Can a reduced service be a better service?

Saturday 9th November 2024 might go down in local bus history as a notable day - the last day of East Yorkshire operating a share of the 350 between Hull, Barton and Scunthorpe. Since I think 1981 and the opening of the Humber Bridge, EYMS/East Yorkshire had operated a one bus share of the 350 every three hours Monday to Saturday daytimes, and for various periods in the evening as well, sometimes full route, sometimes just between Hull and Barton. For most if not all of this century, EYMS/East Yorkshire had also provided a one bus share of the Sunday service.

For reasons unknown East Yorkshire pulled of the 350, leaving the route entirely to Stagecoach. Whilst there was a few weeks of uncertainty after East Yorkshire's announcement, ultimately Stagecoach have replaced East Yorkshire's share of the route. Monday to Saturday this was done on a 'like for like' basis, with Stagecoach's Hull depot picking up an extra 'diagram' so that both Hull and Scunthorpe each provide three vehicles during the daytime. Sundays have been revised though.

Previously there were seven journeys each way on a Sunday between Hull and Scunthorpe, with most extending from/to Ashby High Street. Intervals between journeys varied between one hour, two hours and three hours. Stagecoach's Scunthorpe depot provided two vehicles, albeit one only needed until 1051, whilst East Yorkshire provided one.

Since Sunday 10th November, the Sunday 350 is exclusively the domain of Stagecoach's Scunthorpe depot with a new two hourly timetable providing six journeys each way (i.e. one less) using two vehicles and no Ashby extensions. The first service from Hull is notably later at 0940 rather than 0830, as is the last service from Scunthorpe, now at 1815 rather than 1955. There is no attempt to provide train connections at Barton.

That sounds like a poorer service, and for a small number of travellers it may well be. However I think the even interval two hourly frequency makes for a better service - the inconvenient three hour gaps are gone. Connections to a four month a year Summer rail service are no longer dictating the timetable, which I think was a case of the tail wagging the dog. I fully support bus-rail connections wherever possible, but at Barton they sadly seem little used whatever the day of the week. In contrast there are plenty of bus travellers between Barton and Hull and the potential to grow with a more attractive Sunday timetable.

It's also worth noting that the Ashby to Scunthorpe section had received substantially improved Sunday services in 2024, with a new Sunday service on route 6 and extra journeys on route 4. Maybe the Sunday 350 extensions lost their purpose?

For the record, the last remnant of service 355 from Scunthorpe to Barton Wren Kitchens ceased at the start of September; the 1710 departure from Barton. 

Back to Hourly between Hornsea and Hull

A positive change introduced as part of East Yorkshire's 10th November 2024 service changes was the restoration of the frequency of service 24 between Hornsea and Hull back to hourly Monday to Saturday daytimes. The 24 had been reduced to every 90 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes back in September 2022. The restored hourly frequency has been funded by East Riding of Yorkshire Council's Bus Service Improvement Plan allocation.

Previously when the 24 was hourly, a half hourly frequency was provided with service 25 over the joint section of route between Hornsea and Leven. This time services operate a 10-50 minute interval from Hornsea and at approximately the same time per hour from Leven.

Splitting the 25

East Yorkshire split service 25 between Hornsea, Beverley, Cottingham, Castle Hill Hospital, Willerby, Anlaby and Hessle into two as part of their 10th November 2024 service changes. The 25 continues between Hornsea and Beverley, with new service 26 between Beverley and Hessle.

For the section between Hornsea and Beverley, the only significant loss is the through link to Castle Hill Hospital, a connection that can still be made via Beverley or Hull. In the short term, the loss of the through Castle Hill service might even be a good thing, due to the major roadworks taking place between south Beverley and Skidby. As part of these changes, the Friday and Saturday only 1905 from Beverley to Hornsea and 1950 return now operate Monday to Saturday (with the 1950 retimed to 1945), giving an 80 minute later last service from Beverley and a 70 minute later last service from Hornsea Monday to Thursday.

