East Yorkshire operated tendered service 747 between Pocklington, Stamford Bridge and York was revised from Sunday 7th April to 'improve punctuality and reliability'. Monday to Saturday daytime times on this infrequent service were revised by up to 30 minutes, with more differences between Monday to Friday and Saturday than previously. Normally such a change wouldn't warrant a blog post these days, however there was a major drawback with the new timetable.
Previously it was possible to arrive in Pocklington at 1005 Monday to Saturday, and depart at 1130 - giving just about enough time for some quick morning shopping. The new timetable made this a lot more difficult; Monday to Friday the arrival is at 1010 followed by departures from Pocklington back towards York at 1115 or 1400 - i.e. just over an hour or almost four hours. On Saturdays the Pocklington arrival is 1007 followed by departures back towards York at either 1100 or 1400.
At least this deficiency with the timetable was rectified quickly. Two weeks later on Monday 22nd April a new short journey was added from Pocklington to Full Sutton at 1140 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, and at 1145 Thursday. This restores the approximately hour and a half shopping window in Pocklington for residents of Meltonby, Bishop Wilton, Yapham, Bolton, Fangfoss and Full Sutton villages.
Having to add an extra short journey, using a second vehicle, can't be particularly cheap, and on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday it means two of the four (daytime) departures from Pocklington are within 25 minutes of each other (30 minute gap Thursday/40 minute gap Saturday). But as a quick fix it works. Presumably the 747's role in providing a York to Full Sutton Prison link for visiting times has a big impact on the rest of the timetable - i.e. the late morning departure from Pocklington has be in York for lunchtime to operate to the prison for visiting hours?