NOTICE - Stagecoach April service changes

Details of Stagecoach's service changes from next week are now available on their website. They are extensive however so it may well take me some time to go through them all! Details will appear on here during this week.

250 gone, 450 to Immingham, 3 not so cutback?

It seems that Stagecoach's April changes spread to a couple of services I had not seen any VOSA variations for. Thanks to a comment on my post about the 150 changes I've checked the Traveline East Midlands website and the 250 will cease to operate from 2nd April. Services will operate as a 45 from Grimsby to Immingham and then become a 450 through to Brigg via Barton. There is no 250 timetable available yet but the 450, between Barton and Brigg at least, gains a standard pattern 2 hourly timetable, though still with 4 journeys each day Monday to Saturday.

The comment, based on a Stagecoach leaflet also indicates that something similar may be happening with the 150 (i.e. numbered 45 between Grimsby and Immingham).

Meanwhile Traveline East Midlands is now showing the Interconnect 3 being retained as hourly between Lincoln and Market Rasen, and then two hourly to Grimsby (hourly at peak times), in contrast the previously mentioned Stagecoach leaflet.

The April changes have got very messy and very last minute, but if the outcome is a sustainable network, mitigating initially proposed cuts, then hopefully it should be worth it.

New 150 timetable, version 2

Traveline East Midlands now has the new Stagecoach 150 (Grimsby-Immingham-East Halton) timetable from 2nd April (again). Following a Stagecoach/North East Lincolnshire Council deal on concessionary fare payments, Stagecoach's plan to withdraw the service from Habrough is cancelled. The service is also retimed, but still remains 3 daytime journeys each way, and also gains a diversion into South Killingholme. Does this mean the plan to withdraw offpeak 45's from the village is still going ahead?

Interestingly the 150 will also gain a Saturday service, to the same timetable as weekdays. I can't remember East Halton having a Saturday service in recent times. Again this makes me wonder if it is a mitigation measure for withdrawing the off peak 45's to South Killingholme.

398 re-registered

Stagecoach have re-registered the 398 Tuesday shopper service from the Isle of Axholme to Gainsborough, that had previously been cancelled from April onwards.

VOSA - Bus Registration Search Results: PB0001484/190 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB
Registration Accepted by SN
Starting Point: Belton
Finish Point: Gainsborough
Via:
Service Number: 398
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 02-APR-2012
Other Details: New service to replace existing service. Hail and ride on all sections where traffic and safety conditions permit

Arriva 400 April change

North Yorkshire County Council reports that the 2nd April change to Arriva service 400 will see the weekday school holiday 1645 from Selby to Goole cancelled. An alternative service 401 is available at 1620 from Selby, and a 400 at 1705 from Selby.

30W cut to hourly at peak times

East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) notes that the 2nd April changes to Stagecoach in Hull 30W between Wawne and Hull will see the peak time service cut from half hourly to hourly. The half hourly peak time service was maintained on a commercial basis by Stagecoach during last April's service changes (ERYC fund only an hourly service), but I guess the 30 minute frequency doesn't cover the marginal costs of extending a service 30 from North Bransholme to Wawne and back.

EYMS service cuts coming?

This week's Route One magazine contains news on EYMS's fleet - in particular the purchase of 27 2002/03 Volvo B7/Plaxton President double deckers from London (5 have been converted for open top service in Scarborough). I don't normally cover fleet issues on here, but the comments by Peter Shipp in Route One are noteworthy.

He says the purchase will help EYMS meet the 'end of 2016' Disability Discrimination Act deadline for the withdrawal of non-low floor vehicles, with just 34 non wheelchair accessible buses in the fleet from May. And some of those 34 Peter Shipp "suspects" may "regrettably" be removed from service due to service cuts triggered by fuel duty increases and the recent cut in BSOG.

It's not surprising service cuts are on the agenda for EYMS. Peter Shipp has been very vocal about the pressures on his company and the wider bus industry. Plus EYMS has a lot of high mileage routes. I would guess EYMS are trying to avoid making cuts for as long as possible, hence why no changes next month when BSOG is cut.

However good to see EYMS upgrading it's fleet more than 4 years before it has to.

EYMS Easter Services

EYMS have released details of their services over Easter.

Good Friday

Sunday service on all routes except the following which will have a normal Friday service:

• 120 Bridlington-Scarborough


• 350 Humber Fastcat


• Goole Town Service

The Spurn Ranger and Moorsbus services will start for the Summer.

Easter Saturday

Saturday service as normal on all routes, plus Moorsbus will operate (the only Saturday in the year it does I think).

Easter Sunday

Normal Sunday service.

