X21 returns for Summer 2013

EYMS's 'fast' X21 service between Hull, Beverley, Bridlington, Filey and Scarborough returns for the Summer on Sunday 9th June, operating every day until Saturday 31st August with one journey in each direction. The service is effectively a 'relief' for the main 121 Hull-Scarborough service.

This year the service will not serve South Shore Holiday Village because the bus stop is apparently 'unsafe'. The Holiday Village can still be reached using service 130.

New Stagecoach Cleethorpes-Skegness Link

Starting today (25th May), and operating every Saturday and Sunday until 1st September, plus Monday and Fridays in school holidays, Stagecoach are offering a new Cleethorpes-Grimsby-Louth-Skegness service. The service departs Cleethorpes at 0900, and seems to follow the 51 route between Grimsby and Louth before operating to Skegness, arriving at 1110. The return service leaves Skegness at 1730, returning to Cleethorpes at 1935.

This isn't Stagecoach's first attempt at a Cleethorpes-Grimsby-Louth-Skegness Summer Service. Previously a Sunday and Bank Holiday service X51 was provided by extended Sunday journeys on the 51 between Grimsby and Louth from May to September. 4 journeys served Skegness, though unless you only wanted 65 minutes in Skegness, a day return not possible from Cleethorpes, as the first Skegness departure was from Grimsby only. The service did also provide a chance for Skegness tourists and residents to spend 3 hours 15 minutes in Cleethorpes

That Sunday service was lost in April 2011 cuts, with the Skegness extensions last operating in Summer 2010. The X51 interestingly had one working operated by Hull depot, using a vehicle otherwise on a long layover in Cleethorpes. Since April 2011 I believe Louth has been without a Sunday bus service - until tomorrow that is.

EYMS register July changes with VOSA

EYMS have registered the following with VOSA today, all effective from late July:

Variations:
56/57: Hessle-Hull-Longhill
60/60A: Hull-Cottingham
61/62: Hull-Setting Dyke/Cottingham
64: Hull-Cottingham-Castle Hill
66: Hessle-Hull
130: Hornsea-Bridlington
180: Hessle-Beverley
520/521: Beverley Town Service
523: Beverley Town Service
X4: Brough-Market Weighton-York (though the VOSA registration says the service operates to Hull which it never has done?)

Cancelled:
144: Elloughton-Beverley
182: Hessle-Beverley
184: Swanland-Hessle

New Services:
X28: Reighton Sands-Pickering-Flamingo Land-Eden Camp
X30: Bridlington-Scarborough

Bridlington-Flamborough EYMS Changes

From Monday 3rd June, EYMS are revising the route of their Monday to Saturday daytime service 510 between Bridlington and Flamborough. In Bridlington the service will now operate via the Promenade, Queensgate (and St Aidan Road?) to Sewerby Road instead of via Quay Road and Queensgate.

In Flamborough, High Street and South Sea Road will no longer be served - all journeys will instead operate via the Dog and Duck Pub on Tower Street in both directions and extend to North Landing (via Thornwick Camp between mid February and early November). As a result the timetable between Flamborough and Bridlington becomes hourly, as opposed to the currenty 53/67 minute interval.

Additionally during School Summer Holidays the frequency will be increased from hourly to half hourly (with a one hour gap at lunchtime). This is probably a replacement for service 100, which last year ran during school summer holidays roughly hourly between Belvedere Turning Circle (every two hours), Bridilington Town Centre, Flamborough and Thornwick Camp. The 100 ran on Sundays as well as Monday to Saturdays, but EYMS don't seem to have a Sunday service to Thornwick Camp this year.

(Apologies if my geography isn't 100% correct in this post)

34 via Garden Centre

Another change I failed to cover at the time, was the the introduction of a revised timetable for EYMS operated route 34 between Holme Upon Spalding Moor and Market Weighton from Monday 8th April. As far as I can tell the main change involves one weekday journey each way being diverted via Langlands Garden Centre.

New timetable

April Selby-Goole Changes

Apologies for being rather behind covering recent service changes. In March I tried to work out what the new timetable for service 8 between Selby and Goole would be. The actual new timetable for the Utopia operated journeys is here (it's a bit different). The 8 is operated under contract to North Yorkshire County Council, and Utopia won the tender for the route commencing 15th April, except for a college day only working that remains with the previous operator Arriva.

Sadly I no longer have a copy of the old service 8 timetable to compare with the new one, but the weekday service is reduced, two services remain to/from Goole along with two short Drax-Selby return journeys, maintaining all key links offered by the route. The Wednesday and Friday diversion via Hook is however withdrawn, replaced by the 355. The two hourly Saturday frequency however seems to be unchanged.

As a result of the service 8 reduction, services between Airmyn village and Goole are reduced on weekdays to two return daytime services, an extra Wednesday and Friday daytime link with the 355, plus peak time journeys on the 400. The village is however better served on weekends, with the peaktime 400 plus two hourly service 8 on Saturdays, and a two hourly service 400 on Sunday daytimes.

Also since mid-April, Arriva's 4, 400 and 401 betwen Goole and Selby have seen some timing changes, but I don't think there have been any withdrawn or extra journeys.

Any clarification, additions or corrections to the above welcome.

Holloways Not Rebidding

Holloways Coaches have 'handed back' [SEE UPDATE BELOW] two tendered services to North Lincolnshire Council from the end of July - the 55 between Scunthorpe, Appleby, Winterton and Burton, and the 90 between Scunthorpe, Crowle and on Saturdays only, Garthorpe. North Lincolnshire Council's press release initially says they have stepped in to 'save' the two routes, but later refers to having "breathing space to decide what to do", which leaves open the possibility of changes when the routes are retendered.

The 55 was substantially improved a year ago, from a very basic service between Scunthorpe, Appleby, and on some journeys Winterton, to a 90 minute frequency over the full route, and further extended to serve Burton.

