60 to 21 Transport?

Rather quietly - i.e. I can't find a formal announcement anywhere - North Lincolnshire Council tendered service 60 between Scunthorpe and Whitton seems to have passed from Stagecoach to 21 Transport. The service operates Monday to Saturday daytimes on a somewhat variable frequency throughout the day. Stagecoach cancelled the 60 from Sunday 30th March, with 21 Transport registering from Tuesday 1st April. Not quite sure what happened on Monday 31st March. As per bustimes.org, the timetable is unchanged.

21 Transport have a registered office in Goole and currently also operate North Yorkshire tendered services from Foxholes to Malton and Harrogate to Wetherby, with an additional Esk Valley to Whitby tender due to commence next week. Last year they also briefly operated from Horton and Settle in North Yorkshire to Clitheroe in Lancashire - quite the disparate operation!

Twice a Week to Gainsborough

This week the service level on the Stagecoach operated tendered 398 from Belton to Gainsborough via Epworth, Haxey, Owston Ferry and Walkeringham is doubled, as the current Tuesday only service starts running on Friday's as well from 4th April. The service leaves Belton at 0945, arriving in Gainsborough for 1047, before departing back at 1310. I'm guessing this is a Bus Service Improvement Plan funded initiative, but can't find any documents or press releases to substantiate that. 

Peak Time Park and Ride to East Yorkshire

Since I think Summer 2023, the Stagecoach service 20 Priory Park and Ride in Hull has been subsidised by Hull City Council Monday to Friday until 0900 and after 1400. During these times the service is half hourly and operates via the A63, as opposed to operating every 20 minutes via Askew Avenue off peak and on Saturdays when the service is provided commercially. 

It's an odd situation how a park and ride can be commercially viable for just five hours in the middle of the day - it's not an off peak shopping route. Are Stagecoach just doing the minimum necessary to keep access to the Park and Ride for MKM Stadium match day and Hull Fair services?

Also odd, Stagecoach providing a 20 minute frequency commercially pre 0900 on a Saturday when it's a tendered half hourly service at this time on a weekday.

Just to make things even more bizarre, the commercial/tendered split Monday to Friday becomes very apparent from tomorrow - Monday 31st March - as the tendered peak time service passes to East Yorkshire Buses on an initial one year contract (with option to extend) costing £113,802 per annum, funded from Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. East Yorkshire were the only operator to submit a compliant bid and included a "satisfactory quality submission".

I'm not sure this is a good look for East Yorkshire Buses when temporary timetable reductions remain in operation on other Hull routes.

Hull Nightbuses Withdrawn

Tonight - Saturday 29th March (or to be precise, the early hours of Sunday 30th) - is the last night of operation for Hull's nightbuses. They were introduced at the start of December 2023 for an initial three months, funded from Hull City Council's Bus Service Improvement Plan allocation, and have lasted for sixteen months. Their withdrawal is very disappointing, but they have clearly be given sufficient time to try and gain sufficient custom, before 'pulling the plug'.

Impacted are the 0010 and 0110 departures from Hull City Centre on the following routes:

• Stagecoach 5: Hull City Centre to Kingswood Retail Park - last departure to become 2330
• Stagecoach 6: Hull City Centre to North Bransholme - last departure to become 2330
• Stagecoach 8: Hull City Centre to Bransholme North Point - last departure to become 2100 (or similar service 11 at 2330)
• Stagecoach 13: Hull City Centre to Bilton Grange - last departure to become 2330
• East Yorkshire 57: Hull City Centre to Asda Bilton - last departure to become 2325 on associated service 56
• East Yorkshire 58: Hull City Centre to Hessle - last departure to become 2300 (Stagecoach service 2 has a 2330 departure covering part of the route)
• East Yorkshire 104: Hull City Centre to Cottingham - last departure to become 2240 (Stagecoach service 5 has a 2330 to the Avenues, and East Yorkshire service 45 offers a 2310 from Hull to Cottingham)

How Hull proposes to spend Bus Service Improvement Plan Funding

The March 13th meeting of Hull City Council's Economy and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Commission included a report detailing how Hull City Council is proposing to spend it's Bus Service Improvement Plan funding for 2025-2026. Some interesting proposals, especially items 4, 5 and 6.

