Beverley Locals B1/B2 to be withdrawn

After operation on Saturday 1st April, East Yorkshire's Beverley Town Services B1 and B2 will cease, bringing an end to commercially operated town services in Beverley. 

The B1 and B2 were launched in September 2021, incorporating East Yorkshire's previous 520 and 521 town services, plus part of the former Acklams Coaches tendered 522 town service. The B1 operates from Molescroft to Beverley Town Centre, then performs a clockwise loop via the Swinemoor Estate (including the East Riding Community Hospital), Minster Way, Morrisons and Normandy Avenue back to Beverley Town Centre; the B2 operates the same route in reverse. Both routes operate hourly Monday to Saturday daytimes, reducing to two hourly Monday to Friday peaks. A Friday and Saturday evening service was provided until September 2022.

East Yorkshire say "regrettably the services have not delivered the growth needed to sustain the current level of service provided". I will give East Yorkshire some credit here for making a significant effort to relaunch their Beverley Town Services in 2021 and for giving new links a 'go', such as from Swinemoor to Morrisons. However it is disappointing that they don't consider any aspect of the B1/B2 to be 'salvageable'. 

Thanks to East Riding of Yorkshire Council stepping in with three new tendered services - the 525, 526 and 527 - very few parts of Beverley will be left unserved, other than Minster Way which is largely surrounded by fields. The 525, 526 and 527 will be operated by East Yorkshire, and will operate Monday to Saturday from Monday 3rd April. Together the three routes appear to require one vehicle. 

Looking in detail and most of the Molescroft to Beverley section of the B1/B2 is also served by the hourly Monday to Saturday daytime 23 between Molescroft, Beverley and Hull (and to a lesser extent by the 142). Perhaps two buses an hour was one too many? Parts of Molescroft are also served by the 121. Focusing on roads served only by the B1/B2 - St Leonard's Road (B2 only) is left unserved, whilst the 526 provides a basic replacement for Copandale Road and Scrubwood Lane. The 526 will operate Beverley Bus Station-Copandale Road-Scrubwood Lane-Beverley Bus Station with three departures at 1000, 1200 and 1400 and a total round trip time of 10 minutes.

It's unfortunate the 23 hasn't been routed via Copandale Road and Scrubwood Lane, or if that wasn't an option, the 142 could have been given this short diversion. If either of these happened then the 526 wouldn't be needed and the time could be spent enhancing services elsewhere in Beverley. 

The Swinemoor Estate - including the East Riding Community Hospital - retains an hourly service between 0930 and 1530 (plus a 1600 journey) on new circular service 525, which covers the B1 route from Beverley Bus Station to Swinemoor. the Hospital and Holme Church Lane before returning to the Bus Station via Flemingate. 

I appreciate East Riding of Yorkshire Council have needed to act quickly here so maybe this is one for the future, but the other tendered town service to Swinemoor - service 5 - leaves Beverley Bus Station at 1020, 1120 and 1320. This is poor co-ordination with the 525. Could the 5 and 525 be worked by the same vehicle to improve co-ordination and provide half hourly departures, at least in some hours - with the 142 interworked with the 526 or 527 instead of the 5?

Anyone needing to access the Lidl store to the south east of Beverley will need to use the 23 instead of the B1/B2.

Finally to Normandy Avenue and Morrisons which will be covered by the new 527 operating from Beverley Bus Station via Lincoln Way (also served by the 25) to Morrisons and then back to the Bus Station via Normandy Avenue. Departures from the Bus Station are at 1100, 1300 and 1500. Like the 526, a basic shoppers services, but certainly better than no service at all. 

There aren't any easy alternative options here. Maybe the X46 and/or X47 could operate via Lincoln Way and the 25 switch to Normandy Avenue, but the X46/X47 are meant to be direct interurban services between Hull, Beverley, Market Weighton, Pocklington and York so diverting via Lincoln Way wouldn't be ideal. 