For the Beverley to Hessle section, the change is far more significant. Previously the 25 had operated approximately every two hours Monday to Saturday daytimes, with six journeys in each direction. There are still six trips in each direction (other than on Saturdays from Beverley, which is reduced to five), but at varying intervals. From Hessle departures are at 0630, 0930, 1150, 1245, 1515 and 1750, and from Beverley at 0745, 1030, 1130, 1400, 1635 and 1710 (Mon-Fri only). Some journeys now serve Willerby Parkway, restoring a service to the area, but Monday to Friday there is a lot of variability in which do and which don't; from Hessle it's the 1150, 1245 and 1515 which divert, and from Beverley it's the 1030, 1400 and 1710; Saturday's everything does other than the 0630 from Hessle.

The new 26 appears to meet basic needs such as access to shops and Castle Hill Hospital. The route has disruptive long term roadworks. It has 'competition' between Cottingham and Beverley from the 180 and the train - there were 20 Cottingham to Beverley travellers on the 0930 180 yesterday (and incidentally, I was reminded whilst travelling yesterday just how scenic the area is, especially around Little Weighton). It also has overlap between Cottingham and Willerby with the 54. The areas served are quite affluent with probable high levels of car ownership. Finally, East Yorkshire have tried various ways of making services more attractive in recent years and none have lasted long. I understand why the route has ended up with such a basic service, designed around resource maximisation as opposed to an attractive timetable.

However surely something better than this can be provided, at least once the roadworks are finished and faster journeys can be offered? Beverley is a very popular destination, Cottingham, Willerby, Anlaby and Hessle are all sizeable locations. There is a major hospital en-route, a retail park, offices (at Willerby), a leisure centre, new housing developments. It feels like there is a lot of potential along the route. In addition a better service between Beverley and Castle Hill would be beneficial for connecting passengers at Beverley as well; journeys such as Hornsea or Leconfield to Castle Hill.

Every 20 Minutes from Market Weighton to York

One of the most notable aspects of East Yorkshire's 10th November 2024 service changes was the introduction of new service X45 between Market Weighton, Pocklington, Dunnington and York, as well as substantial enhancements to the 145 between Market Weighton and Driffield.

The Market Weighton to York corridor had been provided with half hourly services Monday to Saturday daytimes across hourly routes X46 and X47 between Hull, Beverley, Market Weighton, Pocklington and York. Both the X46 and X47 remain hourly, twice per hour combined, but now at 20-40 minute intervals; this is unfortunate, but with part of the route at two buses per hour and another part now at three buses per hour, one part has to have an uneven frequency (or a long mid-route pause).

The new X45 also runs hourly, giving departures every 20 minutes from Market Weighton, Shiptonthorpe, Hayton and Pocklington to York, and from York City Centre back to Hull Road in York, Pocklington, Hayton, Shiptonthorpe and Market Weighton. The X45's route via Dunnington restores a Dunnington to Pocklington link for the first time since September 2019, as well as providing an all day service for Common Road in Dunnington, otherwise only served by First's early morning 10A.

East Yorkshire's press release also includes a 'jibe' at First's AI timetabling, which leads to uneven frequencies on Dunnington's main service, route 10. As someone who much prefers memorable evenly spaced times, I totally agree on this one:

Stuart Fillingham, Head of Commercial at East Yorkshire Buses, commented on the new services: "We are pleased to respond to the phenomenal growth of the X46 and X47 routes by introducing this new service, which provides buses up to every 20 minutes between Market Weighton, Pocklington, Hull Road, and York. We are also delighted to return to Dunnington after a long absence. Not only will customers be able to benefit from journeys to Pocklington and Market Weighton, but they will also enjoy a new hourly service to York."

Mr Fillingham added: "We’ve worked hard to ensure, where possible, our new trips into Dunnington and from York follow a consistent timetable, with departures at the same time each hour. Our customers tell us they appreciate regular, easy-to-remember departure times, and we’re looking forward to welcoming both new and returning passengers on board. Additionally, we will be furnishing our new customers with user-friendly printed timetables to help them on their journeys."

The X46 and X47 have been revised in York City Centre to operate a loop via Skeldergate, Nunnery Lane, York Station and Rougier Street, as opposed to serving Rougier Street en-route to/from the Station in both directions, and then turning round 'out of service'. The X45 also follows this loop.