1. Continuation of frequency Enhancements 

This will see a continuation of the financial support to the bus operators of a minimum 10-minute frequency on all key routes, Anlaby Road, Holderness Road, Beverley Road, and Spring Bank West.  

2. Continuation of Connective Services 

To continue the service links to Castle Hill, Beverley Town Centre, Chamberlain Road. 

3. Continuation of the Marfleet Community Bus

Revenue To continue the service with East Hull Community Transport, providing a community link 3 days per week. 

4. New service to provide a transport link to Clough Road 

Proposal to link with service 8, operating an 8C via Clough Road.  The importance of doing the circular with the 8 would be to increase the locations that Clough Road would be linked too, such as Bransholm, Sutton Fields, Howdale Road.   

5. New Service 12a 

This scheme would see half the service 12 turn right out of Noddle Hill Way and operate via Wawne Rd, Pioneer Way, Medical Centre, Richmond Way, Barnes Way, Retail Park and Bude Rd to Bransholme Centre, forming a loop with the existing 12 route which would increase the buses to Kingswood by up to four an hour.  

6. New Moors bus Service 

Joint funded service with East Riding and North Yorkshire. The service will operate from Hull Interchange to access the Wolds, Pickering, Kirkbymoorside, Hutton le Hole on to Danby. Proposed operating season 3rd May to 28th September 2025 Sundays and Bank Holidays only. One departure from Hull per day at 0900 and returning at 1900.  

7. Discounted Fares 

Focus on set campaigns, care leavers under 19, student travel, Katcard day rider and social support schemes such as Food Bank travel. 

8. Improved Customer Information 

Promotions of joint corridor travel and bus stop information.  

9. Park and Ride Peak Journeys 

To continue the financial support for the peak hour’s journeys for the Park & Ride AM /PM (Monday to Friday).  

10. Bus Priority and Bus Gates 

To identify, design and complete dedicated bus priority and bus gate schemes across the cites key corridors to improve bus services punctuality 

11. Moving Traffic Violation Investment 

For the initial development of the MTV cameras and enforcement scheme for the yellow box junction between Brook Street and Hull Paragon Interchange, to support bus accessibility and improve punctuality. 

12. Real time investment 

To have a city-wide investment programme to identity new locations and replace existing on street Real Time Displays with new improved technology. 

12. Bus Shelter Investment 

Investment for increasing the current council owned bus shelter asset, by purchasing up to 30 new bus shelters that will compliment with 19 bee friendly bus shelters. 

14. Hull Interchange Accessibility 

Investment Focusing on the accessibility for passengers accessing bus services in the Interchange. Improving the information and creating dedicated walkways. 

15. Bus Stop Accessibility 

To improve bus stop accessibility city wide, includes raised bus boarders, TROs, seating, signs and lines. Number of schemes is subject to further detailed designs. 

16. Park and Ride Development 

Improvements to the facilities and new bike parking to support multi modal travel 

17. Pinch Point Investment 

Investment in carriageway improvements that have previously been identified by the Enhanced Partnership as causing pinch points on the bus network which leads to punctuality issues 

18. Community Bus 

In partnership with East Riding Yorkshire Council, purchasing a zero emissions vehicle that can be utilised for public consultation. 

19. Modelling of Key corridors transport gaps 

A review of the current public transport offer, to identify and gaps in the network which supports a social need which would identify scope for future developments, modelling key corridors, Bus Rapid Transit. 

20. Modelling of Transport Hubs 

A project to scope locations for future transport hubs to support active travel and multi modal travel.  

21. Traffic and Travel Traffic Cameras  

Supports the Traffic & Travel Team Project, widen visual access across the cites road network to support improved bus punctuality.  