Overall, thanks to East Riding of Yorkshire Council, the B1/B2 withdrawal isn't a disaster for bus services in Beverley. It's still not good news though.

Service 99 Returns for Summer 2023

Stagecoach service 99 between Hull and Bridlington returns for Summer 2023 on Saturday 1st April - the first time since 2019 it has started in April; there was no service I believe in 2020, whilst the 2021 and 2022 services commenced in late July at the start of the school Summer holidays.

The 2023 timetable provides between one and four journeys each way from 1st April to 5th November, operating direct between Hull and Bridlington via Skirlaugh and Beeford as usual. Unlike in previous years however the 99 does not serve Bridlington Bus Station - instead terminating at the Park and Ride site to the south of the town before continuing as a service 88 between the Park and Ride site and Bridlington Harbour.

East Yorkshire Coaster Summer 2023 Reductions

East Yorkshire commenced the Summer timetable on their 'Coaster' services between Bridlington, Filey and Scarborough yesterday (Saturday 11th March). This involves changes to the year round service 12 and reintroduction of seasonal service 13 via the various coastal holiday villages.

Compared to Summer 2022, the biggest change is that the hourly daytime 'short' service 13 journeys between Scarborough and Filey don't operate on Sundays and Bank Holidays, just Monday to Saturday. The hourly 12 and hourly 13 journeys between Bridlington and Scarborough remain seven days a week.

Also off note is that the evening service has been reduced Sunday to Thursday, with the 2040 and 2140 from Scarborough to Bridlington plus the 2200 Bridlington to Scarborough service 13 journeys no longer operating; instead the last services on these days are at 1940 from Scarborough and 2105 from Bridlington. Friday and Saturday evenings are unaffected (other than some minor retimings).

HART 243 Revised

Whilst I haven't seen a formal announcement anywhere, using a combination of 'Notices and Proceedings' from the Office of the Traffic Commissioner, as well as bustimes.org, it seems Holderness Area Rural Transport (HART) service 243 between Withernsea and Beverley was revised last Tuesday (21st February). The service was introduced last September. 

The service now appears to omit Flinton, Aldbrough and Withernwick, operating between Sproatley and Skirlaugh via New Ellerby instead. This revised route has reduced the end-to-end journey time from 90 to 60 minutes, with the service continuing to operate on Tuesdays only, departing from Withernsea at 0930. However the return from Beverley now departs at 1330 rather than 1315, giving passengers 3 hours rather than 2 hours 15 minutes in the East Riding County Town.

Barton Wren Kitchens services reduced

Today - Sunday 19th February - has seen reductions to Stagecoach's Barton Wren Kitchens services 255, 355 and 455. These follow changes to Wren shifts, most notably Wren no longer seem to have Saturday factory and warehouse shifts. The three routes are open to the general public, but very much designed around the needs of Wren workers.

Service 255 from North Bransholme to Wren via North Point, Sutton Park, Beverley Road and Hull Paragon Interchange has lost all it's weekend services, namely:

• 0345 Barton to North Bransholme
• 0430 (Sat Only) North Bransholme to Barton
• 0520 (Sat Only) North Bransholme to Barton
• 0545 (Sat Only) Barton to North Bransholme
• 0710 (Sat Only) North Bransholme to Barton
• 0720 (Sat Only) Barton to Paragon Interchange
• 0850 (Sat Only) Barton to Paragon Interchange
• 1335 (Sat Only) Paragon Interchange to Barton
• 1450 (Sat Only) Barton to North Bransholme
• 1530 (Sat Only) Beverley Road to Barton
• 1705 (Sat Only) Paragon Interchange to Barton
• 1710 (Sat Only) Barton to North Bransholme
• 1750 (Sat Only) Barton to North Bransholme
• 2235 (Sat Only) Paragon Interchange to Barton
• 2320 (Sat Only) Barton to North Bransholme (2345 from Hull Truck Theatre)

From the perspective of non-Wren passengers most of these services either operate at times of low demand and/or there are similar timed journeys on other routes. Perhaps the most unfortunate withdrawals are the evening services, with the last Hull to Barton service on a Saturday now at 2030 and from Paragon Interchange to Sutton Park and North Bransholme at 2330. Presumably though there were not enough non-Wren passengers using these journeys to justify their continuation. 