Easter Monday

Sunday service, except a Monday service on the 120.

Hornsby Service 60 timetable

Traveline East Midlands has the timetable for when Hornsby Travel take over North Lincolnshire Council tendered Monday to Saturday service 60 between Scunthorpe and Whitton from Stagecoach on April 16th. The main changes from the current timetable are:

• The 0705 from Scunthorpe will no longer serve Foxhills Industrial Estate


• The 1010 from Scunthorpe will operate via Flixborough and Burton to Thealby rather than direct via Normanby Hall. The 1026 return from Thealby will now depart at 1037 and unlike present operate via Flixborough into Scunthorpe


• The weekday only 1055 from Scunthorpe to Thealby now departs 1120 while the 1127 return service will now depart at 1152 and operate via Burton instead of via Normanby Hall


• The 1215 from Scunthorpe to Whitton will now depart at 1230, and the return from Whitton at 1317 rather than the current 1300


• The weekday only 1355 from Scunthorpe to Thealby and 1445 from Scunthorpe to Whitton are combined into a new 1410 Scunthorpe to Whitton, omitting The Stather in Burton which is currently served by the 1355; the last bus to The Stather will now be the 1230 from Scunthorpe. The return journeys (1427 from Thealby and 1519 from Whitton) are likwise merged into a new 1455 from Whitton. Unlike the current 1427/1519 these will operate via Burton and Flixborough rather than Normanby Hall


• The Saturday 1445 from Scunthorpe to Thealby now operates at 1410 and omits The Stather. The return service now leaves at 1437 rather than 1517 and operates via Burton and Flixborough rather than Normanby Hall


• The 1750 (weekday)/1745 (Saturday) from Scunthorpe to Whitton will now depart at 1740 6 days a week. The return from Whitton at 1830/1825 moves to 1822

The changes mean that Normanby Hall ceases to be served by a 'usable' bus service (just two morning journeys from Scunthorpe, and no return services), though the village of Normanby and it's bus stop is within walking distance for the able bodied. The flipside of this is a slightly improved service for Burton Upon Stather, and Flixborough also gains with less buses operating into Scunthorpe directly past Normanby Road Enterprise Park..

Brigg Tesco Bus Changes

The TB3 is one of four services that serve Tesco in Brigg. It provides one journey in each direction from Goxhil to Brigg via Barton on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The service originally started before Barton got it's own Tesco, but was never cancelled or altered when Tesco bought Barton's Proudfoots supermarket.

VOSA - Bus Registration Search Results: PB0001403/21 - HOLLOWAYS COACHES LTD, COTTAGE BECK ROAD, SCUNTHORPE, DN16 1TP
Variation Accepted: Operating between Goxhill and Brigg given service number TB3 effective from 08-May-2012. To amend Timetable.

CT Plus Park and Ride Contract extended

CT Plus's contract with Hull City Council to operate the Priory Park Park and Ride service has been extended by two years.

Hull Daily Mail article

And while on the subject off CT Plus, this comment was posted on the blog last week:
"Just wondering if anyone knew anything about CT Plus taking over Ellie Rose? "

The 101 and 601 are NOT cancelled

Stagecoach have now released the new timetables for the 101 and 601 between Scunthorpe and Gainsborough from April 2nd. My previous post was incorrect and the 101 and 601 are NOT being cancelled.

• The 0640 101 from Scunthorpe now becomes a 0635 101 from Scunthorpe, and a 0656 from Scotter to Gainsborough on School Holidays and Saturdays


• The 0645 101 from Gainsborough becomes a 0640 100 from Gainsborough


• The 0740 101 from Scunthorpe becomes a 0735 100 from Scunthorpe


• The 101 College Day service from Gainsborough to Scunthorpe is unaltered


• The 601 School Day service from Scunthorpe to Queen Elizabeth High School, Gainsborough is unaltered

Original post (Changes not corrected here are still happening)

Most proposed Grimsby bus cuts not now happening

Today's Grimsby Telegraph reports that most of the cutbacks planned by Stagecoach in Grimsby Cleethorpes from 2nd April will not now happen following agreement with North East Lincolnshire Council on the level of concessionary fare reimbursement.

