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.