Stagecoach Scunthorpe Minor Changes

Tomorrow (Monday 1st June), Stagecoach are making to slight changes to selected intermediate times on the anti-clockwise journeys on Scunthorpe Town Service circular route 10. Meanwhile Traveline East Midlands shows early morning Scunthorpe Town Service circular route 13 as starting from Scunthorpe Bus Station instead off High Street East.

Humber Fastcat Early Morning Changes

On Monday 1st June, Stagecoach are amending the times of the first three Monday to Saturday journeys on the 350 Humber Fastcat between Scunthorpe, Barton and Hull, in order to improve reliability.

The current 0620 Scunthorpe to Hull service, omitting Winteringham (the only journey to do so), departing Barton Interchange 0653 and arriving at Hull Interchange at 0720 will instead leave Scunthorpe Bus Station at 0605, serve Winteringham, depart Barton Interchange at 0650 and arrive at Hull Interchange at 0717. The addition of Winteringham to this journey is good news for the village.

This journey currently connects with both the 0555 Grimsby to Barton Humber Flyer which arrives at Barton Interchange at 0640, and the 0600 Cleethorpes to Barton train service, which arrives at Barton Interchange at 0648. While the Humber Flyer connection will be retained, the train to bus connection becomes just 2 minutes which is very tight, probably too tight. The alternative connection for train passengers to Hull is the 0740 Barton to Hull Humber Fastcat, which gives an hour later arrival in Hull than at present. While I presume Stagecoach are anxious to provide an early arrival time into Hull, the journey times between Barton and Hull are not extended with the new timetable (remains 27 minutes), just between Scunthorpe and Barton. So why couldn't the first Humber Fastcat not wait an additional three minutes at Barton Interchange, leave at 0653 and arrive in Hull at it's current 0720 arrival time? As far as I can tell the vehicle and driver will still have a break at Hull Interchange until 0805 so I don't think interworking with other services is the issue. Maybe no-one uses this particular train to bus connection so Stagecoach aren't bothered about it, but it's sad to see it lost for the sake of 3 minutes extra waiting that would not appear to require any extra resources or impact on the rest of the timetable. Plus, while the train may compete with Stagecoach's Humber Flyer from Grimsby, it doesn't from many other places like Habrough, Goxhill and New Holland, so I can't see competition being a reason for dropping the connection.

The following two departures from Scunthorpe at 0705 and 0735, which depart Barton Interchange a 0750 and 0820 will operate 10 minutes earlier at 0655 and 0725 from Scunthorpe leaving Barton Interchange at 0740 and 0810. The arrival time into Hull Interchange is only 5 minutes earlier though with journey times between Hull Royal Infirmary and Hull Interchange on these two journeys increased from 12 to 17 minutes. It's probably quicker to walk, and on Saturdays I'm sure that will be overly generous. However it does provide some "padding" for any rush hour delays and gives commuters a realistic arrival time into Hull City Centre. If anything it's the Hull Royal Infirmary times which may be unrealistic, but if the service ran early that is the last place you would want to wait until your scheduled departure time.

The new 0810 departure time from Barton Interchange also has two other little benefits. The connection from 0700 Cleethorpes to Barton train which arrives at 0748 is currently advertised as the 0820 Humber Flyer from Barton Interchange (incorrectly shown as 0817 in the Northern Rail timetable), arrives Hull 0847, but this will now become a 0810 Humber Fastcat departure from Barton Interchange, arrival into Hull at 0847. This means 10 minutes less waiting at Barton Interchange and on Saturday's at least almost certainly an earlier arrival into Hull. Secondly with the (long term) temporary Humber Flyer timetable, both it and the Humber Fastcat currently have 0820 journeys from Barton Interchange to Hull, but the Humber Fastcat now becomes an 0810 departure, providing an improved spread of peak time departure times. (However if the previous permanent Humber Flyer timetable is restored then the Barton Interchange departure time becomes 0810...)

EYMS 45/46 Changes

Sunday 24th May saw EYMS amend their 45/46 services between York, Pocklington, Market Weighton, Driffield and Bridlington. A peak time enhancement on weekdays saw the 0745 service 46 from Pocklington to York replaced by a 0723 service 46 from Market Weighton. The other major enhancement sees a new link added to York Maze on Monday to Saturdays during East Riding of Yorkshire School Summer Holidays. During this time the 1025 service 46 from York to Pocklington becomes a 46M, serving York Maze but not the University of York. A new return journey on the 46M is added from Pocklington at 1600.

The Monday to Saturday 0600 Pocklington to York service 46 has been retimed to a 0555 departure and extended to York Station, with the 0637 York to Pocklington service 46 replaced by a 0635 X46 from York Station. The 0700 Mon-Fri/0710 Sat service 45 from Bridlington to York was retimed to a 0650 departure 6 days a week, while the Sunday 0835 service 45 from Bridlington to York has been retimed to 0830.

Hornsby 4 July Change

Hornsby Travel are amending their service 4 between Scunthorpe and Brigg at the end of July. From VOSA:

PB0001410/4 - HORNSBY TRAVEL SERVICES LTD, 51-53 ASHBY HIGH STREET, SCUNTHORPE, DN16 2NB

• Variation Accepted: Operating between Scunthorpe Bus Station and Brigg, Cary Lane given service number 4 effective from 31-Jul-2015. To amend Timetable.

EYMS X46/X47 Changes

EYMS revised their X46/7 services between Hull, Beverley, Market Weighton, Pocklington and York today (Sunday 24th May). Most journeys have timetable revisions and extended journey times, but there are some slight enhancements:

• The first departure from Pocklington Monday to Saturday is extended to start back in York at 0635, replacing the previous 0637 service 46 from York to Pocklington that connected into the 0720 (0735 Sat) X46 from Pocklington to Hull
• A new Monday to Saturday 1905 X46 Hull to Pocklington is added, which Monday to Thursday will be the last departure from Hull. Previously the last departure Monday to Thursday was at 1815
• As part of improved services on the Hull to Beverley corridor most inbound journeys in Hull will operate via the city centre loop.

EYMS Hull-Hornsea Changes

Today, Sunday 24th May, EYMS are making changes to their services between Hull and Hornsea, driven by changes to their Hull to Beverley services. The 246 between Hull, Beverley and Hornsea has a new route in Beverley; instead of operating via Hull Bridge Road to/from both Hull and Hornsea, between Hull and Beverley services will operate via Flemingate, to serve a new retail park and East Riding College, with Hull Bridge Road still served between Beverley and Hornsea. Most Monday to Saturday daytime service 246's now leave Hornsea at :30 minutes past the hour rather than :15 minutes past the hour and Hull at :40 minutes past the hour rather than :50 minutes past the hour. Additionally most service 246 will operate inbound in Hull via the City Centre loop.

As a result of the changes to service 246, other Hull to Hornsea services also see timetable changes; the 240 will generally leave Hornsea at :10 past the hour Monday to Saturday daytimes rather than :45 minutes past the hour, but still leave Hull at :15 minutes past the hour. The Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday only service 230 will leave Hull at 1320 rather than 1310, and on Tuesday and Thursday only leave Hornsea at 0950 rather than 0920 (Saturdays remain 0930). Service 220 also sees minor timetable changes, as do Sunday times on services 240 and 246.

X4 Wicstun Express Changes

From Tuesday 26th May, EYMS are revising the morning service on their X4 Wicstun Express route between Hull, Brough, South Cave, Market Weighton and York. The Monday to Friday 0630 Hull to York (0635 Saturday) moves to 0555 (0615 Saturday), in order to give an earlier arrival into York. The 0846 from York to Hull will now start in Market Weighton at 0936 on weekdays and be withdrawn entirely on Saturdays. In most cases the X4 is duplicated by either the X46 or Petuaria Express, though the villages of Sancton and North Newbald do lose their ability to have a day out in Hull on a Saturday (first arrival 1336, last departure just two hours later at 1545).