The report also contained some proposed Stagecoach commercial changes:

6.8. In addition to the proposed funding allocation, Stagecoach have also agreed to operate two services commercially which supports the overall ambitions for increasing access to public transport and increased frequency. Service 15 operating via Staveley Rd to Hopewell Road then via Amethyst Road to Barham Road thus providing a regular service to Hopewell Road. Service 33, will see the contracted journeys that need to service Kestrel Avenue numbered 33C.  The peak time journeys would remain as Service 33's and operate from Leads Rd via Wawne Rd, to Diversity Drive, Medical Centre, Richmond Way, Barnes Way, to Kingswood Retail Park. 

96 and 97/97A to stay 'in house'

Last month I posted that North Lincolnshire Council were to put the 96 Barton to Brigg and 97/97A Isle of Axholme Local Services out to tender. These services are currently operated 'in house' but finding driver cover has proven difficult. 

However that procurement exercise has now been abandoned due to TUPE implications.

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?

Proposed new East Yorkshire Buses Depot and Park & Ride in Dunswell

There is currently a live planning application with East Riding of Yorkshire Council for a new East Yorkshire Buses depot and Park and Ride at Dunswell - reference 24/03336/STPLF - occupying the space of land between Raich Carter Way, Beverley Road and the Hull built up area. Restaurants and a petrol station are also proposed.

I won't comment on the non-bus elements of the proposal, nor on the local concerns raised. However there are a lot of interesting aspects as far as buses in the region are concerned. 

The new East Yorkshire Buses depot is proposed to replace both the existing Anlaby Road and Elloughton depots. The planning application covering letter states the new depot will "be more efficient, better for staff and allow the company to expand its routes and make it easier to introduce electric buses". The Planning Statement refers to Anlaby Road and Elloughton depots as making "vehicle maintenance and movement difficult", "difficult to make up to date" and "not well located for staff". The Planning Statement also notes the potential for the new depot to "reduce operating costs through savings in utility bills".

The argument being made in favour of the new depot being more modern, cheaper for utilities and easier to service electric buses is logical and easy to understand; Anlaby Road and Elloughton are old depots on constrained sites. Presumably there are also some economies of scale from combining two depots into one.

Is it the right location though? Firstly there isn't going to be much choice for East Yorkshire Buses. Hull doesn't have much industrial development land within the City Council boundary, hence the big push when Smith & Nephew said there were leaving the city to ensure their current site remained in commercial use, not redeveloped for residential. Within the East Riding of Yorkshire Council area, options aren't great. The Saltend area is earmarked for energy and port related developments, Melton would be rather remote from most of the Hull area East Yorkshire Buses network. I'm not saying it would be impossible to find another site, but neither would it be easy.

Dunswell is in a good location to serve both Hull and Beverley from one location. The flipside though is the significantly increased distance from Paragon Interchange compared to Anlaby Road depot. It won't be as easy or quick to move staff or vehicles between the two. A five minute journey becomes around twenty minutes. 

As for services within the Elloughton/Brough area, Dunswell is poorly located. Dunswell to Elloughton is half an hour at best (discounting roads not suitable for buses). Dunswell to Goole is forty five minutes. Some services could be worked from the Hull 'end' of the route, but otherwise dead mileage is set to increase. However Elloughton is a small depot, so maybe the savings generated by depot consolidation outweigh the dead mileage? It's also worth noting that extensive dead mileage doesn't seem to be off-putting for operators these days, especially on tendered work.

For the staff it will largely depend on where they currently live. Any East Yorkshire Buses staff in the Elloughton area for example face a significantly longer commute. Orchard Park, notably shorter.

As for the park and ride, the application proposes diverting existing services via the site, which to be fair can be done with a limited time penalty. Given the low usage of Hull's existing Park and Ride at Priory Park, it seems a sensible approach to finally deliver the long talked about Northern Park and Ride with low operating costs. It's also in a reasonable location for a Beverley southern Park and Ride. The application also talks about being used as a hospital Park and Ride - though there is currently no service past the site to Hull Royal Infirmary and an unattractive hourly frequency to Castle Hill Hospital.