Meanwhile the Holloways operated 90, which started last July replacing a former Stagecoach service, fills gaps in the Scunthorpe to Goole service provided by Sweyne Coaches on weekdays and Stagecoach on Saturdays.

UPDATE - This post was originally called 'Holloways Hands Back Contracts', but the Doncaster Free Press reports the contracts expire at the end of July and Holloways do not intend to rebid for them - so not handing them back early, but at the expected end date. Apologies if I have given the wrong impression based on my interpretation of North Lincolnshire Council's press release.

Thanks to the first comment on this post for alerting me to this.

Stagecoach Grimsby and Cleethorpes Evening Service Changes

From Easter Monday the daily evening service on routes 13 and 14 has been terminating at Cleethorpes Pier, in line with the daytime service. The evening terminus had previously been on Cleethorpes High Street.

Furthermore since Tuesday 2nd April, the 2245 service 8 on Mondays to Saturdays from Grimsby Bus Station has been terminating at North Sea Lane, in line with all other journeys on the route. Previously the journey had extended to Riby Square via Cleethorpes High Street. In reality this makes little difference, as the 2245 service 8 does still continue to Riby Square as a new 2310 service 9, which then continues beyond Riby Square back to Grimsby Bus Station via Freeman Street

Stagecoach enhance Saturday 16

Since Saturday 6th April, the 15 minute Saturday daytime frequency on Stagecoach service 16 between Grimsby Asda, Grimsby Town Centre, the Willows Estate and Wybers Wood has started half an hour earlier than previously, with a new 0918 departure from Wybers Wood and a new 0920 from Asda filling a former half hour gap between services.

Stagecoach in Hull Greatfield Minor Reductions

Since Easter Monday, Stagecoach in Hull have revised services 41 and 42 between Hull City Centre and Greatfield. Many weekday journeys from Greatfield operate 5 minutes earlier than previously, and the weekday afternoon frequency post 1430 from Greatfield has been reduced from every 10 to every 15 minutes combined between the 41 and 42 (half hourly on each route). Combined departures on weekdays from Hull City Centre between 0900 and 1000 have also been reduced from every 10 minutes combined to every 15 minutes.

On Greatfield's other Stagecoach route, the 43, the weekday frequency from Hull Interchange between 1305 and 1405 has dropped from 'up to every 10 minutes' to every 15 minutes, as has the weekday frequency from Greatfield between 1335 and 1435.

Isle of Axholme Service 58 Changes

Back in February, North Lincolnshire Council cancelled their registration for the 58 Isle of Axholme local service connecting Wroot, Epworth, Belton, Sandtoft and Crowle. It hasn't however been withdrawn, nor tendered to a private sector operator - since Wednesday (10th April) the Wednesday and Friday only service has continued to be operated directly by North Lincolnshire Council with a reduced route and timetable. The service no longer serves Crowle, and the hours of operation are reduced from '0900 to 1340' to '1000 to 1245'. The new timetable is on the Traveline East Midlands website.

Not that this press release gives the impression of a reduced service; "New Route", "We have listened to residents and taken action", “I am sure this new route for the Isle Shopper will be very much welcomed by residents and it will provide another important link with the town centre of Epworth”. If the truth is that budget pressures have forced a reduced service, then why not be honest and say so? It can still be 'spun' as good news - e.g. 'under threat service saved from axe'.

Stagecoach in Hull 15 Minor Improvements

Since Easter Monday, Stagecoach in Hull service 15 between Hull City Centre, the Avenues area, Hull University, Orchard Park and Kingswood has operated to a slightly improved timetable. The weekday peak service from Kingswood has been increased from every 15 minutes to 'up every 10 minutes' between 1650 and 1750. Meanwhile a new Monday to Saturday 2335 journey from Kingswood to Hull Truck Theatre has been added, 30 minutes later than the previous last journey on Monday to Thursdays, though earlier than previously on Fridays due to the withdrawal of the Friday night N15.

Stagecoach in Hull 28/28A Morning Peak Revision

Since last Tuesday (April 2nd), Stagecoach in Hull have revised the weekday morning peak timetable of the 28/28A from Kingswood, Bransholme and Sutton Park into Hull City Centre. Previously the 28 or 28A from Kingswood ran every 15 minutes, with 3 extra short Bransholme North Point-Hull City Centre journeys for a frequency of up to every 7/8 minutes. Now either the 28 or 28A runs every 10 minutes along the full route, providing slightly more buses from Kingswood, and slightly less from Sutton Park and Beverley Road.

New Summer Skegness-Cleethorpes Service.

Stagecoach have registered a new Summer weekend and school holiday Cleethorpes-Louth-Skegness service with VOSA today:

PB0001484/291 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB

1. • Registration Accepted
   • Starting Point: Cleethorpes Pier
   • Finish Point: Louth Bus Station
   • Via:
   • Service Number: SKE
   • Service Type: Normal Stopping
   • Effective Date: 25-MAY-2013
   • Other Details: New Summer Service from Cleethorpes Pier on Saturdays and Sundays, plus Mon& Fri on School Holidays. Hail & Ride where safety and traffic conditions allow.

PB0001484/292 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB

1. • Registration Accepted
   • Starting Point: Louth Bus Station
   • Finish Point: Skegness Interchange
   • Via:
   • Service Number: SKE
   • Service Type: Normal Stopping
   • Effective Date: 25-MAY-2013
   • Other Details: New Summer Service from Louth Bus Station to Skegness on Saturdays and Sundays, plus Mon& Fri on School Holidays. Hail & Ride where safety and traffic conditions allow.

I'll continue reviewing the Stagecoach changes in Hull and Grimsby last weekend soon.