EYMS Significant Hull to Beverley Improvements

In a week's time, on Sunday 24th May, EYMS are substantially improving their services between Hull and Beverley (it's actually Tuesday 26th when the biggest improvements start, but the Sunday is the timetable change date).

Currently on Monday to Saturday daytimes there are three buses per hour between Hull and Beverley, the 121 and 246 that operate via Beverley Road, Dunswell, Woodmansey, Swinemoor Lane, Hull Bridge Road and Norwood, and the X46 that operates via Beverley Road, the A1079 and Victoria Road. Each route operates hourly.

EYMS's new network of services between Hull and Beverley provides an extra service each hour and even-interval departures every 15 minutes from Hull Interchange and Beverley Sow Hill Bus Station Monday to Saturday daytimes. The 121 and new service 122 will each operate every hour (half hourly combined) via Dunswell, Woodmansey, Swinemoor Lane, Hull Bridge Road and Norwood. The 121 continues from Beverley to Scarborough via Molescroft, Driffield and Bridlington, while the new 122 continues to Molescroft. However the 121 will no longer serve Beverley Community Hospital, instead only stopping nearby on Swinemoor Lane. As well as providing an extra hourly journey between Hull and Beverley, the new 122 will also replace the hourly Monday to Saturday journeys on the 523 between Beverley and Molescroft.

The hourly 246 will continue to serve Dunswell and Woodmansey before operating a slightly shorter route into Beverley via Flemingate and continuing to Hornsea via Norwood and Hull Bridge Road. This new route within Beverley will serve the new Flemingate Retail Park and East Riding College site and avoid the need for the 246 to serve Hull Bridge Road and Norwood twice as currently occurs. Finally the hourly X46 continues with it's current route, continuing beyond Beverley to Market Weighton, Pocklington and York.

Another notable element of the change sees all inbound services (except during the evening peak) from Beverley in Hull route via the City Centre loop, with a new drop off stop at Primark in addition to Spencer Street and Hull Interchange.

Beyond the routing change to the 246, there are no major changes to evening and Sunday services which are generally operate once or twice an hour combined between the 121, 246, X46 and X47 (which operates via Cottingham).

A significant improvement to services not just between Hull and Beverley, but also for residents of Dunswell, Woodmansey and Molescroft. The only slight negative is the loss of links to Beverley Community Hospital with services stopping close by instead.

Stagecoach North East Lincolnshire July Changes

Stagecoach have registered variations with VOSA for some of their North East Lincolnshire services from 6th July:

3/4 Laceby Road Morrisons-Grimsby-Cleethorpes (route as well as timetable)
5 Grimsby-Immingham-South Killingholme
6 Wybers Wood-Willows Estate-Grimsby
8 Grimsby-New Waltham-North Sea Lane
9/10 Waltham-Grimsby-Cleethorpes-North Sea Lane
53 Grimsby-Caistor-Market Rasen (route as well as timetable)
150 Immingham-East Halton (route as well as timetable)

The registration for service 12 has been cancelled with VOSA:

PB0001484/276 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB           

Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Bradley Park and New Waltham given service number 12/12W effective from 06-Jul-2015.

Hornsby Travel 22 June Change

Hornsby Travel are amending their service 22 Scunthorpe Town Service at the end of June. From VOSA:

PB0001410/23 - HORNSBY TRAVEL SERVICES LTD, 51-53 ASHBY HIGH STREET, SCUNTHORPE, DN16 2NB

• Variation Accepted: Operating between SYCAMORE CRESCENT, TIMBERLANDS and SCUNTHORPE BUS STATION given service number 22 effective from 30-Jun-2015. To amend Timetable.

Hornsby Travel 60 June Change

Hornsby Travel will be amending their service 60 at the end of June. From VOSA:

PB0001410/29 - HORNSBY TRAVEL SERVICES LTD, 51-53 ASHBY HIGH STREET, SCUNTHORPE, DN16 2NB

• Variation Accepted: Operating between Scunthorpe Bus Station and Whitton given service number 60 effective from 29-Jun-2015. To amend Route and Timetable.

Stagecoach Hull June Changes

Stagecoach have registered changes with VOSA today for some of their Hull services:

PB0001484/246 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB           

Variation Accepted: Operating between Hull Interchange and Bransholme given service number 32/40F effective from 01-Jun-2015. To amend Route and Timetable

 

PB0001484/248 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB           

Variation Accepted: Operating between Hull Interchange and Bilton Grange given service number 43/43/43F/43S/54/55 effective from 01-Jun-2015. To amend Route and Timetable.

 

PB0001484/250 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB           

Variation Accepted: Operating between Hull Interchange and Kingswood given service number 51/51F/N51 effective from 01-Jun-2015. To amend Route and Timetable.

New EYMS 630

I guess this is a 'special' service of some sorts? From VOSA:

PB0000328/474 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS

• Registration Accepted
• Starting Point: Hull Interchange
• Finish Point: Hull Interchange
• Via: Humber Bridge Car Park
• Service Number: 630
• Service Type: Normal Stopping
• Effective Date: 30-MAY-2015
• Other Details: New Service

Stagecoach June Scunthorpe Town Services Changes

Stagecoach are amending Scunthorpe Town Services 10 and 13 in June. From VOSA:

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

Variation Accepted: Operating between Scunthorpe High Street` and Scunthorpe Bus Station given service number 13 effective from 01-Jun-2015. To amend Route and Timetable.

 

PB0001484/170 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB           

Variation Accepted: Operating between Scunthorpe Bus Station and Scunthorpe Bus Station given service number 10 effective from 01-Jun-2015. To amend Timetable.

Humber Fastcat Early Morning Changes

North Lincolnshire Council report that the early morning services on the 350 Humber Fastcat between Hull, Barton and Scunthorpe will be revised from 1st June. I think this will be the first timetable change since November 2011. The service is jointly operated by Stagecoach and EYMS.

It will be interesting to see just what the changes are, as due to the involvement of both Hull and Scunthorpe depots in operating the service, Stagecoach's November 2011 change to early morning services required a balancing change to the early evening service, however no such evening change is indicated by North Lincolnshire Council. (In 2011 the early morning Hull-Barton and return and Scunthorpe-Barton and return services became through journeys, with one early evening service in each direction removed from the timetable)

EYMS May Changes

EYMS are making changes to various services from 24th May.

Variations registered with VOSA:

• 45/46 Bridlington to Driffield
• 45/46/46A Driffield to Pocklington, some journeys via Market Weighton
• 45/45A/46/46A Market Weighton to York via Pocklington
• 121 Hull to Nafferton via Beverley and Driffield
• 121 Longcroft School to Nafferton (from 1st June)
• 121 Driffield to Bridlington
• 121 Bridlington to Scarborough via Filey
• 220/221/920 Hull to Hornsea
• 230 Hull to Hornsea
• 240 Hull to Hornsea
• 246 Hull to Hornsea via Beverley
• X4 Hull to Market Weighton via Brough and South Cave
• X4 Market Weighton to York
• X46 Hull to Pocklington via Beverley and Market Weighton
• X46 Market Weighton to York via Pocklington
• X47 Hull to Market Weighton via Beverley
• X47 Market Weighton to York via Pocklington

Cancelled with VOSA:

• 523 Beverley Town Service (serving the Molescroft area in the north of the town and currently interworked with services 61 and 180 I think)

And a 'new' service registered with VOSA, which appears to be at least a partial replacement for the 523 (I'm sure the 122 has existed in the past):

PB0000328/473 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS           

• Registration Accepted
• Starting Point: Hull
• Finish Point: Molescroft
• Via:
• Service Number: 122
• Service Type: Normal Stopping
• Effective Date: 24-MAY-2015
• Other Details: New Service

EYMS Bridlington Service 100

The following was posted as an anonymous comment on this post earlier today, regarding EYMS's Summer service 100 between Bridlington and Flamborough:
"From July 20th EYMS will be operating the 100 service again with extensions at both ends of the previous service operation.

The route will take in South Shore Holiday camp and John Bull Rock Factory in the south of Bridlington, and will travel to the lighthouse in Flamborough as well as Thornwick Bay holiday park.