Looking at some of the specific detail, the first X45 Monday to Friday from Pocklington is at 0520 Monday to Friday, arriving at York Station for 0555; previous first service from Pocklington was the 0555 X46, arriving at York Station at 0637. This is great for early morning commuters and rail connections. On Friday and Saturday evenings the 2220 Pocklington to York X47 now starts in Hull at 2115, providing a one hour later Hull to York last service.

Overall the Market Weighton-Pocklington-York corridor is rather impressive with a service every 20 minutes over a long route that includes plenty of fields. There is plenty of housebuilding to help in Market Weighton and Pocklington, but credit to East Yorkshire for really developing the market here.

Service 145 between Driffield and Market Weighton had previously operated in certain respects as two separate services; a Monday to Friday peak time service for connections to York at Market Weighton, and with the evening peak departure from Market Weighton extended to Bridlington - then a Monday to Saturday hourly off peak (with lunch break) Driffield to Lund service, operating the same route as the Market Weighton journeys between Driffield and Middleton, before then serving Lund instead off Market Weighton.

Since 11th November and funded by East Riding of Yorkshire Council's Bus Service Improvement Plan allocation, the 145 is now a Monday to Saturday hourly daytime service between Driffield and Market Weighton, with most services continuing as a X45 to/from York. The Monday to Friday evening peak extension to Bridlington remains. The enhanced 145 is a substantial improvement for both local and longer distance travel.

As most journeys operate as a through service at Market Weighton, it is a shame there is a service number change. Maybe this is to separate out the council funded 145 and commercial X45? Or to keep 'options open' if either the 145 or X45 don't work out? 

The one place that doesn't benefit is Lund, which is no longer served by the 145. However I suspect the very small village of Lund was only served because there was spare time, rather than because of significant demand. Lund retains the 142 to Beverley.

Tripling Bus Services for Cottingham Road

East Yorkshire service 105 between Hull, Hull University, Cottingham and Castle Hill Hospital became the 45 on 10th November 2024, to fit into East Yorkshire's new 'Beverley Road Lines' numbering scheme. The service remains half hourly Monday to Saturday daytimes, hourly evenings and Sundays. Funded by Hull City Council's Bus Service Improvement Plan allocation, a new 1930 departure from Hull Paragon Interchange is added Monday to Saturday, keeping the half hourly daytime frequency going into the early evening.

Joining the 45 is the new 44 - a 'part route' 45 between Hull Paragon Interchange, Hull University and Cottingham Road (turning at the Cottingham Road/Hall Road roundabout). Also funded by Hull City Council's Bus Service Improvement Plan allocation, the 44 operates four times an hour Monday to Friday daytimes (a 10-20-10-20 minute interval service) and half hourly on Saturday daytimes, to give a combined every 10 minute service with route 45 on weekdays, and every 15 minutes on Saturdays. There are also two mid-evening journeys in each direction Monday to Saturday, after the 45 reduces to hourly.

Cottingham Road has felt underserved at half hourly in recent years, so a frequency increase is welcome. Every 10 minutes Monday to Friday daytimes feels quite high though - a tripling of the frequency. 

From 121 and 23 to 41 and 43.

As well as the 'Anlaby Road Lines', numbered 51-59, East Yorkshire's 10th November 2024 service changes brought the concept of the 'Beverley Road Lines' to Hull - services 41, 43, 44, 45, X46 and X47. This means that all East Yorkshire services along Beverley Road in Hull (schools/colleges excepted) are now numbered in the 4x or X4x series. Intriguingly no number 42. Unfortunately within these numbers, the Hull to Beverley services are not numbered consecutively, instead being the 41, 43, X46 and X47. In this post I focus on the 41 and 43 between Hull and Beverley via Beverley Road, Dunswell and Woodmansey.

The 41 and 43 are the longstanding 121 between Hull, Beverley, Driffield and Bridlington, and the much newer 23 between Hull, Beverley and Molsecroft respectively, renumbered to fit into the Beverley Road Lines numbering system. No significant changes were made to either service. The 43 had some minor retimings compared to the 23.

The 41 has some more notable changes when looking at the precise detail, some positive, some negative. In Hull inbound services now use Brook Street all day rather than the City Centre loop. Meanwhile it appears that Monday to Friday, Hull depot are no longer operating through to Bridlington, with their involvement limited to a small number of part route journeys.