110 Weekday Peak Service Reduced

From tomorrow (Tuesday 2nd April), Stagecoach service 110 between Hull City Centre, the Bricknell Estate, Cottingham and Castle Hill Hospital will have a reduced weekday evening peak service; the Stagecoach paper timetable states this is due to 'low usage'. Previously the service operated every half hour from Hull Interchange at this time, however the frequency is to be reduced to the daytime frequency of hourly, with the 1640 and 1740 short journeys from the Interchange to the Bricknell Estate withdrawn - the last journey is now at 1710.

No other weekday journeys are affected, nor is the Saturday service, which has a later last departure at 1810.

Stagecoach in Hull Workers Services

Stagecoach in Hull are amending their weekday 677 service from Tuesday 2nd April; this is effectively a workers service for Cranswick Foods in Preston, but is also available for general public use.

Currently the service runs directly from Hull City Centre via Hedon Road to Preston, with some journeys starting at the Beverley Road/Clough Road junction. However from Tuesday services will now run from Hull Interchange up Beverley Road, along Clough Road, Leads Road, Sutton Road, Ings Road, Maybury Road and Marfleet Lane to rejoin Hedon Road and it's previous route. This offers direct links to Cranswick Foods from more areas of Hull, and also serves other employment areas around Sutton Fields Industrial Estate and Clough Road. The only major timetabling note is the withdrawal of the last evening bus in each direction, currently 1800 from the Interchange and 1845 from Cranswick Foods - the last bus is now 1655 from the Interchange and 1815 from Cranswick Foods.

Talking off Clough Road, Stagecoach are adding a new weekday workers service to serve the new Police Headquaters and other employment sites in the area - the 101 (again it is open to the general public as well). Like the 677 it will run from Hull Interchange up Beverley Road to Clough Road before continuing up Holwell Road to the North Point Shopping Centre. Journeys depart Hull Interchange at 0710, 0740, 0810 and 0840; in the return direction services start at Clough Road, departing at 1545, 1610 and 1740.

One thing - why the 101 route number. Wouldn't 676 or 678 have been better - or even 29 since it shares part of the route with the 28, and part with the 30?

31 Weekend Daytime cutbacks

From Easter Monday, Stagecoach service 31 between Hull City Centre and North Bransholme will see most of it's weekend daytime services axed. These currently operate half hourly in the morning and early afternoon inbound to the city centre, then half hourly in the late afternoon outbound from city centre - effectively acting as a relief to 'trunk' routes 30 and 32. It would seem relief is no longer needed.

The only weekend daytime journey's maintained are four North Bransholme-City Centre journeys on Saturday morning, at 0735, 0805, 0835 and 0905 - before the 32 reaches it's main 15 minute frequency.

Weekday peaktime journeys on the 31, and the daily hourly evening service remain. Stagecoach have said the 32 also has a revised timetable, but from a quick look I cannot spot any changes.

The Circular becomes The Pointer

The Hull [City] Circular is a service which has seen frequent changes over the past few years, as Stagecoach have tried to make it work as a commercial service. From Tuesday 2nd April, 'The Circular' becomes 'The Pointer', a name which no doubt comes from the new route it will take, see this map. This change, which sees a contraction in the areas served by the route, is a reflection that the service seems to be no longer an attempt to link multiple major estates without the need to change in the City Centre, but instead an attempt to serve certain specific cross-city flows, along with links into the city centre itself. The concept of the city circular appears to be dead.

The Pointer will retain the current service 10 number used by The Circular, and in the western half of the city the route is little changed. Clockwise from the city centre the route continues to serve Princes Avenue, Newland Avenue, Hull University, Hall Road and Greenwood Avenue en-route to the Orchard Park Estate. Here the route will now omit the Tesco car park, but continue to run via the Sutton Park estate to Bransholme's North Point Shopping Centre, which as well as being a shopping centre, is also a key interchange point onto other bus services.

It is in the eastern part of Hull where the route has it's biggest change. Leaving North Point the service continues to run via Midmere Avenue, but will now serve Sutton Village instead of the western part of Howdale Road (reducing duplication of the 51) en-route to Dunvegan Road, Salthouse Road and Wilberforce College. From here the service will now run directly via Holderness Road back into the city centre, omitting the Bilton Grange and Preston Road Estates, as well as the Hedon Road industrial area - this section apparently saw few passengers.

While the route has got shorter, the frequency is improved over much of the route. Currently a half hourly Monday to Saturday service operates between Hull City Centre, the University and Orchard Park, with weekday only extensions along the rest of the route. The Pointer however will operate half hourly over the entire route, Saturdays included. This provides much enhanced connectivity between Orchard Park and Bransholme, and also reflects changes to other services in Eastern Hull.

After operation on Easter Sunday, the 52 service between Hull City Centre, Bilton Grange and Salthouse Road will be withdrawn. This had provided the 'fast' link between the City Centre and Salthouse Road, a role which the 10 takes over, on an even more direct routing. As a result associated service 53 is altered, and will no longer serve Dunvegan Road or the eastern part of Howdale Road, a role the 10 also takes over.  

What Stagecoach must be hoping for is that the 52's current passengers transfer onto other routes, including the 10, thus boosting those services. The Pointer now appears the serve the role of 13/15 'relief' route in West Hull, providing an Orchard Park-Bransholme link, connecting Wilberforce College with North Point for onward connections, and offering a fast route between Salthouse Road and Hull City Centre - all 'stitched together' for convenience. Maybe I'm wrong, but I do wonder how much 'cross Bransholme' traffic there will be? Does it matter though? 

Some other notes on the revised 10, the 10W diversion via Askew Avenue appears to be withdrawn - this had provided a Wilberforce College link from parts of West Hull. Anti clockwise journeys will also now operate directly into the Interchange inbound, rather than via the City Centre loop.

As I mentioned earlier, the 52 is being withdrawn. The link it currently provides along Marfleet Lane to Bilton Grange will be replaced by the new 54A, though the Bilton Grange-Wilberforce College link will not be replaced. The 54A will be a variant of the 54, the main link between Hull City Centre and Bilton Grange, operating via Marfleet Lane instead of Maybury Road. The 54A will operate every 20 minutes on weekday daytimes, and every half hour on Saturday daytimes - an extra bus per hour on weekdays compared to the current 52, but with no Sunday service.