But the big news has to be this service will be operated using a open top vehicle.
This is the first time EYMS have operated a open top in Bridlington since the use of a ex Greater Manchester Atlantean quite a few years ago."

EYMS get a share of the 124 too

Yesterday I posted about Acklams Coaches starting a Wednesday and Thursday only service 124 between Driffield and Bridlington. From Saturday (28th March), EYMS will be providing Saturday journeys on the route with financial support from East Riding of Yorkshire Council, operating to the same timetable as on Wednesday and Thursday.

Acklams new 124 Driffield to Bridlington

Acklams Coaches have started operating service 124 between Driffield, Kilham, Wold Newton, Burton Fleming, Rudston and Bridlington on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The timetable on Traveline Yorkshire lists departures from Driffield at 0905 and 1230, and from Bridlington at 1010 and 1330. Below is the VOSA registration:

PB1075166/33 - ACKLAMS COACHES LTD, BUS & COACH DEPOT, BARMSTON ROAD, BEVERLEY, HU17 0LA

• Registration Accepted by SN
• Starting Point: Bridlington
• Finish Point: Driffield
• Via:
• Service Number: 124
• Service Type: Normal Stopping
• Effective Date: 25-MAR-2015
• Other Details: Wednesday & Thursday Two runs each way

Hornsby 16/327 retimed

Hornsby Travel services 16 and 327 in Scunthorpe will have revised times from 14th April.

16 Parklands Caravan Site-Scunthorpe (Tuesday and Friday):
0910 and 1135 from Parklands Caravan Site will depart at 0940 and 1215
1120 from Scunthorpe Bus Station will depart at 1200

16 Parklands Caravan Site-Ashby (Thursday):
0910 and 1135 from Parklands Caravan Site will depart at 0940 and 1215
1120 from Ashby Broadway will depart at 1200

327 Dragonby-Scunthorpe (Friday):
0925 and 1155 from Scunthorpe Bus Station will depart at 1015 and 1245
0940 and 1210 from Dragonby will depart at 1030 and 1300

Times taken from Traveline East Midlands

Stagecoach 110 Change

Stagecoach are making some quick changes to their Hull cross city service 110 between Cottingham, the City Centre, North Point and Spring Cottage. On 23rd February, the service was revised in the Spring Cottage area, omitting part of Howdale Road previously served and leaving the section between Dunvegan Road and Robson Way without a bus service. 2 weeks later, tomorrow (Monday 9th March), the 110 is being rerouted back onto this section of Howdale Road. Unlike the pre 23rd February route, Sutton village is not served, with Robson Way instead being used to return to North Point. There are some minor timetable changes as a result.

Scarborough and District 120 returns for Summer

Yesterday (Saturday 7th March), EYMS's Scarborough and District operation restarted their Summer service 120 between Bridlington, Filey and Scarborough, which provides a daily hourly service between March and early November, complementing the year round 121 and fellow summer only service X20 between Scarborough and Filey. For 2015 the only change to the 120 sees the 1805 from Scarborough to Bridlington terminate short at Reighton Sands Holiday Village, and the 1940 Bridlington to Scarborough withdrawn. The 121 provides a last journey from Scarborough to Bridlington at 1825, and from Bridlington to Scarborough at 1910.

EYMS Hedon Changes

On Monday (8th March), EYMS are amending their Hull to Hedon services 78, 79 and 277. There will be some retimings to improve punctuality, however the major change sees the withdrawal of the Monday to Saturday 1715 service 277 from Hull to Hedon and the 1800 service 78 from Hedon to Hull, due to "very low passenger numbers". Alternative 277 departures from Hull are at 1630 or 1940, while the villages of Bilton and Sproatley are served by service 220 departures from Hull at 1705 and 1805. Alternative service 78 departures from Hedon are at 1715 and 2019.

New EYMS 66B

From Sunday 8th March, EYMS are amending their service 66 between Hull City Centre, the Boothferry Estate and Hessle. The main change sees two weekday morning services from Hull Interchange at 0725 and 0805 extended from Hessle Square to the new Bridgehead Business Park, near the Humber Bridge roundabout, operating as service 66B. In the evening peak, two return service 66B's operate at 1715 and 1745 from the Bridgehead Business Park to Hull Interchange directly via Darleys Roundabout, omitting Hessle and the Boothferry Estate. Cross-river services Humber Fastcat (350) and Humber Flyer also run close to the business park.

Additionally times on service 66 are revised slightly to improve punctuality. The weekday morning 'contra-peak' service from Hull Interchange to Hessle is reduced from every 15 to every 20 minutes, though the first departure is now 10 minutes earlier at 0625.

(Edited 7th March 2015, see below comments for details)

Barton Line to the East Midlands franchise: Questions Arising

As part of Friday's publication of the Invitation to Tenders (ITT) for the Northern and TransPennine Express franchises, it was announced that Northern Rail's Cleethorpes to Barton service will transfer to the East Midlands franchise when it is relet in 2017, along with most stations on the route and one Class 153 DMU (see ITT pages 87 and 95). As I explained last year, I am not in favour of this, and the consultation response document has done nothing to address my concerns; Below is the relevant extract in relation to the Cleethorpes-Barton service from Page 25:

4.11  In the consultation document, we sought views on the future franchise responsibility for the route from Cleethorpes and Grimsby to Barton-on-Humber. Since the previous ‘remapping' in 2004, this service has been operationally separated from the rest of Northern, making it difficult for the operator to develop the service strategically and for it to handle service disruptions.

4.12  We set out the two different options that would resolve these difficulties. The first option was that the issues would be resolved if the main South Humber service between Sheffield and Cleethorpes was transferred to Northern, as a result of the potential splitting of the existing Manchester Airport to Cleethorpes through service. The second option was to transfer the route from Cleethorpes and Grimsby to Barton-on-Humber to the East Midlands franchise.

4.13  Consultation respondents presented a wide range of views on this issue. Some did not have a strong opinion on who should operate the route, as long as train services were retained. Many agreed with the proposals to transfer the route to the East Midlands franchise, unless the main Sheffield to Cleethorpes service was going to be operated by Northern as a result of the remapping proposal mentioned above. Others suggested the possibility of transferring responsibility of the route to the TPE franchise instead.

As the suggested remapping of the Sheffield to Cleethorpes portion of the Manchester Airport to Cleethorpes route is not going ahead, we will be proceeding with the second option of transferring the route from Cleethorpes and Grimsby to Barton-on-Humber to the East Midlands franchise. The franchise operates other local and regional services in Lincolnshire, and the route appears to fit better in its portfolio than in TPE’s. We expect this to happen when the East Midlands franchise is re-let in 2017.

And from Pages 100-1:

NTSR5: What are your views on retaining the route from Cleethorpes and Grimsby to Barton-on-Humber within the Northern franchise? What evidence do you have to support your views?  

There were a variety of responses to this question, including:  

• Transfer the route to the East Midlands franchise; 

• Retain with Northern; 

• Transfer to TPE; 

• Close the line; and 

• Both operators should run the line, to provide competition.

Several respondents stated that the service should be run by whoever is operating the adjacent services, taking a ‘no fragmentation’ approach. This would improve reliability, due to operators being more able to replace faulty trains or unavailable staff. 

Comments were received from some LAs that supported the proposals to retain the route from Cleethorpes and Grimsby to Barton-on-Humber within the Northern franchise. One LA stressed that there remains a requirement to maintain a reasonable level of connectivity between services to ensure access to wider destinations, regardless of which franchise operates the service; Northern currently provides train crew through other TOCs via inter-operator agreements. It was argued that having services reliant on another operator’s staff may lead to increased unreliability, particularly at times of disruption or other service interruption such as disputes.

Our Response

As the proposed remapping of the Sheffield to Cleethorpes portion of the Manchester Airport to Cleethorpes route is not going ahead, we will be proceeding with the second option of transferring the route from Cleethorpes and Grimsby to Barton-on-Humber to the East Midlands franchise. The franchise operates other local and regional services in Lincolnshire, and the route appears to fit better in its portfolio. We expect this to happen when the East Midlands franchise is re-let in 2017.

