later. The big change is that Monday to Friday only, five journeys - every two hours - are extended beyond Brigg to Kirmington via Wrawby, Barnetby, Melton Ross and Humberside Airport. This replaces the X4 east of Brigg, albeit with two fewer journeys, whilst restores a timetabled bus service to Humberside Airport for the first time since the Humber Flyer was rerouted at the start of September 2020 and to Kirmington for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. For Humberside Airport, the 4 probably won't be much use, but for the sake of a minute each way, if it's passing why not divert just in case there is a passenger. However for Kirmington this is a clear good news story, and hopefully the core section of the 4 between Scunthorpe and Brigg will benefit from new 'cross-Brigg' passengers.

When the 4 isn't extending to Kirmington, then Monday to Friday daytime it will be operating as a service 94, with through 'cross Brigg' travel available. If this sounds familiar, it's the same basic arrangement as the X4 pre COVID-19, hourly Scunthorpe to Brigg then two hourly to Kirmington or two hourly onto the 94. As part of these changes the 94 gets a new timetable, with four rather than five journeys between Brigg and Redbourne and three still continuing onto Kirton in Lindsey. The 94 also now diverts via Scawby village to replace the X4. Again hopefully the 94 benefits from the 'cross-Brigg' links as well as custom from Scawby.

Overall these changes are cutbacks, but some thought has gone into ensuring they have the least impact possible and some positive developments have been included in the process.

Scunthorpe Hospital Service 9 Withdrawn

On Good Friday (15th April), Hornsby Travel withdrew their service 9 between Scunthorpe Bus Station and Scunthorpe Hospital. In part the route served as a hospital park and ride, with car parks in Scunthorpe Town Centre being used as an alterative to hospital parking. I think the service was still on it's COVID-19 reduced timetable of half hourly 0800-1800 Monday to Friday at the time of it's withdrawal. 

Stagecoach services 1, 7 and 8 provide four services per hour between Scunthorpe Bus Station and the Cliff Gardens side of the hospital Monday to Friday daytime, supplemented by the 90 every two hours off peak - so I don't envisage the withdrawal of the 9 being a major loss here. However the Church Lane side of the hospital, and Church Lane itself, is left with only the East Yorkshire 361 every two hours, so the withdrawal of the 9 maybe felt more here, especially by those with limited mobility. Could the 90 be re-routed via Church Lane to supplement the 361? Or some of the Doncaster Road services that bypass the hospital all together - the 35, 60 and 399? The 9 probably doesn't need a direct replacement, but some mitigation for Church Lane would be good to see.

Pulled from Pocklington - But almost certainly not a big loss

With effect from Monday (25th April), the York Pullman operated tendered X36 Monday to Friday peak service between Pocklington and York is slightly truncated to operate between Bielby and York only. There had been a 0630 from Pocklington, returning from York Station at 1740 as a timetabled service to Melbourne, then continuing on request only to Seaton Ross, Everingham, Bielby and Pocklington. Now however the morning service will be a 0645 departure from Bielby to York, still returning from York Station at 1740 but with the timetabled service ending at Sutton Upon Derwent, continuing onto Melbourne, Seaton Ross, Everingham and Bielby on request only.

Whilst this does mean Pocklington has lost the X36, I'd be surprised if it got much use from the town, since the 46 and X46 offer a quicker and far more frequent service for Pocklington to York travel. Instead the Pocklington end of the route is probably a legacy from when East Yorkshire operated the peaktime service in the area from it's Pocklington depot. So cutting out a little bit of mileage and omitting Pocklington may well be a sensible minor cost and carbon emission saving.

The Monday to Saturday daytime 36 and X36 between Sutton Upon Derwent and York also undergoes some minor retimings as part of this service change.

Pocklington joins the Dalesbus Network

East Yorkshire have won the 2022 contract for Dalesbus Summer Sunday and Bank Holiday service 822 between York, Boroughbridge, Ripon, Fountains Abbey, Pateley Bridge and Grassington, along with a journey on service 875 between Grassington and Hawes. 

As Dalesbus operators sometimes do, East Yorkshire have chosen to extend their service to start and finish at, or closer to, their operating depot, and for East Yorkshire that is Pocklington. The 822 will depart Pocklington at 0855, returning at 1830. Between Pocklington and York the 822 sticks to the A1079 but will serve all stops en-route. 

The 822, and East Yorkshire's 875 journey, commence tomorrow (Easter Sunday 17th April) and operate until Sunday 25th September.

(Almost) Goodbye to East Yorkshire's Service 45

Service 45 between Bridlington, Driffield, Market Weighton, Pocklington and York has been almost entirely withdrawn after operation yesterday (Saturday 9th April), whilst the ad-hoc shorter 45A variant via Warter (the more traditional route) rather than Market Weighton has been withdrawn entirely. Operator East Yorkshire cite "low levels of usage between Market Weighton and Driffield" as the reason for them pulling their commercially operated journeys.