In detail Monday to Friday, the 0625 Hull to Bridlington 121 becomes the 0605 Hull to Beverley and 0652 Beverley to Bridlington service 41 journeys. Similarly the 0725 Hull to Bridlington 121 becomes the 0720 Hull to Beverley and 0813 Beverley to Bridlington service 41 journeys, with the first through Hull to Bridlington service now at 0820 from Hull (Saturdays, when Hull depot operate through to Bridlington, it is at 0630). 

More positively the 1840 Hull to Beverley service 121 and 1940 Beverley to Bridlington service 121 become a 1855 Hull to Bridlington service 41. The 1935 Hull to Leconfield (Mon-Thu)/Nafferton(Fri) becomes a 1935 Hull to Bridlington service. Previously the last through service from Hull to Bridlington was at 1740 so this represents a notable improvement. Monday to Thursday the 2135 Hull to Leconfield becomes a 2150 Hull to Beverley, which is disappointing for Leconfield. Interestingly the 2135 Hull to Leconfield still runs on Sundays.

In the opposite direction the Friday 2052 Nafferton to Hull service 121 becomes a service 41 1950 Bridlington to Hull, previous last service from Bridlington at 1735, or 1840 with a change in Beverley. The Friday night/Saturday morning 0000 Driffield to Hull is withdrawn due to the 2330 Beverley to Driffield having transferred from Hull to Bridlington depot operation - seems a shame the opportunity wasn't taken to extend the 2330 to Bridlington rather than running out of service.

On Saturdays the 0735 service 121 from Hull to Bridlington becomes a 0730 Hull to Beverley and 0811 Beverley to Bridlington on service 41. There is a new 1050 from Beverley to Bridlington and the 1148 Hull to Bridlington service 121 becomes a 1250 service 41 from Beverley to Bridlington. Similarly the 1350 service 121 from Bridlington to Hull becomes a 1340 Bridlington to Beverley. A new 1540 Bridlington to Beverley is added. In the evenings the 1935 from Hull to Nafferton is extended to Bridlington,. previous last service through to Bridlington having been at 1725. The 2052 service 121 from Nafferton to Hull becomes a 1950 service 41 from Bridlington to Hull, previous last service at 1850. The 0000 service 121 from Driffield to Hull is withdrawn without replacement.

Finally on Sundays there is a new 1930 Beverley to Bridlington, whilst the 1825 Bridlington to Hull is split at Beverley.

Brough Town Service to Skillings Lane

On Monday 11th November 2024, a very logical change was made to Brough Town Service 558. The 558 was introduced in April 2024, operated by East Yorkshire hourly Monday to Saturday off peak, and funded through East Riding of Yorkshire Council's Bus Service Improvement Plan allocation. It had been operating from Brough Crossroads to Aldi via Welton Road in both directions, but that has now changed to a large loop from Brough Crossroads via Welton Road, Aldi and Skllings Lane back to Brough Crossroads, operating clockwise and anti-clockwise alternate hours. Loxley Way and Myrtle Way remain served between Welton Road and Aldi, though always Loxley Way before Myrtle Way. Serving Skillings Lane increases the number of residential areas served by the 558, as well as providing access to Brough Station. The section of route between Brough Crossroads, Elloughton and South Cave was unchanged.

Connecting Asda Bilton and Castle Hill Hospital

On Sunday 10th November, East Yorkshire made a major change to cross city service 56 in Hull. Previously it operated between Asda Bilton, Longhill and Holderness Road in East Hull, Hull City Centre and Hull Royal Infirmary, Albert Avenue, Spring Bank, Wold Road and Wymersley Road in West Hull. However since the November change service 56 now replaces route 63 in West Hull, between Hull Paragon Interchange, Hull Royal Infirmary, Priory Road, Cottingham and Castle Hill Hospital to offer an Asda Bilton to Castle Hill service. New route 51 picks up the 56's previous Hull City Centre to Wymersley Road section. Castle Hill Hospital is almost certainly a far more useful destination from East Hull than Wymersley Road (a residential area), so this change does make sense - and everyone remains connected to Hull Royal Infirmary.

