East Yorkshire Mostly "Temporary" Changes

Today - Sunday 23rd February - East Yorkshire are introducing timetable changes in the Hull area. Almost all of the changes are "temporary" for an undefined period due to "staffing shortages". An open letter to customers also mentions a "shortage of spare parts".

Service 44 between Hull Paragon Interchange and Cottingham Road is almost entirely withdrawn on a temporary basis, apart from the two evening services in each direction. The 44 was only introduced in November and the temporary change leaves the University/Cottingham Road with half hourly service 45 Monday to Saturday daytimes, down from every 10 minutes across the 44/45 Monday to Friday and every 15 minutes on Saturdays.

Service 51 between Hull Paragon Interchange and Wymersley Road is reduced on Saturday daytimes from every 20 minutes to half hourly on a temporary basis. It is perhaps worth noting that the 51 also spent two weeks over Christmas and New Year reduced to every 20 minutes; the every 20 minute frequency on Saturdays returned on Saturday 11th January and operated for the last time - for now - on Saturday 22nd February. 

Similarly the 56 and 57 between Asda Bilton, Hull and either Castle Hill Hospital (56) or Hessle (57) are reduced on Saturdays only on each route from every 20 minutes to half hourly on a temporary basis. Again this also happened for two weeks over Christmas and New Year. The common section of route has a 15 minute frequency with the temporary timetable.

Service 58 from Hull Paragon Interchange to Hessle is temporarily reduced from every 15 minutes to every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes. This is a much better compromise than reducing to half hourly as occurred over Christmas/New Year.

Finally on a positive note, on a "permanent" basis, the 26 from Hessle to Beverley gains a 'part route' 0715 journey from Hessle to Castle Hill Hospital Monday to Saturday, as well as retiming afternoon services. The 0715 fits in between the 0630 and 0930 full route services and appears to be aimed at anyone needing to be as Castle Hill for 0800. Presumably this extra journey can be done with no extra drivers, using a driver and vehicle that would otherwise run 'dead' to Castle Hill or Cottingham?