Most Monday to Friday journeys on the 255 are unaffected, other than the withdrawal of the 0345 from Barton to North Bransholme and 1530 from Beverley Road to Barton. There are no alternatives for the 0345, but I can't imagine it got much use by the general public at that time in the morning. With the 1530 withdrawn, it would be good if Stagecoach could add a 1625/1630 from Paragon Interchange to Barton as an 'in-service positioning journey' for the 1710 from Barton, which would fill a 35 minute gap in the Hull to Barton service.

Turning to the 355 from Scunthorpe to Wren and the daily 0345 from Barton to Scunthorpe is withdrawn, as are the 0455 from Scunthorpe and 1710 from Barton on Saturdays only (continue to operate Monday to Friday). Again no alternatives for the early morning journeys.

Finally the 455 from Cleethorpes to Wren via Grimsby and Immingham has lost it's Saturday services, now operating Monday to Friday only. Withdrawn are the 0415 from Cleethorpes and 1450 and 1710 from Barton. 

There are no changes to the 250 and 350 journeys that operate via Wren Kitchens, including those that serve Wren on Saturdays.

I have also observed a new Stagecoach C256 in Barton recently, which as far as I can tell from bustimes.org is operating from North Bransholme via the 255 route to Wren's new factory in Barton, next door to their current site that the 250/255/350/355/455 serve. It appears to be a 'closed door' service in contrast to Stagecoach's other Wren serves, which seems a bit odd - but with at least one C256 operating at almost the same time as a 255, it maybe doesn't make much difference. 

Stagecoach Hull November 2022 Changes

Back on 20th November last year, Stagecoach amended most of their city services in Hull, shortly after the conclusion of strike action that took place in October and early November. The changes were significant, most notably:

• Frequency reductions on the highest frequency routes Monday to Saturday daytimes
• The end of most cross-city links
• Some 'erosion' of the Simplibus numbering scheme for city services

Service 1 between Hull Paragon Interchange and the Boothferry Estate via Hessle Road was reduced from every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes pre-strike to every 20 minutes post-strike, with evening and Sunday frequencies unchanged. The first bus from the Boothferry Estate is now at 0533 rather than 0433 pre-strike. As a comparison, immediately pre-COVID the 1 operated every 15 minutes Monday to Friday daytimes and every 20 minutes Saturday daytimes, supplemented by the 20 along Hessle Road (including the main shopping area) every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes for a total of 7-8 buses per hour. Until November 2019 - perhaps a fairer comparison given that the November 2019 changes had little time to 'settle-in' - the 1 had operated every 10 minutes Monday to Friday daytimes and every 15 minutes Saturday daytimes. 

Service 2 between Wawne/North Bransholme and the Boothferry Estate via the City Centre and Hull Royal Infirmary has been split in the City Centre, severing a through connection introduced in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Personally the old 10 route from North Bransholme seemed an odd choice for a through link to Hull Royal Infirmary, given it spends quite a lot of time travelling through an industrial area - the 12 might have been a better choice? Now though the 2 returns to operating just between Paragon Interchange and the Boothferry Estate with the 10 returning between Paragon Interchange and North Bransholme/Wawne.

The 2 is cut down from every 15 minutes pre-strike to every 20 minutes post-strike Monday to Saturday daytimes, with evening and Sunday frequencies unaltered. Compared to pre-COVID, the 2 is reduced from every 7-8 minutes Monday to Friday daytimes and every 10 minutes Saturday daytimes when including the short-lived 2S between Paragon Interchange, the Boothferry Estate and Sainsbury's. Until November 2019 the 2 had operated every 10 minutes Monday to Friday daytimes and every 15 minutes Saturday daytimes. 