The cutbacks that will be happening are:

• The Interconnect 3 between Grimsby and Lincoln reduced from hourly to 5 journeys per day (one requires a change at Market Rasen) plus additional short journeys. Full details here (since confirmed on Stagecoach website)


• The Sunday daytime service on route 7 between Grange Estate and Grimsby Town Centre will be withdrawn


• The Sunday daytime service on route 8 between North Sea Lane, New Waltham and Grimsby Town Centre will be withdrawn, but in a change to the original proposal a replacement service will run from North Sea Lane via Humberston Avenue to Waltham and then follow the route of service 9 into Grimsby Town Centre. This retains Sunday buses for Humberston and New Waltham


• The Interconnect 51 cut back from half hourly to hourly. The Grimsby Telegraph states this is between Grimsby and Louth, but I presume they mean just the Holton Le Clay to Louth section as originally proposed

The extension of services 13/14 to Morrisons will also still be going ahead.
This would therefore imply that the following proposed cuts will not now be hapenning:

• Withdrawal of service 12


• Withdrawal of late evening services on route 8, 9 and 46


• Withdrawal of Sunday service on route 16


• Curtailment of alternate service 16's from Wybers Wood at Grimsby Bus Station, omitting Asda


• Withdrawal of off-peak service 45's from South Killingholme


• Withdrawal of peak time service 45 extensions to Immingham MIC plant


• Diversion of service 150 away from Habrough

I should caution that exact details are still being finalised as per a North East Lincolnshire Council official in the Grimsby Telegraph.
This is very welcome news though, particularly with service 12 being saved. The big remaining reductions are Interconnect routes 3 and 51, but this is no surprise considering their length and the fact that these services mostly operate within Lincolnshire, which I guess may have a different level of concessionary fare payment.

Flamborough/Bempton 500 returns

The 500 looks to be returning for Summer 2012. It did not operate last year

VOSA - Bus Registration Search Results: PB0000328/385 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS
Registration Accepted
Starting Point: Bridlington Park & Ride Site/Flamborough
Finish Point: RSPB Bempton/Flamborough
Via:
Service Number: 500
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 22-JUL-2012
Other Details: Sundays & bank holidays 22/7/12 to 2/9/12 inclusive.

Interconnect 3 April Changes

Traveline East Midlands has the new timetable for Interconnect 3 from April 2nd.

Lincoln to Grimsby

• The 0655 Lincoln-Grimsby is unaltered
  


• The 0730 Grimsby-Lincoln becomes a schooldays only service terminating at De Aston School in Market Rasen
  


• The 0840 Lincoln-Grimsby remains, operating 5 minutes later from Market Rasen
  


• There are no more Lincoln to Grimsby services for the rest of the morning, but there are new short Lincoln-Dunholme and Laceby-Grimsby journeys
  


• The 1340 Lincoln-Grimsby will operate as far as Market Rasen connecting into a new 1435 Market Rasen-Grimsby journey (I suspect a change of bus will ne needed)
  


• The 1440 from Lincoln remains as far as Market Rasen (on schooldays at least) but the 3B continuation via Binbrook is cancelled
  


• The 1540 and 1740 Lincoln to Grimsby remain, but the 1710 is cancelled

Grimsby to Lincoln

• The 0645 from Grimsby to Lincoln is unaltered



• The 0705 Grimsby to Lincoln 3B is cancelled



• The 0835 Market Rasen to Lincoln is replaced by a schooldays only 0845 from Middle Rasen to Lincoln



• The 0840 from Grimby to Lincoln is unaltered



• Then again no through journeys for the rest of the morning, but Grimsby-Laceby and Dunholme-Lincoln short workings operate



• The 1340 Grimsby to Lincoln is split at Market Rasen



• The 1440 from Grimsby to Lincoln will operate from Market Rasen to Lincoln on schooldays only



• The 1540 from Grimsby to Lincoln is unaltered



• The 1710 and 1810 from Grimsby to Lincoln are merged into a new 1740 service

Not just two journeys a day between Grimsby and Lincoln, but not two hourly either!

Interconnect 100 April Changes, and 101/601 cancelled

Traveline East Midlands now has details on April 2nd's changes by Stagecoach to Interconnect 100 between Scunthorpe, Gainsborough and Lincoln, and to associated services 101 and 601 between Scunthorpe and Gainsborough. The following covers changes between Scunthorpe and Gainsborough only. There are some further changes affecting 'short' runs between Gainsborough and Lincoln.

• Almost all service 100 journeys are diverted to serve Morton, north of Gainsborough, adding 3 minutes to the journey time from Scunthorpe to Gainsborough, though changes to intermediate times means journey times from Scunthorpe to Lincoln are unaltered.



• Some services are timed by up to 5 minutes



• The 0640 and 0740 service 101 journeys from Scunthorpe to Gainsborough are cancelled



• There is a new 0640 Gainsborough to Scunthorpe service 100 journey replacing the cancelled 0645 service 101 Gainsborough to Scunthorpe service. Oddly enough it does not appear to have a return working from Scunthorpe. I would have expected a new 0740-ish from Scunthorpe to replace service 101 (see above)



• The schoolday 601 from Scunthorpe to Queen Elizabeth High School in Gainsborough is cancelled



• The college day 0733 Gainsborough to Scunthorpe Colleges service 101, and 1605 return is cancelled. Alternative journeys remain on service 100.