The impact on Maybury Road isn't that severe, as the 54/54A combined goes from every 15 minutes to every 10 minutes for much of the daytime on weekdays, thus Maybury Road will retain a service 54 every 20 minutes on weekdays, dropping to half hourly on Saturdays. Overall the change is surely a more cost effective way of serving Marfleet Lane, albeit adding a little complexity to the 54 in the process.

Finally the 52 currently forms a circular with the 53, which from Easter Monday becomes a stand alone service. It will continue to operate from Hull City Centre via James Reckitt Avenue, Lambwath Road, Ings Road and Savoy Road from where it will operate an anti-clockwise loop along Bellfield Avenue, Holderness Road, Salthouse Road and Middlesex Road (currently unserved) back to Savoy Road for it's return journey to the City Centre. Frequency remains half hourly Monday to Saturday daytimes, alongside an hourly Sunday and Bank Holiday daytime service.

Extra Ferrybus

From 1st April (Easter Monday), Stagecoach will be operating an extra service 70 'Ferrybus' on weekends and Bank Holidays, at 0945 from the P&O Ferry Terminal at King George Dock to Hull Interchange, supplementing the existing 0800 and 0900 departures on these days. The return service, and the (non-Bank Holiday) weekday journeys are unaffected.

Current timetable
New timetable

Stagecoach in Hull Nightbus Changes

If I was to cover the recent history of the nightbus network in Hull, it would be a rather long blog post, with frequent alterations during the past few years. So I'll miss out the contextual history and go straight to the details of the changes Stagecoach are planning from from next week (April) in yet another set of changes. In summary the Friday night service is axed, and services will operate slightly later on Saturday nights (Sunday Morning) again, with a small number of extra services operating.

For the N2 to Hessle this means the current 0015 and 0115 from Hull City Centre, and 0040 from Hessle are replaced by journeys at 0000, 0100 and 0200 from Hull Truck Theatre and 0025 and 0125 from Hessle Sqaure. The route is unchanged.

The route of the N15 to Kingswood is also unaltered. The current 0020 and 0120 departures from Hull Truck Theatre become 0000, 0100 and 0200, while the current 2355 and 0055 from Kingswood Retail Park move to 0030 and 0130.

The N31 to North Bransholme has both a revised route and timetable. Instead off operating from Hull Truck Theatre, the service will now start on Lowgate, meaning the western part of Hull City Centre will be unserved. Departures from Lowgate will be at 0030 and 0130, compared to the current 0008 and 0108 from Hull Truck Theatre.

Like the N31, the N43 to Bilton Grange will also switch from Hull Truck Theatre to Lowgate. Lowgate departures will be at 0000, 0100 and 0200 compared to the present 0030 and 0130 Hull Truck Theatre departures.

Finally the N51 to Kingswood retains it's current route, with Hull Truck Theatre departures at 0023 and 0123 moving to 0000, 0100 and 0200, and the solitary current 0044 from Kingswood Leisure Park being replaced by services at 0024 and 0124.

One day hopefully Stagecoach will find out just what is the optimum service level, and then be able to offer some stability. To take a positive from these latest alterations, at least the Saturday night service is being slightly enhanced.

450 Future

The Scunthorpe Telegraph reports North Lincolnshire Council is considering the future of service 450 between Brigg, Barton and Immingham (continues to Grimsby as the 45) from September 30th when it's current contract with Stagecoach to provide the service ends.

Apparently a report by council officers calls the places served "a difficult area to serve by bus" due to low passenger numbers for much of the day, and the length of the route. It is apparently the council's most expensive bus contract at £132,000 per annum (£435.16p per day), but the per passenger cost is £1.68, well below the £3 guideline. I say apparently because I can't find the report on the council's website, nor details of how to offer comments on the service. The deadline for comments is apparently April 20th. Am I going blind again when checking the council website?

Without seeing the report it's hard to respond in detail to North Lincolnshire Council's current thinking. It certainly is a long route however, and passengers for the Brigg schools provide a key source of revenue, which probably explains the reference to low passenger numbers for most but not all of the day. At such a large annual cost, it is understandable that the service is being reviewed, though the per passenger cost will hopefully avoid any major cutbacks.

The current linking of the 450 with the 45 between Immingham and Grimsby surely has to be the most efficient way of providing a through service to Grimsby? It's far better than duplicating the 45, which is what happened when the 250 operated between Barton and Grimsby. Hopefully this will not be lost.

If savings do have to be made I sometimes wonder how many people use the 0715 Immingham-Barton-Brigg on Saturdays. Would it be cheaper to operate the bus out of service directly along the A180 and A18 to Brigg?

Another potential saving could see the last bus from Brigg operate at 1530, and extend through to Goxhill on school holidays and Saturdays, as well as on schooldays. This could also serve New Holland, replacing the 1603 260 Villager journey. There would still be time for the bus to be back in Barton for 1715 to Immingham.

Being more positive, how about better promotion of the connection opportunities at Barton to Hull and Scunthorpe?

A final idea I would suggest is making the small diversion via Meadow Drive and Caistor Road in Barton, providing a fairly substantial residential area with a 6 day a week bus service. The old X21 between Hull and Cleethorpes briefly did this. The route should be suitable for double deckers, and might attract an extra passenger or two at minimal cost. Worth a try? Another brief diversion via Barton Tesco could be another option.

Brigg Town Service to Howsham and Cadney?

It seems changes could be on the way for the Brigg Town Service. Currently this comprises three routes, the 91, 92 and 93, operated by Hornsby Travel on behalf of North Lincolnshire Council. The services operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with the 91 also serving the neighbouring village of Wrawby on some journeys.