Service 45 and 45A had provided five journeys from Bridlington to York in each direction, plus a Pocklington or Warter to Bridlington short in each direction and one extra 'one-way' York to Driffield working - all operating Monday to Saturday. The frequency was broadly every two hours with some longer gaps, and together with the 46 provided an hourly service between Market Weighton, Pocklington and York, and then further combined with the X46 an approximately half hourly service along this section of route.

The section between Market Weighton and York will be replaced from Monday (11th April) with extra 'short' journeys on service 46, so for local travel on this corridor there is little change. These new 'shorts' wait in Market Weighton for half an hour rather than run the full route to Holme on Spalding Moor, or continue to Middleton - both of which there is time to do. Presumably East Yorkshire do not think the marginal costs of doing so could be covered.

There are some small changes between Market Weighton and York. The Monday to Friday 0632 from Holme on Spalding Moor will run at 0714 to replace an old service 45A between Pocklington and York - oddly the Saturday equivalent, retimed two minutes later from 0647 to 0649, will depart earlier on a weekend morning than a weekday morning. The Monday to Saturday 0825 from York to Holme on Spalding Moor will start in Pocklington at 0920 Monday to Friday. The 1425 from York to Bridlington via Market Weighton will terminate in Pocklington Monday to Friday, only extending to Market Weighton on Saturdays. Similarly the current 1355 from Bridlington will be retained between Market Weighton (depart 1505) and York on Saturdays only, with Monday to Friday just the Pocklington to York section still operating. The 1625 from Pocklington to York will be withdrawn Monday to Friday but is extended to start back in Market Weighton on a Saturday. 

Between Bridlington and Driffield the 121 continues to provide a daily hourly service, so whilst the loss of five Monday to Saturday services each way is hardly welcome, for local travel there is an alternative.

That leaves the Driffield to Market Weighton section of the 45, which as well as linking the two towns also serves the villages of Bainton, North Dalton and Middleton en-route. Bainton and Middleton do have a limited service to Beverley but the 45 has been the main service here, and for North Dalton the only service. Here East Riding of Yorkshire Council have stepped in with new tendered service 145 commencing tomorrow, operated by East Yorkshire - one service, but with two distinct elements.

Firstly Monday to Friday there is a 0645 Driffield to Market Weighton journey connecting into the 46, and a 1740 in the other direction (connecting out of the 1625 from York). The second element is a Monday to Saturday off-peak 'shoppers' service between Driffield and Middleton that then extends to the nearby village of Lund, presumably because there is time to do so. Services leave Lund at 0930, 1030, 1130 and 1330, returning from Driffield at 1000, 1100, 1300 and 1400. Driffield to Bainton had been served by four journeys in each direction, Driffield to North Dalton by six and Driffield to Middleton by four from Driffield and five to Driffield, all Monday to Saturday. From Monday these communities will each have six journeys between the residual 45 and the 145 Monday to Friday, reducing to five on Saturdays - so an improvement for local links into Driffield from Bainton, Middleton and Lund. Like with the service 55 changes, a little good has come from a largely negative change.

As alluded to, the 45 isn't entirely withdrawn - the 1655 from Bridlington to York remains, whilst the 1925 45A from York to Bridlington becomes a service 45 via Market Weighton. Seems a rather 'oddball' retention, but these journeys were subsidised, not commercial, and East Riding of Yorkshire Council have decided to retain them. They do still have some purpose - providing a journey an hour later in each direction than the last 46, supplementing the 121 from Bridlington in the evening peak, and providing the last service of the day from Driffield to Bridlington, which is at 2058 on the 45 but at 1845 on the 121. The 1733 timing from Driffield towards Bainton, North Dalton and Middleton may also be useful for any villagers spending the afternoon in Driffield. 

So other than the ad-hoc Warter journeys, no section of route is left unserved, the Market Weighton to York section is barely impacted . Even focusing on Monday to Saturday daytimes, the only unserved link is Middleton to Market Weighton. This isn't a story of communities being isolated. Where it's significant is the impact on longer distance travel. There is now no Bridlington to York bus apart from that residual 45, with passengers having to travel via Scarborough or Beverley. Likewise for Driffield to York, or Pocklington and Market Weighton to Driffield or Bridlington, it's a change in Beverley going forward. 

Extra Journey to Sand le Mere Holiday Village

The East Yorkshire operated tendered 129 between Withernsea and Hornsea gains an extra 'short journey' between Withernsea and Sand le Mere Holiday Village from Monday 11th April - with a new 1610 departure operating Monday to Saturday and Summer Sundays when the holiday village is open. Currently the last service from Withernsea is at 1445, or 1245 on schooldays, so the 1610 could potentially be an attractive later departure.