• The 1715 service 100 from Lincoln to Scunthorpe will now be curtailed at Scotter (last bus on the 100 from Lincoln to Scunthorpe will be at 1615, 1710 from Gainsborough). As a result the 1910 service 100 from Scunthorpe to Gainsborough will no longer operate, but a new 1840 from Scotter to Gainsborough will operate.

Overall the changes appear to save 2 buses on school/college days (1 at Scunthorpe and 1 at Gainsborough?) and 'tidy' up the corridor by cancelling the 101 and replacing it in part with extra service 100 journeys.

UPDATE - Please see this post. Some of the above information is incorrect

Service 90 reprieved until July

The following reliable comment with regards to cancelled (from April 2nd) Stagecoach services 90 and 590 between Brigg, Scunthorpe and Crowle has been posted on my original post on the topic.

"Reprieved until July and subject of talks with Council re contract out to tender thereafter."

Between Brigg and Scunthorpe the 90 provides a more direct alternative to Hornsby service 4, though one journey in each direction does serve Scawby. Between Scunthorpe and Crowle Sweyne Coaches provide a limited weekday morning alternative, and Stagecoach tendered service 357 provides a basic Saturday alternative.

It would therefore be hard to see the justification for North Lincolnshire Council funding the 90 in it's present form, but should the 90 be fully withdrawn weekday peaktime and afternoon, and college journeys between Scunthorpe and Crowle would probably need replacing, as would the one journey in each direction currently diverted via Scawby.

Humber Bridge Toll Reductions Confirmed

The Humber Bridge tolls for buses with 17 seats or more will be reduced from £12.10 each way to £4 each way from 1st April. Currently buses do receive a discount, which I presume will disappear, however I don't think the discount is anything like the approximately two thirds toll reduction being introduced.

Bridge tolls are only a small part of the costs involved in providing cross Humber bus services, and reduced car tolls may make the bus less attractive. However at least it appears bus operators have got a very fair deal.

Now the challenge for Stagecoach and EYMS is to promote the ease of using the bus, and how when parking costs and petrol are included, the bus can still be cheaper than using the car especially for those travelling alone. The Megarider Humber (and EYMS equivalent) is a fantastic £22 per week. Return car bridge tolls for a 5 day week will become £15. Unless you have free parking at work, parking in Hull City Centre and petrol will be more than £7 a week, so the bus is still cheaper.

Interconnect 3 Update

From today's Grimsby Telegraph

"Petition launched to save 'lifeline' number 3 bus service to Lincoln This is Grimsby: Gary Nolan, the managing director of Stagecoach, said Lincolnshire County Council had asked for details of how much it would cost to run one bus every two hours, but that no decision had yet been reached."
Stagecoach are planning to reduce the frequency on the Interconnect 3 between Grimsby and Lincoln to twice a day in April, plus extra short journeys between Grimsby and Laceby. A Life of Lincolnshire Travel had reported it will instead operate every two hours, but it appears that is just an option being investigated.

Full article, including details on a petition to ensure the frequency is not reduced to just twice a day between Grimsby and Lincoln.

Hornsby win service 60 tender?

Today Hornsby Travel have registered service 60 between Scunthorpe and Whitton. This is a North Lincolnshire Council tendered service currently operated by Stagecoach, but operated by Hornsby in the past. I am guessing Stagecoach have lost the contract to operate the route to Hornsby.

VOSA - Bus Registration Search Results: PB0001410/29 - HORNSBY TRAVEL SERVICES LTD, 51 - 53 ASHBY HIGH STREET, SCUNTHORPE, DN16 2NB
Registration Accepted
Starting Point: Scunthorpe Bus Station
Finish Point: Whitton
Via: Burton Upon Stather
Service Number: 60
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 16-APR-2012
Other Details: Monday to Saturday 7am til 7pm No Service Sundays or Bank Holidays

Current timetable

Mitigating Stagecoach in Grimsby Cleethorpes's proposed April cuts

Last week I noted the Grimsby Telegraph report on Stagecoach Grimsby Cleethorpes's April service changes - though since disputed in part. So what could be done to reduce the cuts? Which are the most likely to be a priority to avoid?