Overall I'm a bit 'on the fence'.

New Barton to Hull Summary Timetable

The Humber Transport Summary Timetable page now contains a Barton to Hull summary timetable; Stagecoach used to produce one but stopped including it with their 250/350 pdf timetables last year.

Better Buses for Scawby

In recent years Hornsbys X4 between Scunthorpe and Brigg via Lakeside Retail Park and Scawby had become a primarily positioning service, albeit one that did give Scawby a peak time service to/from Brigg - with a 0750 departure from Scunthorpe to Brigg and a 1745 from Brigg to Lakeside Retail Park Monday to Saturday.

Since Thursday 2nd January, Monday to Friday the X4 has been significantly increased and has become a lot more useful, offering a direct Scawby to Scunthorpe service (as opposed to travelling via Brigg on the 4/94) as well as improving the Scawby to Brigg service. It also reinstates an 'all day' service for Brigg Road in Scunthorpe. New journeys depart Brigg at 0810, 0910, 1210, 1410 and 1540, Scunthorpe Bus Station at 1115, 1315, 1515 and 1715, plus a Greetwell Crossroads to Brigg 'short' at 0855. The 1515 and 1540 omit Scawby, instead operating direct between Scunthorpe, Lakeside Retail Park and Brigg, what the X4 did when first introduced.

It should be noted the new journeys, funded by North Lincolnshire Council, are a trial, initially to 31st March 2025.

Between Brigg and Scawby the X4 is fairly well co-ordinated with the 94 - the 94 departs Brigg at 0940. 1140, 1340 and 1540. From Scawby the X4 departs the Church at 0809, 0857, 1132, 1332 and 1732, with the 94 departing Mill Lane at 1029, 1229, 1429 and 1629.

Co-ordination with the 4 between Brigg and Scunthorpe is also good; the 4 departs Scunthorpe Bus Station at 45 minutes past the hour and Brigg Cary Lane at 40 minutes past the hour, so in the hours the X4 operates it will give half hourly departures (although there is a 1540 4 and 1540 X4 from Brigg).

The 0750 X4 from Scunthorpe was however cutback to depart Lakeside Retail Park at 0800; this journey and the 1745 continue to operate Monday to Saturday.

Hornsby 399 Changes

Hornsbys amended service 399 between Scunthorpe, Epworth and Doncaster on 2nd January, with the main changes falling into two distinct parts.

In the morning peak a service 399 had previously operated year round from Westwoodside to Scunthorpe, extended to the Scunthorpe Colleges on College Days, supplemented by a college day only 499 from Misterton to Scunthorpe via the Isle of Axholme, but omitting Westwoodside. The same provision was also provided late afternoon from Scunthorpe, albeit with the colleges served as an en-route diversion rather than route extension. Now though these services have been consolidated into a year round 399 from Misterton to Scunthorpe via Westwoodside with no service 499; in Westwoodside these journeys 'skirt' the eastern end of the village and don't serve the Pond. The associated 'positioning journeys' from Scunthorpe in the morning and return in the evening peak are amended to run to/from Misterton rather than Westwoodside, giving two services between Scunthorpe and Misterton in each direction. It will be interesting to see if there will be any demand to/from Misterton during College Holidays. This change restores a timetabled college holiday bus service on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to the village of Graizelound, as well as over the North Lincolnshire-Nottinghamshire border.

Elsewhere Hornsby service 399 journeys to Doncaster - which operate Monday to Friday - now serve the Yorkshire Wildlife Park. The equivalent Stagecoach operated journeys on a Saturday have not been amended to do the same.