The 10 is also reduced from every 15 minutes pre-strike - and also pre-COVID - Monday to Saturday daytimes between Paragon Interchange and North Bransholme to every 20 minutes post-strike, with hourly extensions remaining to Wawne. Again evening and Sunday frequencies are unchanged compared to pre-strike, though the Sutton Park route variations are withdrawn, partially replaced by a new one-direction only hourly Monday to Saturday evening service on route 8 from Paragon Interchange to North Point via Sutton Park. 

Service 3 between Orchard Park, the City Centre, Greatfield and Bilton Grange was also split in the City Centre, with the 3 now operating just between Orchard Park and Paragon Interchange and new service 13 picking up the Paragon Interchange to Bilton Grange section. The new 3 and 13 each operate every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes, down from every 10 minutes Monday to Friday daytimes and every 15 minutes Saturday daytimes both pre-strike and pre-COVID. The Monday to Saturday evening frequency on the 3 but not the 13 is reduced from half hourly pre-strike to hourly, with Sundays unchanged on both routes.

Another split service is the 4 between Orchard Park, the City Centre and Bilton Grange. The Orchard Park to Paragon Interchange section remains as the 4, with the Paragon Interchange to Bilton Grange section becoming the 4B - a very curious choice of number compared to how the eastern part of the 3 became the 13. I know that the number 14 is already taken, but 15 for example is available. 

Pre-strike the 4 had operated every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes and every half hour Sunday daytimes (plus a 2330 from Paragon Interchange to Bilton Grange Monday to Saturday). These daytime frequencies also matched the pre-COVID provision, Now the 4 and 4B both operate every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes and remain every half hour Sunday daytimes. The 4 has however gained an hourly Monday to Saturday evening service compared to pre-strike, but the 2330 from Paragon Interchange to Bilton Grange hasn't survived - there are alternative journeys at 2330 on service 11 for Holderness Road and service 13 for Bilton Grange.

Service 5 which had operated a circular from Paragon Interchange via Orchard Park, Kingswood, North Point, Spring Cottage and Ings Estate was split at Kingswood, with the Orchard Park section remaining as the 5 and the eastern half of the route returning to operate as service 11.

The new service 5 operates every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes, half hourly Sunday daytimes and hourly daily evenings between Paragon Interchange and Kingswood, with peaktime extras Monday to Saturday between Paragon Interchange, Orchard Park and Mizzen Road. Pre-strike the 5 had operated every 15 minutes between Paragon Interchange and Orchard Park Monday to Saturday daytimes and every half hour to Kingswood, with Mizzen Road served by some peaktime Orchard Park 'shorts'. Monday to Saturday evenings were half hourly Paragon Interchange to Orchard Park and hourly to Kingswood, whilst Sundays were half hourly daytimes and hourly evenings between Hull and Kingswood.

Pre-COVID the 5 had operated every 7-8 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes between Paragon Interchange and Orchard Park, and every 15 minutes to Kingswood. Evenings were half hourly to Kingswood and every 15 minutes to Orchard Park when accounting for the u5 variant (reducing to half hourly in the late evening Monday to Thursday). Sundays were half hourly all day between Hull and Kingswood with extra daytime journeys between Hull and Orchard Park for a 15 minute frequency. Until November 2019 the 5 was every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes between Hull and Orchard Park and every 20 minutes to Kingswood. It should also be noted when comparing the pre-COVID offering to now, that the 4 now serves Cranbrook Avenue, somewhat compensating for reductions to the 5 over this particular section of route.