According to the Scunthorpe Telegraph, Cadney and Howsham Parish Council's have requested a link to Brigg, and North Lincolnshire Council have prepared plans to alter the Brigg Town Service to provide this. Apparently a consultation on these plans closes tomorrow, but I cannot find any reference to this on the North Lincolnshire Council website. Am I going blind?

Scunthorpe Subsidised Evening Peak Services Update

Back in October I reported that North Lincolnshire Council was considering the withdrawal of the subsidised 1735 service 38 and 1800 service 34 Scunthorpe Town Services, both operated by Stagecoach and running Monday to Saturday.

North Lincolnshire Council have now made what is essentially a 'use it or lose it' plea, saying that if more people use the services, it "will help to ensure their future". So time will tell.

The case for 1800 34 isn't exactly helped by in part it duplicating the 1800 32A - something that should really be changed if the 1800 34 is retained, by slightly altering the times of one of the services to provide a better spacing between journeys.

Stagecoach Easter 2013

Stagecoach have announced their service plans for the upcoming Easter period:

Good Friday - Normal service in the Scunthorpe area, including the 350 Humber Fastcat to Hull, and on the 25 from Ludford and Binbrook to Grimsby. Saturday service on all other services in North East Lincolnshire, including the Humber Flyer to Hull. All other services in Hull to operate a Sunday service.

Easter Saturday and Sunday - Normal Services
Easter Monday - Sunday Service in all areas

Last year local services in North East Lincolnshire operated a Sunday service on Good Friday, so a Saturday service is a notable improvement.

EYMS Easter 2013

EYMS have announced details of their service plans over the Easter weekend:

Good Friday - Sunday service, including Moorsbus and the Spurn Ranger, except the 350 Humber Fastcat and Goole Town Services which will have a normal Friday service.
Easter Saturday and Sunday - Normal services
Easter Monday - Sunday service on all routes, including Moorsbus and the Malton Dodger

(NB - some further exceptions apply for Scarborough and District services)

What's Happening to the 8? 355 Returns

Back in September you may recall Arriva service 8 between Selby and Goole was diverted via Hook on Wednesdays and Fridays, replacing the 355 Airmyn-Hook-Goole service. However from mid-Aprilthe 355 will return. Today the following registration appeared on VOSA:

PB0004001/13 - EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE COUNCIL T/A FLEET MANAGEMENT & PASSENGER TRANSPORT UNIT, UNIT 10, ANNIE REED ROAD, BEVERLEY, HU17 0LF

• Registration Accepted by SN
• Starting Point: AIRMYN VILLAGE
• Finish Point: GOOLE, BOOTHFERRY ROAD (TESCO)
• Via:
• Service Number: 355
• Service Type: Normal Stopping
• Effective Date: 17-APR-2013
• Other Details: Wednesday and Friday only One journey in each direction

I presume this will operate via Hook. What is surprising is that despite changes to the 8, which is a North Yorkshire County Council tendered service, the journeys from Hook appear to still be operating - so why the need for the 355 to return? Below is the description of the changes to the 8 as detailed by North Yorkshire County Council in their service change document.

"Most journeys will now be operated by Utopia. The 1224hrs Selby to Goole is replaced with 1335hrs Selby to Drax, the 1435hrs Selby to Drax is withdrawn, the 1635hrs Selby to Drax school holidays is retimed to 1600hrs. The 0810hrs Drax to Selby school holidays is retimed to 0847hrs, the 0927hrs Drax to Selby is withdrawn, the 1330hrs Goole to Selby is replaced with a 1402hrs from Drax to Selby. The route in Goole is amended to serve the Hospital on inward journeys. There is no change to the school day service from Pollington to Selby College and return."

 

Applying the above to the weekday timetable (is the Saturday timetable unchanged?), the 8 will retain the folllowing journeys:

 

0835 Pollington-Selby (School Days)

0847 Drax-Selby

0922 Selby-Goole (via Hook on Wednesdays and Fridays)

1030 Goole-Selby

1122 Selby-Drax (Mon, Tue, Thu)

1122 Selby-Goole Tesco (Wed, Fri)

1150 Drax-Selby (Mon, Tue, Thu)

1221 Goole Tesco-Selby via Hook (Wed, Fri)

1335 Selby-Drax

1402 Drax-Selby

1600 Selby-Drax (School Holidays)

1635 Selby-Pollington (School Days)

 

As you can see the Hook journeys appear to be unaffacted, based on the details provided by North Yorkshire County Council. However if so, why the need for the 355? And if the above is correct Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays will have just one, pretty useless, journey to/from Goole arriving at 1014 and departing 16 minutes later. I don't think the final details of what is happening are yet in the public domain

Kirton Klipper Update

Earilier this month, North Lincolnshire Council cancelled their directly operated 354 'Kirton Kipper' Kirton in Lindsey Town Service, which currently operates around the town on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between 0945 and 1109. The cancellation was from April 8th.

Despite no re-registration appearing on the VOSA website (yet), Traveline East Midlands shows that from April 8th, North Lincolnshire Council will continue to operate the 354 to a new timetable, offering 4 journey's at 0945, 1015, 1045 and 1115 from Kirton Barracks, around the town, with some different timing points compared to the current timetable. Operating days will be Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Interconnect 3 April Changes

Traveline East Midlands has the new timetable for Stagecoach Interconnect 3 between Grimsby, Caistor, Market Rasen and Lincoln from April 2nd. The main Monday to Saturday frequency of hourly between Lincoln and Market Rasen with two hourly continuations to Grimsby remains unaltered, with minor changes as follows (punctuality related?):

• The 0645 grom Grimsby to Lincoln will instead depart at 0635 and arrive in Lincoln 5 minutes later than at present.
• The 0655 from Lincoln to Grimsby will instead depart at 0650, but arrives in Grimsby at the same time as present. 
• The 0840 from Market Rasen to Grimsby, and 0840 from Lincoln to Grimsby have extended journey times.