What stands out to me is that despite a wide range of responses being received, and despite some local authorities (I presume North and North East Lincolnshire Council's) wishing to retain the route within the Northern franchise, the Department of Transport (and Rail North?) fail to justify their decision to transfer the route to the East Midlands franchise. They continue to use the "appear to be a better fit in its portfolio" phrase that was used in last year's consultation document that clearly some local authorities and others are not convinced by.

There are a number of questions which I think arise following Friday's announcement:

• Is it intended that the East Midlands franchise will operate the Barton service using Cleethorpes or Lincoln based crew?
• Is it intended to stable a DMU overnight at Cleethorpes for the Barton line, or would stock be required to return to Lincoln overnight?
• Considering that almost all East Midlands franchise services currently terminate at Grimsby Town, not Cleethorpes, how is it intended to swap stock, and if needed crew, between the Barton line and the rest of the East Midlands franchise?
• As only one DMU is to be transferred to the East Midlands franchise, how is it intended to resource the early morning Barton line service that requires a second DMU?
• Is it intended that any timetable alterations will be required to facilitate the transfer from the Northern franchise to the East Midlands franchise?
• What is the future of the 0600 Scunthorpe to Cleethorpes service operated by Northern Rail, which serves Barton line stations between Habrough and Cleethorpes?
• During disruption how is the East Midlands franchise, with it's nearest maintenance depot in Nottingham, any better positioned to respond to service disruption than the Northern franchise?
• What analysis has been conducted to support the belief that the Barton line "appears" to better fit in the portfolio of the East Midlands franchise?
• What relevance is the East Midlands franchise operation of services in Lincolnshire, when the Barton line does not enter the Lincolnshire County Council area?
• How does the transfer support the Barton Cleethorpes Community Rail Partnership, which works with the Yorkshire Coast Community Rail Partnership, whose train operator will remain the Northern Rail franchise?
• Why is a service wholly within the Yorkshire and Humber region, and wholly within the area of two Rail North authorities, being transferred to the East Midlands franchise?

As a final note, if the management of Habrough station is moved from Northern, then this could be an opportunity to add it to the TransPennine Express franchise, and to develop it as a railhead for Immingham and surrounding villages. Such a move would support investment in the Immingham area, such as the Able UK development at Killingholme, and could maybe even take some pressure off car parking at Barnetby.

Lambwath Road regains bus service

Lambwath Road in Hull regains a bus service from Monday 9th March, as EYMS operated service 50 between Hull Interchange, Laburnum Avenue, James Reckitt Avenue, Jalland Lodge and Morrisons and Holderness Road is re-routed at the request of Hull City Council, whom EYMS operate the route under contract too. Service 50 operates Monday to Saturday daytimes to an irregular timetable with 4 journeys from Hull (5 on Sat) and 5 journeys into Hull (6 on Sat) pus one extra 'short' journey.. Lambwath Road has been unserved since the Stagecoach 53 was withdrawn in late August last year after Hull City Council withdrew their funding due to extensive housing demolition in the area. However remaining residents in the area did submit a petition to Hull City Council about their loss of bus services, and this would appear to be the City Council's solution.

The new route will see a small section of James Reckitt Avenue omitted (also served by the 110) in order to serve Lambwath Road and Gillshill Road. As a result the service 50 timetable is revised, with the loss of one journey each way, and a revised timetable for the remaining journeys. The 'short' journey at 0920 from Jalland Lodge to Morrisons is extended to start back at Holderness Road/Mount Pleasant however at 0910 (Jalland Lodge now served at 0930).

Stagecoach North East Hull Changes - 31, 32, 51, 52, 110

In November 2013, Stagecoach significantly revised services in North East Hull, with 'trunk' routes 32 and 51 receiving 'A' variants as Stagecoach attempted to offer a wider range of locations linked by through buses while maintaining or increasing frequencies into Hull City Centre. 2014 saw substantial revisions to the 32A and 51A including their renumbering to 31 and 52. It would seem however that Stagecoach's idea hasn't worked - their announcement cites 'lack of support' - as from tomorrow (Monday 23rd February), the 31 and 52 are withdrawn and it's back to just the 32 and 51.

The 31 and 32 had been providing a link between Hull City Centre, Summergangs Road, Gillshill Road and Sutton Village before the 31 extended to North Point and Kingswood and the 32 extended via Noddle Hill Way to North Point. Weekday daytimes had a combined 10 minute frequency and Saturday daytimes a combined 15 minute frequency, alternating between the 31 and 32.

From Monday the 32 will operate every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes and every 10 minutes during the weekday peak, thus maintaining peak time and Saturday frequencies, but seeing a reduction of 2 buses per hour on weekday daytimes. Noddle Hill Way receives more frequent service 32's, but this is to compensate for the withdrawal of the 52. Evening and Sunday 32 frequencies are unaffected. The withdrawal of the 31 means Summergangs Road, Gillshill Road and Sutton Village have lost their link to Kingswood Retail Park and have longer journey times to North Point. The (new?) area of Kingswood around the health centre has lost it's peak time service entirely.

The 32 also gains three weekday morning 'Workers+' services, with the first three departures from North Point at 0615, 0630 and 0645 extended from the City Centre via Hull Royal Infirmary to Smith and Nephew before serving Paragon Interchange. A series of improvements to early morning services was introduced by Stagecoach in September, called 'Workers+', but the 32 wasn't included at the time. Hopefully the inclusion of the 32 means 'Workers+' has had encouraging results.

The 51 and 52 had been providing a link between Hull City Centre, the Ings Road Estate, Spring Cottage and Kingswood. The 51 operated via Holderness Road between the City Centre and Ings Road Estate, and via North Point and Bodmin Road between Spring Cottage and Kingswood. Meanwhile the 52 served Garden Village and Savoy Road between Hull City Centre and Ings Road Estate before operating via Noddle Hill Way between Spring Cottage and Kingswood. Weekday daytimes had a combined 10 minutes frequency and Saturday daytimes a combined 15 minute frequency, alternating between the 51 and 52.

From Monday the 51 will operate every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes and every 10 minutes during the weekday peak, thus maintaining peak time and Saturday frequencies, but seeing a reduction of 2 buses per hour on weekday daytimes. Evening and Sunday 51 frequencies are unaffected, though a later last weekday bus is added at 2345 from Hull Truck Theatre (previously 2323 from Paragon Interchange). The withdrawal of the 52 means Garden Village and Noddle Hill Way have lost their links to Kingswood Retail Park, while Savoy Road becomes unserved. The withdrawal of the 52's 'Workers+' journeys is not replaced (except for Noddle Hill Way passengers served by the 32); these had operated via Cleveland Street as well as serving Hull Royal Infirmary and Smith and Nephew, and provided a 15 minute weekday early morning service when combined with the 51.

Replacing the 52 in Garden Village is an amendment to the 110 service between Castle Hill Hospital, Cottingham, Hull City Centre and Bransholme. The 110 had operated in East Hull via Cleveland Street, Stoneferry Road, Chamberlain Road, a small part of James Reckitt Avenue, Gillshill Road, Cavendish Road, Dorchester Road and North Point before then performing a circular route around Noddle Hill Way, Kestrel Avenue, Howdale Road and Sutton Village back to North Point.

From Monday the East Hull route will be substantially revised. From Cleveland Street the service will operate via Chapman Street, the whole length of James Reckitt Avenue, to replace the 52, and Ings Road to Cavendish Road. While Stoneferry Road and Gillshill Road are well served by other services, Chamberlain Road becomes unserved. In Bransholme the circular route is shortened to omit part of Howdale Road which becomes unserved, and Sutton Village.

The timetable remains largely hourly Monday to Saturday daytimes, but with some peak time extras between Paragon Interchange and North Point. The first Saturday service from North Point is now an hour earlier at 0720, and there is a new Monday to Saturday 1750 from Castle Hill Hospital to Hull Interchange. For Garden Village this is a significant frequency cut as over the past few years it has enjoyed 2-3 buses per hour into Hull City Centre on various routes.