The 'old' service 56 had operated approximately every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes, hourly Sunday daytimes and every two hours daily evenings. The 56 then combined with service 57 between Asda Bilton, Hull City Centre, Hull Royal Infirmary and Hessle to offer an approximately every 10 minute frequency over the common section of route between Asda Bilton and Hull Royal Infirmary every Monday to Saturday daytime, half hourly Sunday daytimes and half hourly or hourly daily evenings. Service 63 had operated approximately half hourly Monday to Saturday daytimes and hourly evenings and Sundays.

The 'new' service 56 is little changed in terms of 'headline' frequencies compared to the 'old' 56, other than being increased to hourly in the evenings - which means an increase from 2 to 3 buses per hour for the old service 63 route Monday to Saturday daytimes. The 51 also has the same 'headline' frequency as the old 56. East Yorkshire give credit to Hull City Council Bus Service Improvement Plan funding for providing three buses per hour on the 51, so presumably the Monday to Saturday daytime frequency was at risk of being reduced?

There are also some slight early evening frequency enhancements on the 'new' 51/56/57 compared to the 'old' 56/57/63. again funded through Hull City Council's Bus Service Improvement Plan allocation. Sadly the 2330 Friday and Saturday Hull Paragon Interchange to Castle Hill service 63 is not included in the 'new' 56, with the last bus from Paragon Interchange a rather early 2234, although it should be said that parts of the route have later alternatives on other services.

Better early evening services between Hull and Hessle

As part of East Yorkshire's 'Anlaby Road Lines' renumbering of all Anlaby Road routes into the 50's, service 66 between Hull and Hessle became service 58 on 10th November last year. The 66B extension to Bridgehead Business Park became the 59 at the same time.

Funded by Hull City Council's Bus Service Improvement Plan allocation, there was a substantial uplift to the early evening service to coincide with the renumbering. The Monday to Friday 1800, 1835, 1850 and 1955 departures from Hull Paragon Interchange were increased to a 20 minute interval service between 1800 and 2000, whilst on Saturdays a 1925 from Paragon Interchange was added in between the 1850 and 1955 departures. From Hessle the 1810, 1845, 1915, 1930 and 2030 have been replaced by an approximately every 20 minute frequency between 1810 and 2030 Monday to Friday.

From 54 to 35

In my last post I reported how East Yorkshire's 154 between Hull, Willerby and Castle Hill Hospital was renumbered to the 54 on 10th November last year. Those familiar with the Hull Bus Network will know there was already an East Yorkshire 54 between Hull and Willerby - that became the 35. A shame that a number with some 'link' to the 54 wasn't chosen instead since both routes continue to link Hull and Willerby; the previous 54/154 arrangement was quite 'neat' compared to the 35/54 now.

Based on the printed timetable I picked up with effect from the renumbering to service 35 on 10th November, a new 1905 departure from Hull Paragon Interchange was added Monday to Saturday, delaying the daytime to evening reduction from half hourly to hourly from 1835 to 1935 Monday to Friday, whilst on Saturdays a further new 2005 departure was also added. Furthermore, an additional return service from Willerby was introduced at 1931 Monday to Saturday. However oddly the extra Saturday journeys do not show on the East Yorkshire website, nor on bustimes.org.

Finally the previously Friday and Saturday only 2330 from Hull Paragon Interchange now operates at 2335 Monday to Saturday, providing an hour's later last departure Monday to Thursday.

Dropping the 1

As part of East Yorkshire's network revision on Sunday 10th November, some services along Anlaby Road in Hull were renumbered, so that all Anlaby Road routes are numbered in the '50's'. For services 152 Hull to Anlaby, 153 Hull to Swanland via Anlaby and 154 Hull to Castle Hill Hospital via Willerby - the three routes which operate to the western end of Anlaby Road - that meant dropping the '1' and becoming the 52, 53 and 54 respectively.

Funded by Hull City Council's Bus Service Improvement Plan allocation, the newly renumbered service 54 gained extra journeys from Hull Paragon Interchange at 1805 (in between the 1740 and 1825 departures) and 1940 (in between the 1910 and 2010 departures) Monday to Friday, as well as at 1930 on Saturdays (in between the 1910 and 2000 departures). From Castle Hill Hospital there is an additional 1953 departure on Saturdays (in between the 1928 and 2023 services).