Blog Notice: Stagecoach 'Labels'

With the registration of all Stagecoach services in the region onto the East Midlands license from April, the individual Stagecoach Grimsby Cleethorpes, Stagecoach Hull and Stagecoach in Lincolnshire labels for blog posts will ceased to be used. Instead all Stagecoach bus related posts will be have a generic Stagecoach (Bus) label going forward.

As well as the license changes, the former Grimsby Cleethorpes Transport, Kingston upon Hull Corporation Transport and Lincolnshire Road Car operations have become increasingly integrated, including joint operation of routes between depots. Meanwhile branding/names can vary between generic Stagecoach, Stagecoach East Midlands, and local fleetnames.

Thornes 1 Saturday Service to Cease

North Yorkshire County Council's forthcoming service change document notes that from April 14th, the Saturday service on Thornes Route 1 will cease to operate. Currently two Bubwith to Selby and return journeys operate on Saturdays, at 0945 and 1230 from Bubwith, and at 1200 and 1345 from Selby.

In addition on weekdays the 1415 from North Duffield to Selby will apparently cease to run, except there isn't a 1415. I assume North Yorkshire County Council are referring to the 1445.

As a result of these changes, only on Mondays and Fridays does a useful 'shopping' service into Selby remain. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays the route is left with just a 0730 Bubwith-Selby and 1625 Selby-Bubwith-Hemingbrough. In addition to these journeys on Mondays a 0930 Holme-Selby and 1345 return also operates, and on Friday a 0945 Bubwith-Selby and 1215 return is provided.

Current Thornes timetable

Arriva Goole-Selby April Changes

Arriva have registered changes to their Goole to Selby services with VOSA from April 15th:

PB0000582/73 - ARRIVA YORKSHIRE LTD, 24 BARNSLEY ROAD, WAKEFIELD, WF1 5JX
Variation Accepted: Operating between Selby and Goole given service number 4 effective from 15-Apr-2013. To amend Timetable.

PB0000582/75 - ARRIVA YORKSHIRE LTD, 24 BARNSLEY ROAD, WAKEFIELD, WF1 5JX
Variation Accepted: Operating between Selby and Goole given service number 8/356/400/401/41/628 effective from 15-Apr-2013. To amend Timetable.

The services last had minor adjustments in January.

Hornsby 12 Change Details

Traveline East Midlands shows the 25th February change to Hornsby Scunthorpe Town Service 12 sees the 1600 from Scunthorpe Bus Station to East Butterwick operate 5 minutes later than at present, while the 1810 from Burringham to Ashby has a minute's extra running time.

Thanks to the poster who first posted details of these changes.

EYMS 34 April Change

EYMS are altering their service 34 between Market Weighton and Holme on Spalding Moor from April 8th. The service is operated on behalf of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, who have been considering extending the 35 between York and Holme on Spalding Moor, onwards to Market Weighton.

From VOSA:

PB0000328/353 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS

Variation Accepted: Operating between Market Weighton and Holme on Spalding Moor given service number 34H effective from 08-Apr-2013. To amend Timetable.

North Lincolnshire Council cancel two services

North Lincolnshire Council have cancelled two of their three directly operated public bus services, with effect from 8th April. The 58 links Wroot, Crowle and Sandtoft with Epworth on Wednesdays and Fridays, and the 354 provides a Kirton Town Service on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. From VOSA:

 

PB0004332/1 - NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL, PUBLIC TRANSPORT DEPT, F34, HEWSON HOUSE, BRIGG, DN20 8XY

Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Kirton In Lindsey and Kirton In Lindsey given service number 354 Kirton Klipper effective from 08-Apr-2013.

 

PB0004332/12 - NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL, PUBLIC TRANSPORT DEPT, F34, HEWSON HOUSE, BRIGG, DN20 8XY

Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Wroot and Wroot given service number 58 effective from 08-Apr-2013.

Remaining is the college day only 640 from South Ferriby to the Scunthorpe Colleges via Brigg. It is not yet clear if the 58 and 354 will continue operation with private sector operators.

Last EYMS BAe Workers Service Cancelled

EYMS will cancel their last BAe Brough workers service in April, the 612 from Hornsea, which operates via Beverley and Cottingham. From VOSA:

PB0000328/119 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS

• Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Hornsea and BAE Systems given service number 612 effective from 22-Apr-2013.

Stagecoach License, Route and Timetable Changes.

From April 1st Stagecoach have re-registered all Hull depot services on the Cleveland Transit license and all Grimsby depot services on the Grimsby Cleethorpes Transport license, onto the Lincolnshire Road Car license. It was only three years ago the last Grimsby depot Lincolnshire Road Car services were re-registered on the Grimsby Cleethorpes Transport license.

Certain services will also see timetable and route changes from the same date. The below information is taken from VOSA registrations:

Hull:
1 (Hull-Boothferry Estate) - "Minor' timetable change"
10 (Hull Circular) - "Revised Route and Timetable"
15 (Hull-Orchard Park-Kingswood) - "Revised Nightbus"
28A (Hull-Sutton Park-Bransholme-Kingswood) - "Revised Morning Peak Timetable"
32 (Hull-Bransholme) - "Minor Timetable Change"
42 (Hull-Greatfield) - "Minor Timetable Changes"
43 (Hull-Greatfield) - "Minor Timetable Changes"
51 (Hull-Bransholme-Kingswood - "Nightbus Changes"
53 (Hull-Salthouse Road) - "Revised Route and Timetable"
54 (Hull-Bilton Grange) - "Revised Route and Timetable"
110 (Hull-Cottingham) - "Revised Timetable"
677 (Beverley Road-Hull-Cranswick Foods Preston) - "Revised Route and Timetable"

North East Lincolnshire:
3 (Grimsby-Market Rasen) - "Includes Timetable Revision"
8 (Grimsby-New Waltham-North Sea Lane) - "Includes Timetable Revision"
9 (Waltham-Grimsby-Cleethorpes-North Sea Lane) - "Includes Timetable Revision"
16 (Asda-Grimsby-Wybers Woods) - "Revised Saturday Timetable"
45M (Grimsby-Immingham-South Killingholme) - "Includes minor revision to Habrough Services"
51 (Grimsby-Louth) - "Includes Additional Services from Tetney"

Also noteworthy is that the new registration for the 20 is from Riby Square to Europarc. It currently operates from Cleethorpes to Europarc.