Not for the first time this weekend, I find myself noting that Stagecoach have tried something, it hasn't worked, and they are now cutting back.

Not A Lot Of Love For The X62

A year ago the Stagecoach X62 between Hull, Brough, Goole, Glasshoughton and Leeds was relaunched with 'Love Your X' branding. The number of return journeys was increased from 7 to 9 Monday to Saturdays and from 2 to 4 on Sundays as part of the relaunch. The relaunch came after a period of relative stability for the service, which has been prone to regular timetable changes over the past decade. September saw some minor pruning to the timetable, with a 'bold' attempt at a very early 0450 Hull to Leeds service and 0645 return cancelled, plus some Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday daytime journeys dropped.

On Monday (23rd February) however the X62 timetable is substantially reduced to 3 return journeys on weekdays, 4 on Saturdays and 2 on Sundays. Stagecoach have given up on the Leeds commuter market with remaining weekday departures from Hull at 0910, 1110 and 1510, returning from Leeds at 1130, 1400 and 1730. The weekday journeys also run on Saturdays along with a 1710 Hull to Leeds and 1930 return. Sunday departures from Hull are at 1010 and 1540, returning from Leeds at 1230 and 1800.

It would seem passengers simply didn't Love their X - either that or their 'Love' wasn't enough to generate an acceptable margin for Stagecoach. What was a comprehensive marketing initiative from Stagecoach would appear to be a failure. After seeing the new timetable I have to wonder if last year's Love Your X relaunch was a final attempt by Stagecoach to make the X62 work as an all-day service? The new service level is the lowest I can recall for at least a decade (there is a post I made in 2009 which contains some timetable history from the 00's).

I don't know for sure what is behind the X62's problems, but I would expect the train service between Hull, Brough and Leeds to be a significant factor. It's quicker, more frequent, starts earlier, finishes later, and when (hopefully not if) the route gets electrified, will only get more attractive - maybe even a doubling of frequency to half hourly. The X62 is also probably heavily focused on travel to Leeds and Glasshoughton and not to Hull which could lead to light loadings during the morning to Hull and in the afternoon from Hull.

Hopefully there is a future for the X62. Whatever the future holds though, at least Stagecoach showed the X62 some love last year with their relaunch and improved timetable. Substantial timetable cuts are far more 'acceptable' when the operator has been proactive and tried new ideas out first.

Humber LEP Local Growth Deal

This week's Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Local Growth Deal announcement included two schemes which will impact on bus services.

Firstly there is funding for the Melton Ross Rail Bridge on the A18 in North Lincolnshire - this is currently single file with a weight restriction preventing use by buses. The Humber Flyer, 68 Wolds Villager and Saturday only 366 all have temporary timetable as a result of needing to divert via Croxton village. The Humber Flyer was nearly re-routed away from Humberside Airport entirely this month, and the temporary timetable has required an additional vehicle to maintain an hourly frequency.

Secondly there is funding to strengthen Park Street bridge in Hull City Centre, which will provide an alternative route for buses between Anlaby Road and Paragon Interchange, reducing traffic on the very busy Ferensway. Hopefully those services which currently use the city centre loop will continue to do so (i.e. some inbound and most outbound services). The few outbound services from Hull City Centre that do not use the city centre loop (National Express, Megabus Plus, X62, Humber Flyer, Evening and Sunday 350) will benefit from not needing to have a rather lengthy detour around Prospect Street, Brook Street and Ferensway. Inbound services not using the city centre loop will have a slightly quicker journey into the Interchange if they use Park Street, but the popular alighting stop on Anlaby Road would be lost. Strengthening Park Street Bridge would also provide the option of routing the Park and Ride Service via Paragon Interchange, should Stagecoach wish to do so.

A18: Strengthening or Replacing the Railway Bridge at Melton Ross - £1.75M
The A18 is a strategic link road between Scunthorpe and the Ports of Immingham and Grimsby and the bridge over the Scunthorpe to Grimsby railway line provides the primary access route into Humberside airport, a vital asset for the region’s economic growth. The bridge is currently in a weakened condition and the investment will return it to being fully functional thereby allowing all vehicles travelling on the A18 to use it instead of HGVs having to divert through the village.

Hull: Strengthening Park Street Bridge on Anlaby Road (A1105) - £0.76M
This section of Anlaby Road is part of the Inner City Strategic Diversion Route  which aims to  improve the traffic flow and reduce congestion on the A1105. Funding will be used to widen the carriage way outside Hull Royal Infirmary and strengthen the existing Park Street Bridge to remove an existing 7.5 ton weight restriction. The work will improve access from the west to the City Centre Strategic Development Sites and enable an alternative route for buses and coaches to access the Paragon Interchange taking traffic off the A63.

Stagecoach Kingswood and Bransholme February Changes

I will post full details of these changes when Stagecoach publish new timetables and further information on their website, but Hull City Council have issued a press release with regards to Stagecoach's forthcoming service changes in the Kingswood, Bransholme, Sutton and Garden Village areas of the city.

What is very interesting from this press release, is that a package of overall service reductions (albeit seemingly justified reductions) is being endorsed by a Labour councillor, at a time when the national Labour party is trying to promote a policy of bus re-regulation. It is good to see a partnership approach being taken here between Stagecoach and Hull City Council.

Changes to bus routes target demand for services - 28/01/2015

From Monday 23 February some bus services in Hull will be changing to improve the frequency of a number of bus routes in the Holderness Road area. Following a review of bus routes, Stagecoach has taken the decision to revise parts of the Kingswood and Bransholme network due to low passenger numbers on certain sections of some routes, whilst increasing the frequency of more popular services in the area. In addition, working in partnership with Hull City Council, one service will be re-routed as part of the route reconfiguration. The changes include: Service 31 will be withdrawn. However, Service 32, which covers a majority of the service 31 route, will continue and the frequency will be increased. Service 52 will be withdrawn. However, Service 51, which covers a majority of the service 52 route, will continue and the frequency will be increased. Service 110 will be rerouted along the full length of James Reckitt Avenue and Ings Rd to maintain access to a regular bus service. Residents who previously caught buses on Chamberlain Rd will need to use bus stops on Stoneferry Rd or James Reckitt Avenue. Councillor Martin Mancey, Portfolio Holder for Energy City, with the responsibility for highways and transport, said: "Recession and government cuts to council funding mean that both organisations are under significant pressure to reduce costs whilst improving services for bus passengers at the same time. "We have been and will continue to work closely with Stagecoach to identify ways to improve bus routes across the city to deliver an efficient and customer focussed service." "The changes to these bus routes will improve the provision on popular bus routes for passengers, reducing the travel time and duplication whilst increasing the frequency." Jon Donnelly, Commercial Manager for Stagecoach East Midlands with responsibility for planning local bus services in Hull, said: "The February changes to our bus services reflect the demand for bus travel, which is being influenced by the continuing redevelopment of the city particularly in East Hull. "Whilst we are disappointed that services 31 and 52 are to be withdrawn, passenger numbers have not matched expectations because most people have continued to use the well established Services 32 and 51. "Consequently, working with Hull City Council we have increased the frequency of these core routes to meet this growing demand whilst maintaining a sensible level of service along James Reckitt Avenue with Service 110." Removal of Service 31 The only elements of Service 31 that will not be covered by another service are: Kingswood Retail Park Wawne Road Kingswood Medical Centre Other bus services are provided for the Kingswood Retail Park and Stagecoach are currently looking at the potential of providing a service closer to the Kingswood Medical Centre when the Kingswood Link Road is completed later this year. Enhancement to Service 32 The frequency of the service has been increased during peak times of the day. Outbound Monday - Friday The frequency of the service will be increased from 20 minutes to every 15 minutes between 9.10am - 4.10pm and every 10mins from 4.10 to 6.10pm instead of every 20mins. Saturday Changed to every 15 minutes instead of every 30 minutes between 9.10am to 6.10pm. Inbound Monday - Friday The frequency has been increased from every 20min to every 15 minutes between 6.15 to 7am and every 10 minutes instead of every 20 minutes between 7 to 8.30am Every 15 minutes instead of every 20 minutes between 8.30am to 2.20pm Every 15 minutes instead of every 30 minutes between 2.20 to 6pm Saturday Change to every 15 minutes instead of every 30 minutes between 7.45am to 6.50pm and to every 20 minutes instead of every 30 minutes between 5.50 to 6.20pm Removal of 52 Service 52 will be deregistered and the service will no longer be provided. Service 51 will cover a majority of the route of service 52 with the exception of James Reckitt Avenue and Savoy Road. Enhancement to Service 51 The frequency of the service will be increased to compensate for the removal of service 52. Outbound Monday - Friday The frequency of the service has increased from every 20 minutes to every 15 minutes between 9.03am to 4pm. From 4.03 to 6pm the frequency will be every 10 minutes instead of every 20 minutes. Saturday From 8.55am to 6.03pm the frequency changes to every 15 minutes instead of every 30 minutes. Inbound Monday - Friday The frequency of the services have increased from every 10 minutes instead of every 20 minutes between 6.55 to 8.45am Between 8.45am to 2.30pm the service will run every 15 minutes instead of every 20 minutes. From 2.30 to 6pm the service will be every 15 minutes instead of every 30 minutes. Saturday From 8am to 6pm the frequency will change to every 15 minutes instead of every 30 minutes. Rerouting of Service 110 No changes to the frequency Service will be re-routed along James Reckitt Avenue and Ings Road