Cutbacks West of Hull (with some Saturday enhancements)

In a significant set of cutbacks, from Sunday 10th April, East Yorkshire have cancelled service X5 between Hull and Goole, the Sunday service 55 between Hull and Gilberdyke and their commercial Monday to Saturday journeys on the 55 between Elloughton and Goole. Thankfully East Riding of Yorkshire Council have funded an off peak replacement for the latter cut, which comes with a small Saturday enhancement at the Goole end of the route. 

Starting with the X5, it's been a five journey a day (four on Saturday) Monday to Saturday coach service between Hull and Goole via Brough, Elloughton, the B1230 (serving the edge of Gilberdyke) and Howden, introduced last January. With the benefit of hindsight, not the best time to start a new service! It's axe now is being blamed on 'low levels of usage'. I'm not surprised. Whilst COVID-19 won't have helped at all, I was never wholly convinced about the merits of the X5 in the first place, especially west of Elloughton, due to the greater frequency and speed on the train from both Goole and Gilberdyke into Hull. 

Moving onto the 55, and Monday to Saturday there is very little change between Hull and Elloughton where an hourly service remains. The residual 155 variation via Anlaby, Hessle Cemetery Corner and in some instances Brantingham, on weekdays for certain early morning and late afternoon journeys is withdrawn and replaced by 'standard' 55's via Boothferry Road in Hull and Hessle, apart from the 0610 from Hull Paragon Interchange, which is renumbered to service 55A. Service 156 remains for South Hunsley School passengers.

Between Elloughton, South Cave, North Cave, Newport and Gilberdyke the off peak service remains hourly, but all peak journeys are withdrawn apart from one morning service to Goole. From Elloughton services depart for Gilberdyke at 0725, then hourly from 0955 to 1455, whilst from Gilberdyke departures are hourly from 0930 to 1530, then 1640. The first arrival into Hull from west of Elloughton is at 1048, with the last return at 1400. Even the 1810 from Hull to South Cave and 1906 return is truncated at Elloughton despite there still being time to run to South Cave and back - presumably unable to cover the marginal costs.

The new timetable does still allow travel from Gilberdyke, Newport, North Cave and South Cave into Brough, for example to visit Morrisons, and just about offers a usable shopping service to Hull. However for any commuters the bus is now useless, and even for leisure travel, a last 1400 departure from Hull is rather restrictive, there is no flexibility. As already mentioned, Gilberdyke does also have the train, but this isn't an option for Newport, North Cave or South Cave. East Riding of Yorkshire Council deserve credit for stepping in to keep what service there is going - it could have been a lot worse - but it's hard to be happy with the outcome.

Turning to the Gilberdyke to Goole via Eastrington and Howden section and here it's not all negative. Currently there are four journeys into Goole Monday to Friday, with three returns and two each way on a Saturday. With the new 55 timetable, that increases to four each way Monday to Saturday. This does need to be offset between Howden and Goole by the loss of the X5 - the X5 is presently the most frequent service between the two towns - but certainly a net gain for Eastrington. 

As mentioned the Sunday 55 is withdrawn entirely, operating for the last time today. It offers an approximately two hourly daytime frequency between Hull and Gilberdyke and I believe leaves a Sunday 'bus desert' between Swanland and Selby (as opposed to between Gilberdyke and Selby today). Anlaby Road within Hull has plenty of alternatives, whilst Boothferry Road has the 66 (within the Hull boundary) and 350, but otherwise the only public transport option on a Sunday for current service 55 passengers is the train to Ferriby, Brough and Gilberdyke. Melton, Welton, Elloughton, South Cave, North Cave and Newport will have nothing. Lots of other places across the country are in the same situation, but still a very disappointing development.

Finally another Saturday positive from the changes, subsidised service 88 between Goole, Airmyn, Rawcliffe and Rawcliffe Bridge gains a two hourly daytime service, interworked with the 55. This is the first time Rawcliffe Bridge has had a Saturday service since early February 2018, whilst for Airmyn it will be first usable Saturday service for some years (I seem to recall there was an 'oddball' evening 400 between Goole and Selby on a Saturday until relatively recently that gave passengers a few minutes in Goole, but no daytime service).

Flamborough Improvements

East Yorkshire Service 14 between Bridlington and Flamborough has three changes from Sunday 10th April:

• The route becomes part of the 'Coaster' brand, already applied to the 12 and 13 between Bridlington and Scarborough. 
• The Sunday daytime service returns for the Summer, and whilst it's not explicitly stated in the publicity, it appears the Sunday daytime service will now be year round.
• There are three new daily evening journeys added in each direction for the Summer (10th April to 30th October) at 1845, 1945 and 2045 from Bridlington, returning from Flamborough around half an hour later. This essentially continues the hourly daytime frequency for a further three hours (winter last departure from Bridlington is at 1745).

It's always good to be able to report some good news!