NB - Route numbers taken from VOSA registrations, so may not include all variants

Hornsby 12 Upcoming Timetable Change

Hornsby Travel are amending their Scunthorpe Town Service Route 12 from later this month. From VOSA:

PB0001410/1 - HORNSBY TRAVEL SERVICES LTD, 51-53 ASHBY HIGH STREET, SCUNTHORPE, DN16 2NB

• Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Scunthorpe BS and Ashfield Caravan Park given service number 12 effective from 25-Feb-2013. To amend Timetable.

EYMS Seeking Boxing Day feedback

EYMS are seeking feedback on their Boxing Day buses from users, and non-users. They are wanting feedback by 17th February 2013 to the following questions:

1. Where do you live?
2. Which bus services do you use day-to-day, and how often? (throughout the year, not just Boxing Day).
3. Did you travel on Boxing Day last year? (either by bus or other means).
4. If you travelled, please give us details about your journey. Where did you go, when and why (i.e. shopping, work, visiting family)? Did you travel by bus?
5. If you didn't travel, was that because you didn't want to, or because you couldn't because your bus service did not run?
6. Which buses would you like to see run on Boxing Day? (Within reason - it is unlikely we will provide a full service across our network as there is not the demand for this).
7. Do you have any other comments on Boxing Day buses?

For more details including the email address to send responses to, click here.

It is good to see EYMS actively seeking feedback, and seemingly with an open mind to enhancing and growing the limited Boxing Day network they have previously provided

 

Tesco Brigg Services Cancelled

Holloways Coaches have today cancelled their VOSA registrations for the 4 Tesco Brigg services - TB1-4, with effect from 28th March 2013. The TB1 ran from Thornton Curtis, the TB2 from Howsham, TB3 from Goxhill via Barton and TB4 from Kirton.

Holloways Coaches services to Tesco in Gainsborough have also been cancelled including the TG3 from Kirton and the TG5 from the Isle of Axholme.

Contract Swap?

Two VOSA registrations today appear to show that EYMS and Busking (Phoenix Buses) have each won a contract from each other. Busking have registered the Monday to Saturday daytime 183 Hessle town service from April 1st, a route which EYMS currently operate.

PB1084446/9 - BUSKING LTD, 52 MAIN STREET, NORTH FRODINGHAM, DRIFFIELD, YO25 8LG

• Registration Accepted
• Starting Point: HESSLE SQUARE, HESSLE
• Finish Point: HESSLE SQUARE, HESSLE OR SAINSBURYS HESSLE
• Via: HESSLE TOWN
• Service Number: 183
• Service Type: Normal Stopping
• Effective Date: 01-APR-2013
• Other Details: Mondays to Saturdays Excluding bank holidays

Meanwhile EYMS have registered the Summer weekend 133 route between Driffield and Malton which was operated last year by Busking.

PB0000328/408 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS

• Registration Accepted
• Starting Point: Driffield
• Finish Point: Malton
• Via: Wetwang
• Service Number: 133
• Service Type: Normal Stopping/Rural Bus Service
• Effective Date: 30-MAR-2013
• Other Details: Driffield - Malton

Arriva Goole-Selby Changes

Arriva are making couple of minor changes to Goole-Selby services from Monday 28th January. The weekday 0925 service 4 via Howden will operate 5 minutes later. Many services on the 400/401 via Snaith will also operate 5 minutes later throughout

EYMS 920 change

East Riding of Yorkshire Council reports that EYMS will cease to run the 0720 Hornsea-Aldbrough service 920 and 0754 return during school holidays from February.

"From Monday 11th February 2013 East Yorkshire Motor Services service 920 Hornsea to Aldbrough will no longer operate during school holidays at 0720 from Hornsea to Aldbrough and 0754 from Aldbrough to Hornsea. There is no change to the schoolday service." 

(I would guess the 220/221 are unchanged, and the title of this blog post last year was misleading)

EYMS Friday Nightbus 106 Axed

From 28th January, EYMS Nightbus 106 between Hull and Cottingham will cease to operate on Friday nights. The Saturday night service is unaffacted.

EYMS A63 Corridor Changes

From Sunday 27th January, EYMS are making some fairly minor changes to services on the A63 corridor. The 155, X55, X56 and X57 between Hull, Brough, Howden and Goole all see some retimings to improve punctuality. Additionally some journeys to Hull switch between X55's (via Gilberdyke Village) and X56's (via North and South Cave). Newport Industrial Estate is no longer served by the X55 while most 155's from Hull no longer have a timing point in Welton.

EYMS York Buses Changing

Alongside the hourly (Monday to Saturday daytime) X46 between Hull and York, the section between Market Weighton, Pocklington and York is supplemented by a variety of other services, principally the 744 and 746. The 746 operates every hour between Market Weighton, Pocklington and the University of York into York City Centre, while the 744 provides some additional journeys between Pocklington and York via Dunnington but not the University - the 744 starts in Bridlington and operates via Driffield, and between Driffield and Pocklington is itself supplemented by the 743.

From January 27th, it's goodbye to the 743, 744 and 746, and hello to the 45, 46 and 46A. Together these new services will provide an hourly Monday to Saturday daytime Pocklington to York service alongside the hourly X46 - a slight reduction on the current hourly 746 + extra 744's.