First Doncaster-Goole changes

Starting tomorrow (Sunday 24th), First South Yorkshire are making major changes to their services in the Thorne/Stainforth/Barnby Dun/Clay Lane/Wheatley areas, which includes a Monday to Saturday daytime link between Doncaster and Goole. Until today that link had been provided by service 88, operating via Edenthorpe, Dunsville, Hatfield, Hatfield Woodhouse, Thorne, Moorends and Rawcliffe. From Monday service 87 shall provide the Doncaster to Goole service, operating via Stainforth instead off Hatfield and Hatfield Woodhouse. A more direct route will also be taken in Moorends. The frequency of the Goole journeys remains hourly with some longer gaps, and interestingly the new timetable has a weekday only Goole-Rawcliffe and return journey to partially fill one of these gaps. Times of first and last buses remain similar to those provided on the 88.

Humber Flyer Potential Re-routing Not Happening

The temporary potential re-routing to the Humber Flyer between Hull, Barton. Grimsby and Cleethorpes away from Humberside Airport, that was at one point planned from 5th January, and then from 19th January, is not now happening. Traveline East Midlands is displaying this message:

Removal of changes to Humber Flyer timetable
Valid from 0000 on Monday 5th January until 2359 on Monday 19th January

Affected Services

Stagecoach Grimsby service CF

Stagecoach Grimsby service Humber Flyer

Traveline timetables show a service change for the Humber Flyer from 5 Jan 2015 - please continue to use the current printed timetable times when journey planning - there will be no change to the timetable in the near future.

 

This will mean the current temporary timetable due to a bridge weight restriction near Humberside Airport will continue, with the service diverted via Croxton. While only a small diversion, it has increased the resources needed to maintain an hourly service as a roundtrip can no longer be completed in four hours.

EYMS March Changes

EYMS will be changing their Hull-Hedon and route 66 Hull-Hessle services in March. From the VOSA website:

PB0000328/5 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS

Variation Accepted: Operating between Hull and Hessle given service number 66/66B effective from 08-Mar-2015. To amend Route and Timetable.

 

PB0000328/38 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS           

Variation Accepted: Operating between Hull and Hedon given service number 277H/277P/78/78P/79/80 effective from 09-Mar-2015. To amend Timetable.

Don't let it be the 'thin end of the wedge'

Today an announcement was made by the Department for Transport, TransPennine Express and Northern Rail regarding trains and timetables across the North of England from May 2015. There could have been fairly significant cuts to services and train lengths but this has largely been avoided. However there is one disappointing change in the Humber region:

"An hourly service will be maintained between Manchester Airport, Sheffield, Doncaster and Cleethorpes. The vast majority of these will remain as direct services. Limited amends are planned, with customers for the 3:55pm between Manchester Airport and Cleethorpes and the 4:26pm Cleethorpes to Manchester Airport needing to change at Doncaster."

The 1555 from Manchester Airport departs Sheffield at 1716 and Doncaster at 1747 (1742 Sat, 1737 Sun) and therefore provides the main peak time service from South Yorkshire to the South Humber area. Both the 1555 and 1626 serve Grimsby Town, Barnetby and Scunthorpe en-route, and apart from the 1626 on Sunday's also serve Habrough. For Habrough it will mean no through departure from Manchester Airport between 1355 and 1855, and no through departure to Manchester Airport between 1444 and 1744. It's not clear if the proposed changes affect just weekdays, Monday to Saturdays, or every day.

TransPennine Express have provided justification as follows:

 

"We  and  Government  recognises  the  importance  of  direct  trains  to  Manchester Airport from Cleethorpes, Grimsby and other communities in the area. However, by splitting  one  service  per day at  Doncaster,  we  can  better  match  train  capacity  to demand,  by  using  a  longer  train  West  of  Doncaster  and  a  shorter  train  East  of Doncaster. We have been able to protect all other through services.  The key reason for  this  is  to  ensure  that  we  do  not  have  a  two -car  170  turning  up  at  Sheffield  or Manchester in the peaks."

 

When you are in a tricky situation difficult decisions have to made, and a connection will be available at Doncaster. However what needs to be ensured is that this is not the 'thin end of the wedge'. There was recently a very strong, and successful, campaign to stop all through services between the South Humber Area and Manchester being withdrawn. Plan B shouldn't be to try again to do this, but this time one service at a time. Plan B should be to focus on providing an hourly Cleethorpes-Manchester Airport through services 7 days a week (and give Habrough a consistent two hourly or better stopping pattern).

York Proposed Bus Cuts Rejected

Last week I covered proposed cuts to supported bus services by City of York Council. These were rejected by councillors at a meeting last night, though changes are still possible. Transdev York cross boundary services 10 and 36, which extend into the East Riding of Yorkshire, were amongst the services that could have been affected.

Decision:

Resolved:  That Cabinet agree:

(i)           Not to make the recommended budget savings in relation to the withdrawal/reduction of bus routes;

(ii)          To undertake consultation on the criteria used for the funding of subsidised bus services;

(iii)         That the Director of City and Environmental Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport, Planning & Economic Development, be delegated authority to make the necessary efficiencies in services which does not involve the withdrawal of any bus routes.

Reason:     In order to retain existing services and provide transport for residents in areas where local bus operators are unable or unwilling to provide bus services commercially.

EYMS March Changes

EYMS are making changes to three services in March. From the VOSA website:

PB0000328/114 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS

Variation Accepted: Operating between Scarborough and Bridlington given service number 120 effective from 07-Mar-2015. To amend Timetable.

 

PB0000328/384 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS           

Variation Accepted: Operating between Scarborough and Filey Bus Station given service number X20 effective from 07-Mar-2015. To amend Timetable.

 

PB0000328/435 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS           

Variation Accepted: Operating between Hull and Morrisons Supermarket given service number 50 effective from 09-Mar-2015. To amend Route and Timetable.

Stagecoach plan February Hull Changes

Stagecoach are planning to make changes to services 10, 15, 16, 30, 32, 51 and 52 in Hull from 23rd February, as well as to the X62 service between Hull, Brough, Goole, Glasshoughton and Leeds. From the VOSA website:

PB0001484/241 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB

Variation Accepted: Operating between Hull Interchange and Hull Interchange given service number 10/10A/10B effective from 23-Feb-2015. To amend Timetable.