Barton Town Service alteration

The 254 Barton Town Service was revised on 3rd January 2025 with an addition and a removal from the route. The service is operated by Hormsby Travel under contract to North Lincolnshire Council and with a financial contribution made by Barton Town Council. The 254 remains a Monday, Wednesday and Friday service operated hourly around the town in the morning and every 45 minutes in the early afternoon.

First though an extract from the Barton Town Council Environment Committee Minutes in October 2024, that provides some useful background:

North Lincolnshire Council Bus consultation is taking place.  Members were not happy that the  Leisure Centre stop will be removed, however it is evidenced that it is not used enough.  Members queried whether the stops are advertised enough.  It was agreed to request a stop at the Interchange as although there is one at Tesco, the Interchange would also be popular.    

It is important that advertising the service is widespread.   The service that is being offered is the same service but operating in a different way. 

Cllr L Bennet Proposed and Cllr N Pinchbeck Seconded. To remain with the current route and add a stop to the Interchange and clearly sign the bus stops. Unanimous 

Barton Town Council's suggestion to re-add Barton Interchange to the 254 was accepted and introduced as part of the January change. I doubt there will be much demand personally as the 254's limited operational hours mean the 254 cannot be used a connecting service for a trip 'out of town' in both directions. However the time penalty for serving the Interchange is minimal.

Sadly the double run along Brigg Road to Baysgarth Leisure Centre has been removed, presumably due the low usage mentioned in the Town Council minutes. The Leisure Centre is also home to the town library - it was the relocation of the library to the leisure centre that first saw the 254 amended to serve the leisure centre. 

New Pocklington Market Day service 594

Back on 3rd December 2024, a new Tuesday (market day) service was added to Pocklington - the 594 from Fridaythorpe. Operated on behalf of East Riding of Yorkshire Council and funded from it's Bus Service Improvement Plan allocation, the 594 is operated by York Pullman. The service departs Fridaythorpe at 0945 and Pocklington at 1230 taking 27 minutes in each direction and serving Millington en-route. Both Fridaythorpe and Millington were served by the Summer weekend service 200 'Wolds Explorer' between Pocklington and Thixendale last year, whilst Fridaythorpe also has a year round service to Driffield every Tuesday and Thursday.

New Barton-New Holland-Goxhill Bus/Rail Combined Summary Timetable

The Humber Transport Summary Timetable page now contains a combined bus and rail summary timetable for travel between Barton, New Holland and Goxhill.

North Lincolnshire Community Bus Service Updates

The 'Isle Shopper' service 97, operated directly by North Lincolnshire Council, became the 97A on Tuesdays and Fridays from 12th November. Service 97 continues Monday, Wednesday and Thursday between Sandtoft, Wroot, Westwoodside, Haxey, Epworth, Belton, Ealand, Crowle, Eastoft, Luddington and Garthorpe.

Service 97A departs Sandtoft at 0945 (as off 4th February) and operates per the 97 to Belton, before then routing via the A18 to Gallagher Retail Park on the western edge of Scunthorpe. From here it then operates to Crowle (effectively a positioning service), down to Epworth as per the 97 route, back to Gallagher Retail Park and back to Sandtoft. Following a lunch break, the 97A then operates from Epworth to Crowle, Gallagher Retail Park and back a final time to Epworth. Overall the main 'traffic objectives' seem to be Epworth and Gallagher Retail Park.

The thing that stands out to me most is the overlap with Hornsby service 399 that already links Westwoodside, Haxey, Epworth and Belton to Gallagher Retail Park. The only new link is that from the small villages of Sandtoft and Wroot to Gallagher Retail Park. 

As it happens, this week North Lincolnshire Council decided to put the 97/97A, and also the 96 between Barton and Brigg out to tender.

COMMUNITY BUS SERVICES IN NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE – SERVICES 96 AND 97/97a – The Director: Communities submitted a report seeking approval to tender the council’s Section 22 community bus services to external operators, effective from 1 April 2025.