The 45 replaces the current 744 between Bridlington and York, but with a diversion via the University of York, offering new links to the university from Bridlington, Driffield and Dunnington. There is an extra journey per day via Dunnington into York, and the early morning bus from Bridlington extends to York rather than terminating in Pocklington. But no significant frequency changes compared to the 744.

The 746 becomes the 46/46A, and operates to a reduced timetable between Market Weighton, Pocklington and York. The frequency to/from Market Weighton drops from hourly to 4/5 buses per day, with some extra journeys between Pocklington and York to maintain the hourly 45/46/46A combined frequency mentioned above. While this is a significant reduction, Market Weighton retains the hourly X46 into York, as well as 4 journeys per day on the X4, so still has regular links to the city.

Improvements however for Market Weighton come with a new link to/from Driffield. The 46/46A extend beyond Market Weighton to Driffield, replacing the Middleton on the Wolds/Bainton service provided the 743 and offering new York links from these villages. One service each day further extends to Bridlington. The 46A variant covers one journey each way on weekdays only via Tibthorpe.

Evening/Sunday frequencies on the 744/746 are unchanged, with the routes renumbered/altered to the 45/46 in line with the Monday to Saturday daytime changes. The last bus from York to Pocklington Monday to Saturday at 2305 will operate as a 45A, not serving the University of York, but serving Dunnington.

If that is all a bit confusing then have a look at the new timetables on the EYMS website. Simply it's slightly less buses between Market Weighton, Pocklington and York, but new links between Market Weighton, Driffield and Bridlington. Hopefully the new links created are well used.

Also to note, the X4 between Brough, Market Weighton and York diverts via North Newbald, and is consequently retimed, from January 28th. Meanwhile from the same date the 1620 (1610 Sat) Full Sutton Prison to York journey on the 747 will cease to operate.

35 up for tender

There is a lengthy report on the City of York Council regarding tendered bus services in the city, which is to be presented to the cabinet member for transport on Tuesday. One of the affected services is the Transdev York operated 35 from York to Holme on Spalding Moor. The service is tendered by City of York Council, but also receives funding from North Yorkshire and East Riding of Yorkshire Councils.

The report proposes the 35 is retendered, though the actual reason for retendering is not specifically stated. It maybe simply that the current tender has expired? In 2012 the subsidy per passenger was 58p (a slight improvement on the previous year) with 14 passengers travelling per bus hour. It is expected annual costs will however increase with the new tender.

The 35 currently operates every two hours to Monday to Saturday (some journeys a variation X35), along with extra weekday peak time journeys and a limited Friday and Saturday evening service between York and North Duffield. It is proposed that the tender will be issued based on "broadly" the current timetable, although East Riding of Yorkshire Council are looking at extending the service to Market Weighton, I guess by merging it with the EYMS operated 34, that links Holme upon Spalding Moor to Market Weighton every hour Monday to Saturday mornings and early afternoon. Any Market Weighton extension to the 35 would be East Riding of Yorkshire Council funded. An all-day Market Weighton extension could offer better connections to Beverley and Hull from Holme upon Spalding Moor, for example for commuting, as well as offering 6 day a week Bubwith to Market Weighton links.

Between 2006 and 2008 the 35 had been run commercially as the 18 by First York - and the EYMS operated Sunday service between York and Holme on Spalding Moor remains numbered 18A.

Details of how associated service 36 between Elvington and York may or may not be impacted are not given in the City of York Council report.

Rationalisation = New Journey Opportunities???

This week Network Rail revealed their Strategic Business Plan. I won't go into all the details - sadly electrification of the line to Hull is no nearer - but buried within the Network Rail Route Specification 2012 - London North Eastern document on page 236 is a table relating to the Barton branch. In the project description column it says "Rationalisation and Infrastructure Improvements on the Barton On Humber Branch". The output change is listed as "New journey opportunities". From recent Friends of the Barton Line meeting minutes I recall a mention of singling some or all of the double track section between Oxmarsh (New Holland) and Ulceby. So how does reducing capacity facilitate new journey opportunities?

Page 235 has some more information, linespeed is planned to alter from predominantly 60mph to (simply) 60mph and the service levels will be unchanged. And typical Barton to Cleethorpes journey time remains 24 minutes ... If you know how to do Barton to Cleethorpes at 60mph in 24 minutes please post let me know!!! (someone has mixed up Cleethorpes with Ulceby).

Being serious again there is nothing planned to facilitate new journey opportunities at all, just to maintain the current timetable at hopefully less cost, which I presume is the idea behind singling under-utilised double track sections. One of those schemes which provokes mixed emotions - reducing costs is essential, but would it be regretted some time in the future? But why not just be honest about why it is being done?

EYMS 220/221 February Change

EYMS are amending the 220/221 between Hull and Hornsea in February. From VOSA:

PB0000328/22 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS

• Variation Accepted: Operating between Hull and Hornsea given service number 220/220S/221/920 effective from 11-Feb-2013. To amend Route and Timetable.

First Christmas/New Year Services 2012-13

First have released details of their service plans for the Christmas and New Year period. The following covers both the Doncaster and York operations which both operate into the Humber region.

Christmas Eve - Saturday Service with early finish around 2000
Christmas Day - No Services
Boxing Day - No Services
Thursday 27th-Saturday 29th - Saturday Service
Sunday 30th - Normal Service
New Years Eve - Saturday Service with early finish around 2000
New Years Day - No Services

(NB some limited exceptions to the above apply for services not operating into the Humber region)

Transdev Christmas/New Year Service 2012-13

Transdev have released details of their Christmas and New Year period service plans, covering both the Yorkshire Coastliner and local York operations.

Christmas Eve - Saturday service with an early finish. No Transdev operated journeys on the 10 to Stamford Bridge
Christmas Day - No Service
Boxing Day - No Service
Thursday 27th-Saturday 29th - Saturday Service
Sunday 30th - Normal Service
New Years Eve - Saturday service with an early finish. No Transdev operated journeys on the 10 to Stamford Bridge
New Years Day - No Service