 

PB0001484/243 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB           

Variation Accepted: Operating between Hull Interchange and Kingswood Asda given service number 15/16 effective from 23-Feb-2015. To amend Timetable

 

PB0001484/245 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB           

Variation Accepted: Operating between Hull Interchange and North Bransholme Wawne given service number 30X/30/30A effective from 23-Feb-2015. To amend Timetable.

 

PB0001484/246 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB           

Variation Accepted: Operating between Hull Interchange and Bransholme given service number 32/40F effective from 23-Feb-2015. To amend Route and Timetable.

 

PB0001484/250 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB           

Variation Accepted: Operating between Hull Interchange and Kingswood given service number 51/51F/N51 effective from 23-Feb-2015. To amend Timetable.

 

PB0001484/266 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB           

Variation Accepted: Operating between Hull Interchange and Goole Airmyn Road given service number X62 effective from 23-Feb-2015. To amend Timetable.

 

PB0001484/267 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB           

Variation Accepted: Operating between Goole Airmyn Road and Freeport Glasshoughton given service number X62 effective from 23-Feb-2015. To amend Timetable.

 

PB0001484/268 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB           

Variation Accepted: Operating between Freeport Glasshoughton and Leeds Coach Station given service number X62 effective from 23-Feb-2015. To amend Timetable.

 

PB0001484/310 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB           

Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Hull Interchange and Kingswood given service number 52 effective from 23-Feb-2015.

EYMS 18 Weekday Evening Peak Improvements

EYMS are making some improvements to service 18 between Market Weighton, Holme Upon Spalding Moor and York on Mondays to Fridays from Monday 26th January. The 1640 from York to North Duffield is extended to Holme on Spalding Moor and the 1731 from North Duffield to York is replaced by a 1705 from Market Weighton operating the full route to York. The 1820 from York to Holme on Spalding Moor will operate 10 minutes later to aid workers in York City Centre who finish at 1800. There are also some other minor timetable changes to improve punctuality.

EYMS Bridlngton Changes

From Monday 5th January, EYMS are making some minor reductions to weekday services in Bridlington. The 0750 service 517 to New Pasture Lane, will no longer operate on weekdays (Saturday journey remains) with the first service now at 0850. Service 507 provides a partial alternative in the morning peak.

Meanwhile the 1430 service 504 from Bempton to Bridlington will no longer operate on schooldays (Saturday and School Holidays journey remains). On schooldays there will now be a gap in departures from Bempton between 1330 and 1650.

Extra service 5 to Cleethorpes

From Monday 5th January, Stagecoach are extending the Monday to Saturday service 5 at 1830 between Immingham and Grimsby to Cleethorpes Pier. This means the first through evening service from Immingham to Cleethorpes will be an hour earlier.

City of York Proposed Tendered Bus Cuts

Next week, the City of York Council cabinet will be asked to approve cuts to supported bus services in the city, including two services which also serve the East Riding of Yorkshire. Two criteria are used by the City of York to decide when to provide financial support for a bus service, a maximum subsidy of £2 per passenger and a minimum number of 9 per passengers per bus hour operated (there is an option to tighten these criteria to £1.60 per passenger maximum subsidy and 13 bus passengers per bus hour but this would not impact any cross boundary services into the East Riding of Yorkshire).

The Sunday to Thursday evening service on route 10 between Stamford Bridge, Dunnington, York and Poppleton, currently operated by Transdev York, is proposed for withdrawal. This would deliver £36,057 in annual savings as part of a target £200,000 annual saving. The current passengers per bus hour are 7 and the per passenger subsidy is £2.92.

The withdrawn journeys would be the 2023 York-Stamford Bridge, 2100, 2200, 2300 Poppleton-Stamford Bridge, 2353 Nether Poppleton-Upper Poppleton, 2029 York-Poppleton and 2100, 2200 and 2300 Stamford Bridge-Poppleton. If approved the last journey from York Railway Station to Stamford Bridge would be provided commercially by First at 1931 (Mon-Thu)/1925 (Sun) and from Stamford Bridge to York by First at 2015 (Mon-Thu)/2010 (Sun). In fairness this is quite a late finish for the daytime only provision provided by First, compared to some other areas. Dunnington also has a 2305 service from York provided by EYMS on route 45A. Transdev provide the Friday and Saturday evening service ommercially so it is not proposed for withdrawal.

City of York Council also are proposing the entire withdrawal of service 36 between Sutton upon Derwent in the East Riding of Yorkshire, Elvington, Wheldrake and York. Currently 5 journeys from Sutton upon Derwent at 0900, 1015, 1215, 1415 and 1615 are provided on Monday to Saturdays, along with 3 journeys from York at 1105, 1305 and 1505. Associated peak service X36 is not proposed for withdrawal, and passenger numbers on the X36 are described as "reasonable". The current combined 36/X36 service, which also receives a small contribution from East Riding of Yorkshire Council, has a subsidy of £3.46 per passenger and 7.5 passengers per bus hour. The annual saving from withdrawing the 36 would be £40,000. The 36 only started serving Sutton upon Derwent in April.

As a result Sutton upon Derwent and Elvington's only daytime services would be on EYMS operated, East Riding of Yorkshire Council subsidised services 195 and 196. Elvington residents would have 3 buses to York on Tuesday daytimes, and one on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday daytimes, along with one return service from York on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays (extra journey options are available by travelling into York on the 195 and returning on the X36). Sutton upon Derwent has one less Tuesday service into York compared to Elvington provided by the 195/196, but also has a return service to Pocklington on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Wheldrake is also served by part-subsidised service 18, which hopefully would see a small boost from the 36's withdrawal.

While on the per passenger subsidy measure, the 36 performs very poorly, the service reduction proposed is very severe, and Elvington goes from a two hourly Monday to Saturday daytime service to not even having a daytime service on Mondays and Fridays.

As a final note, City of York Council fund 4 (one-way?) journeys on the 18 between York and Holme Upon Spalding Moor Monday to Thursday, 8 on a Friday and 7 on a Saturday at an annual cost of £26,813, to which both North and East Riding of Yorkshire Council's also contribute. This covers some daytime journeys plus the Friday and Saturday evening service. There are 15.7 passengers per bus hour with a £1.46 subsidy per passenger.

Humber Flyer - Temporary re-routing delayed?

Last month I posted about Traveline East Midlands showing a revised timetable for Stagecoach's Humber Flyer between Hull, Barton, Grimsby and Cleethorpes, and the associated College Flyer, from Monday 5th January, with the service diverted away from Humberside Airport to operate via Barrow and Wootton instead. Comments posted stated this was a temporary diversion due a weight restriction on a bridge close to Humberside Airport which is requiring a very inefficient temporary timetable. There was then a response from Stagecoach posted stating it was "an ongoing issue that may change".

Today Stagecoach have tweeted "there NO changes to the current route or times of the #HumberFlyer from 5th January".

However Traveline East Midlands has the following notice:

"HF changes to timetable now from 19th Jan 2015
Valid from 0000 on Monday 5th January until 2359 on Monday 19th January

Affected Services

Stagecoach Grimsby service CF

Stagecoach Grimsby service Humber Flyer

Traveline timetables show a service change for the Humber Flyer from 5 Jan 2015 - please continue to use the current printed timetable times when journey planning - the change in times will now be from 19 Jan 2015."

 

 

Christmas and New Year services 2014/15

Below is a summary of Christmas/New Year services in the Humber region provided by Arriva Yorkshire, EYMS, First South Yorkshire, First York, Stagecoach, Transdev York and Transdev Yorkshire Coastliner. Services provided by these operators outside of the region are not covered. If anyone has information for other operators, please post a comment and I will update this post.