Turning to service 11 and it operates every half hour Monday to Saturday daytimes and every hour evenings and Sundays, broadly in line with the pre-strike provision on the 5 in East Hull. This is down though from every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes and every half hour evenings and Sundays pre-COVID, although the re-routing of the 8 via Bellfield Avenue partially mitigates on the Ings Estate, and the 8, which serves much of the same route as the 11 between North Point and Paragon Interchange has also gained an hourly Sunday service since the start of the COVID pandemic.

Both the 12 from North Point to Paragon Interchange via Noddle Hill and Sutton and the 14 from Greatfield to Paragon Interchange are reduced from every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes both pre-strike and pre-COVID to every 20 minutes post-strike, with evening and Sundays retaining their pre-strike frequencies. On service 12, the half hourly Monday to Saturday daytime 12A variant via Garden Village is no longer operating and replaced by all 12's operating the main route via Summergangs Road along with new service 33 in Garden Village (see below). The first service 12 from North Point Monday to Saturday is now at 0550 rather than 0445 pre-strike.

Finally there were some major changes to lower frequency services in East Hull. The hourly Monday to Saturday daytime 16 between Paragon Interchange, Victoria Dock, Newbridge Road, Morrisons, Ings Road, Leads Road, Sutton, Howdale Road, Kestrel Avenue, Biggin Avenue and North Point was truncated to operate between Paragon Interchange and Morrisons only, but is now interworked with the 40 and 41 local services. The hourly Monday to Saturday daytime 40 from Morrisons to the main Holderness Road shopping area, Garden Village, Lambwath Road, Ings Road and back to Morrisons is revised so that all journeys operate clockwise, rather than the previous mix of clockwise and anti-clockwise journeys; on arrival at Morrisons the 41 then continues as an advertised through service on route 16 to the City Centre.

The section of the 16 between Ings Road and North Point is now covered by new service 33 between Paragon Interchange, Garden Village, Ings Road and North Point. Sounds somewhat familiar? It has similarities to the old service 9 which used the same route between Paragon Interchange and Leads Road pre-COVID, so I'm surprised that the number 9 hasn't been reused, especially as the number 33 doesn't 'fit in' with any other Stagecoach services in Hull. The 33 operates hourly Monday to Saturday daytimes, matching the 16's old frequency, with a 12 minute journey time reduction from North Point to Paragon Interchange; for Garden Village though it's a drop from half hourly on the old 12A.

(Any services not mentioned were either unaffected or just had minor time changes).

Bridlington 4 gains a Variant

Following "feedback", East Yorkshire are introducing a 4A variant to their Bridlington Town Service 4 from 9th January.

The 4 currently operates half hourly Monday to Saturday daytimes from Bridlington Bus Station to the New Pasture Lane estate via Quay Road, Brett Street, Broadland Road, South Back Lane and Westgate.

From next week the 4 is reduced to hourly and the 4A introduced hourly as a replacement, with a co-ordinated half hourly service over common sections of route. The 4 will operate the same route as present from Bridlington Bus Station to the New Pasture Lane estate, but then return via Marton Road, Watsons Avenue, Sewerby Road, Kirkgate and St John Street - for Aldi - before picking up it's old route via Quay Road back to Bridlington Bus Station. The 4A will follow the same route in reverse. The new section of route is already served by either the 5A or 12/13, so I guess this change is very much about improving links to Aldi, and from Marton Road to the Health Centre near Quay Road. Not good news for the Brett Street, Brookland Road, South Back Lane and Westgate areas though who have their service halved into Bridlington Town Centre.

Hunts Coaches withdraw Tuesday Grimsby service

After operation on 6th December 2022, Hunts Coaches withdrew their Tuesday only service 44 from Skegness to Grimsby via Ingoldmells, Chapel St Leonards, Alford and Louth Bypass. The 44 had departed Skegness at 0900, arriving in Grimsby at 1045, before departing Grimsby at 1300 to get back into Skegness for 1445.

Alford has an alternative Tuesday Grimsby 'shopper' service on Grayscroft service 28.