 

Service 96 was a registered Section 22 community bus service operated by the council, running between Barton and Brigg via the Low Villages. The service was vital for connecting these communities, providing essential transport for residents. It currently operated from Monday to Friday and had successfully carried 5,560 passengers in the current financial year up to 30 November 2024.

 

Service 97/97a was another registered Section 22 community bus service operated by the council serving the Isle of Axholme. The 97a service ran from the Isle of Axholme to Scunthorpe Tesco (Gallagher Retail Park) on Tuesdays and Fridays, offering crucial access to shopping facilities for the local population. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, the service operated exclusively within the Isle of Axholme. The service had transported 742 passengers in the same period.

 

Both services had been well received by the public. However, there had been occasional issues with finding driver cover, which had impacted service reliability. Since spare drivers were typically home-to-school minibus drivers, they were unable to complete a full day of service. This limitation had sometimes resulted in reduced or even suspended services.

 

Placing these services out for tender could significantly enhance flexibility and reliability for customers.  By engaging external operators, more resources could be allocated, thereby improving service consistency and reducing the likelihood of service disruptions.

 

Resolved – That Option 2, set out in paragraph 3.2, that both services be placed out for tender by an external bus operator, be approved.

Looking at those usage figures the 96 is vastly more popular than the 97/97A. Using an overly simplistic assumption of 20 non-bank holiday weekdays a month, then between the start of April and the end of November (8 months), the 96 is carrying an average 34.75 passengers per day or 3.475 passengers per journey. The 97/97A is carrying an average 4.6375 passengers per day. As I am using an overly simplistic calculation those will not be precisely accurate averages, but should be close and therefore a useful indicator. 

That's an awful average for the 97/97A and indicates the service is a massive over-provision. There may well be non-economic arguments to support the service, but reducing to one or two days per week would seem more appropriate, ensuring Sandtoft and Wroot maintained a timetabled bus service and that a timetabled bus service remains between Crowle and Epworth - but at far less expense. 

That average may also explain the introduction of the 97A - trying something different to make the service work, and serving an important additional retail destination. However is such significant duplication with the 399 the best idea? If Sandtoft and Wroot do need a link to Gallagher Retail Park, does it need to be two days per week - would one suffice? Could the resource be better used to restore a Wroot to Doncaster service, or to increase the number of days per week the Isle of Axholme is linked to Gainsborough (currently Tuesday only)? Or even a link to Thorne one day per week? Or invest in improving the 399, for example filling the three hour gap in the afternoon from Scunthorpe? Personally I think it's time to think more beyond the 'concept' of a five day a week Wroot-Epworth-Crowle service.

Marfleet Community Minibus Service

A new 'Marfleet Community Minibus Service' launched in November 2024, operated by East Hull Community Transport. It is being run on a 'pilot' basis, initially until the end of March 2025 pending the 2025/26 Bus Service Improvement Plan funding and allocation being confirmed - in turn that will depend on "evidence of real demand through the number of passengers using them".

The service starts at David Lister Drive, which is in the middle of the area between Newbridge Road, Preston Road and Southcoates Lane in East Hull. It then serves Endeavour Crescent, just to the west of Marfleet Lane, Marfleet Village, Preston Road Aldi, Marfleet Group Practice Doctors on Preston Road, Bilton Grange (including Diadem Medical Practice) and Holderness Road Morrisons (also convenient for Kingston Health Centre). The service operates twice per day Monday, Wednesday and Friday, departing David Lister Drive at 0930 and 1150, and Morrisons at 1050 and 1400.

David Lister Drive and Endeavour Crescent are not served by the main Hull bus network, whilst Marfleet Village is only served on it's periphery by Hedon Road services, which don't then serve the local doctors surgeries, Aldi or Morrisons. As such the new community minibus service does offer some useful links. It is a rather convoluted route for anyone travelling 'end-to-end', but I suspect it's target market won't complain at that, instead being happy to have a direct bus service.

The full timetable is available in the Hull City Council press release, and doesn't appear to be on bustimes.org.

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).