Christmas Eve - Normal service with early evening finish. Arriva Yorkshire, First South Yorkshire, First York, Transdev York and Transdev Yorkshire Coastliner will be operating a Saturday service. Transdev York service X36 will operate to it's normal weekday timetable.
Christmas Day - No services

Boxing Day - Special daytime services on certain routes only:

Stagecoach are the following routes:
3: Cleethorpes-Grimsby-Laceby Road Morrisons - hourly
4: Cleethorpes-Grimsby-Laceby Road Morrisons - hourly
5: Cleethorpes-Grimsby-Immingham - hourly
10: New Waltham-Cleethorpes-Grimsby-Grimsby Hospital-Waltham - hourly

1: Hull-Boothferry Estate - hourly
2: Hull-Boothferry Estate - hourly
13: Hull-Orchard Park - half hourly (with lunch break)
14: Hull-Orchard Park - half hourly (with lunch break)
15: Hull-Avenues-Orchard Park - Kingswood - half hourly (with lunch break)
28b: Hull-Sutton Park-North Point - hourly
30: Hull-Leads Road-North Point-North Bransholme - hourly
32: Hull-Sutton-North Point - hourly
41a: Hull-Greatfield - hourly
43: Hull-Greatfield - hourly
51: Hull-Ings Estate-North Point-Kingswood - hourly with some extras
54: Hull-Bilton Grange - hourly

EYMS are operating the following routes:
34: Hull-Willerby - hourly
56: Hull-Longhill-Asda Bilton - hourly
64: Hull-Cottingham-Castle Hill Hospital - hourly
66: Hull-Hessle - hourly
115: Hull-Avenues-Cottingham-Castle Hill Hospital - hourly, operates as a circular with service 154
154: Hull-Willerby-Casle Hill Hospital - hourly, operates as a circular with service 115

Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th - Normal service

Monday 29th - A Saturday service in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire and North East Lincolnshire, with a normal Monday service in North Lincolnshire. Helpfully the main 'cross-boundary' routes between North Lincolnshire and Hull/North East Lincolnshire (350, 450, Humber Flyer) have identical school holiday weekday and Saturday timetables. There are exceptions as follows:

• EYMS services 143, 241, 360 and 361 will operate to a normal Monday timetable
• EYMS services X36, 106, 107, 160, 173 and 195 will not operate (these services would not normally operate on a Monday)
• EYMS Friday and Saturday only evening journeys on routes 18, 75, 121 and X47 will not operate (i.e. a normal Monday evening service will operate)
• Stagecoach services 1, 2, 20 and 25 in North East Lincolnshire will operate to a normal Monday timetable
• The First South Yorkshire morning peak service from Epworth (North Lincolnshire) to Doncaster shall be provided by service 91 operating on a Saturday timetable, rather than usual weekday service 57
• Transdev York service X36 will operate to a normal Monday timetable

Tuesday 30th - A Saturday service in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire and North East Lincolnshire, with a normal Tuesday service in North Lincolnshire. There are exceptions as follows:

• EYMS services 195, 196, 198, 199, 360, 361, S1 and S2 will operate to a normal Tuesday timetable
• EYMS service 135 will have normal Tuesday departures from Driffield at 0910 and 1140, however the 0655 and 1710 journeys will not operate
• EYMS services X36, 106, 107, 160 and 173 will not operate
• EYMS Friday and Saturday only evening journeys on routes 18, 75, 121 and X47 will not operate (i.e. a normal Tuesday evening service will operate)
• Stagecoach services 1, 2, 20 and 25 in North East Lincolnshire will operate to a normal Tuesday timetable
• It may be an oversight in EYMS's publicity but it appear Monday, Wednesday and Saturday service 143 will be operating on Tuesday 30th to a Saturday timetable
• The First South Yorkshire morning peak service from Epworth to Doncaster shall be provided by service 91 operating on a Saturday timetable, rather than usual weekday service 57
• Transdev York service X36 will operate to a normal Tuesday timetable

New Years Eve - A Saturday service in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire and North East Lincolnshire, with a normal Wednesday service in North Lincolnshire. There will be an early evening finish in all areas. There are exceptions as follows:

• EYMS services 195, 241, 360 and 361 will operate to a normal Wednesday timetable
• EYMS services X36, 106, 107 and 173 will not operate
• Stagecoach services 15 and 51 in Hull will have an evening service
• Stagecoach services 2, 15, 43 and 51 will have a nightbus service
• Stagecoach services 1, 2, 20 and 25 in North East Lincolnshire will operate to a normal Wednesday timetable
• The First South Yorkshire morning peak service from Epworth to Doncaster shall be provided by service 91 operating on a Saturday timetable, rather than usual weekday service 57
• Transdev York service X36 will operate to a normal Wednesday timetable

New Years Day - No services

Friday 2nd - A Saturday service in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire and North East Lincolnshire, with a normal Friday service in North Lincolnshire. There are exceptions as follows:

• EYMS services 360, 361, S1, S2  and S3 will operate to a normal Friday timetable
• EYMS services X36, 106, 107, 143, 160 and 173 will not operate
• Stagecoach services 1, 2, 20 and 25 in North East Lincolnshire will operate to a normal Friday timetable
• The First South Yorkshire morning peak service from Epworth to Doncaster shall be provided by service 91 operating on a Saturday timetable, rather than usual weekday service 57
• Transdev York service X36 will operate to a normal Friday timetable

Overall services patterns across the region are unchanged from last year (allowing for network revisions during the past 12 months).

First Doncaster-Thorne-Goole Changes

First South Yorkshire are heavily revising their services from Doncaster to Edenthorpe/Hatfield/Thorne/Moorends and surrounding areas in January. How this impacts the link between Doncaster and Goole is unclear, with the 88 that currently links the two towns having it's registration with VOSA cancelled, and no replacement service shown as terminating with Goole.

A health warning should be applied that further registrations could yet be made with VOSA, and that details in registrations are not always totally accurate.

PB0002307/54 - FIRST SOUTH YORKSHIRE LTD, MIDLAND ROAD GARAGE, MIDLAND ROAD, ROTHERHAM, S61 1TF
Variation Accepted: Operating between Doncaster, South Bus Station and Moorends, Winning Post Hotel given service number 87 effective from 25-Jan-2015. To amend Route and Timetable.

PB0002307/55 - FIRST SOUTH YORKSHIRE LTD, MIDLAND ROAD GARAGE, MIDLAND ROAD, ROTHERHAM, S61 1TF
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Doncaster, Frenchgate Interchange and Hatfield, Westfield Green given service number 83/84/85 effective from 25-Jan-2015.

PB0002307/83 - FIRST SOUTH YORKSHIRE LTD, MIDLAND ROAD GARAGE, MIDLAND ROAD, ROTHERHAM, S61 1TF
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Doncaster Frenchgate Interchange and Goole Interchange given service number 88/88A effective from 25-Jan-2015.

PB0002307/136 - FIRST SOUTH YORKSHIRE LTD, MIDLAND ROAD GARAGE, MIDLAND ROAD, ROTHERHAM, S61 1TF
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Doncaster Frenchgate Interchange and Moorlands Prison given service number 67 effective from 25-Jan-2015.

PB0002307/342 - FIRST SOUTH YORKSHIRE LTD, MIDLAND ROAD GARAGE, MIDLAND ROAD, ROTHERHAM, S61 1TF
Registration Accepted
Starting Point: DONCASTER INTERCHANGE
Finish Point: DONCASTER INTERCHANGE
Via:
Service Number: 89
Service Type: Normal Stopping/Hail & Ride
Effective Date: 25-JAN-2015
Other Details: MONDAY TO SATURDAY

PB0002307/344 - FIRST SOUTH YORKSHIRE LTD, MIDLAND ROAD GARAGE, MIDLAND ROAD, ROTHERHAM, S61 1TF
Registration Accepted
Starting Point: DONCASTER INTERCHANGE
Finish Point: BARNBY DUN
Via:
Service Number: 84
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 25-JAN-2015
Other Details: MONDAY TO SUNDAY

PB0002307/345 - FIRST SOUTH YORKSHIRE LTD, MIDLAND ROAD GARAGE, MIDLAND ROAD, ROTHERHAM, S61 1TF
Registration Accepted

Starting Point: DONCASTER INTERCHANGE

Finish Point: MOORENDS

Via:

Service Number: X8

Service Type: Limited Stop

Effective Date: 25-JAN-2015

Other Details: MONDAY TO SUNDAY