Interconnect 3 (Grimsby-Lincoln)

The proposed cut from hourly to 2 journeys per day as reported by the Grimsby Telegraph was arguably the biggest shock amongst the changes - though A life of Lincolnshire Travel reports the cut will be to 'just' 2 hourly. This would have a far less severe impact, and would probably make it less likley Lincolnshire County Council would step in with funding. A 2 hourly service would still allow for commuting, shopping and hospital trips. Backwards step - yes. Disaster - no.

Late evening service withdrawal on the 8/9/46

I can't see these cuts being a priority for North East Lincolnshire Council to reverse. With last journeys proposed between 8-9pm the services will still be useful for hospital visting (on the 8/9) for example. It's not like the services are being cut from 6pm.

Having said that there could be options to retain the late evening service on a reduced frequency and/or on certain nights of the week. The 8 (Grimsby-New Waltham-Humberston) and 9 (Grimsby-Waltham) currently operate hourly late evening, each requring 1 vehicle. Could each service operate every two hours, sharing 1 vehicle between them and retaining a limited evening service? And/or just operate the services on say Fridays and Saturdays when demand maybe higher than earlier in the week? Similarly with the 46 (Cleethorpes-Grimsby-Immingham), also hourly but requiring 2 vehicles, reduce the frequency to 2 hourly and/or reduce the operating days?

Sunday services withdrawal on the 7/8/16

These cuts affect the hourly 7 (Grimsby-Grange Estate), 8 and 16 (Asda-Grimsby-Willows-Wybers Wood). Again I don't suspect these are priority cuts to reverse - North East Lincolnshire Council have bigger issues (see the 12 below). The Sunday service on 7 only started in April 2010.

But like the evening cuts, there are options to retain a limited service. Currently the 7 and 8 operate hourly on Sundays, but they could each operate 2 hourly instead, saving 1 vehicle.

The 16 is a bit different, it only uses 1 vehicle already on a Sunday, and could not easily be interworked with another service on a reduced frequency unless the Asda extension was dropped. Furthermore the Willows Estate has the 46 as it's main Sunday service. Diverting the 46 via Wybers Wood could be an option but it would mean the Cleethorpes to Immingham journey times would be over an hour. So probably not a viable option. Unless the 16 can be 'saved' in it's current form, I can't see another easy way to 'save' Wybers Wood's Sunday service.

Complete withdrawal of the 12 (Bradley Park-Grimsby-Cleethorpes-New Waltham)

For North East Lincolnshire Council this is almost certainly priority number 1. Unlike all the other cuts, this cut would leave certain areas completely unserved.

Currently the 12 operates hourly Monday to Saturday daytime and requires two vehicles, which the timetable would indicate also do schools work. A simple option would be to reduce the frequency to two hourly, retaining a basic service with 1 vehicle. Alternatively a more elaborate option could retain the current frequency (or even better) for part of the route.

West of Grimsby Town Centre the 12 currently serves Bradley Park (where it is the only service), Grange Estate (also served by the 7) and Littlefield Lane (only service). The 7 currently operates half hourly to from Grange to Grimsby Town Centre (and beyond) via Laceby Road and Bargate which have other services. Journey time of the 7 from Grange to Grimsby Bus Station is 17 minutes, compared to 16 minutes on the 12. So all or some 7's could be diverted via Littlefield Lane quite easily replacing the 12. Chances are this would need to be just altenate journeys as the current 7 route does serve Franklin College.

This does leave Bradley Park unserved and the 7's have no time to make the 10 minute roundtrip from Grange to Bradley Park. But perhaps hourly 13's could divert via Bradley Park instead?

Between Grimsby and Cleethorpes the 12 provides the only service for Wellington Street, Queen Mary Avenue and Brereton Avenue. My idea would be to divert the Humber Flyer, also hourly, along this route rather than Hainton Avenue/Weelsby Road/Clee Road, just as the Humber Flyer's predecessor, the X1, did. Journey times on the Humber Flyer would be unaffected, Hainton Avenue would still have the 3, part of Weelsby Road the 7 and Clee Road has no history of regular Mon-Sat bus services that I know off.

This just leaves the Cleethorpes to New Waltham section, and I see no obvious options to re-route other services here. The 7 could be diverted around Belvoir Road, but this does not provide a solution for places like Trinity Road. So maybe a Cleethorpes-New Waltham could remain, requring only 1 bus for an hourly service. There would also be time to extend daytime services to Waltham once again, providing a more direct Waltham-Cleethorpes link than the 9/9A do. Or perhaps offer a Holton Le Clay-New Waltham-Waltham link.

Removal of off-peak 45's from South Killingholme/Withdrawing the 150 from Habrough

As I noted here I can not see why the 150 (East Halton-Immingham-Grimsby) is being re-routed away from Habrough in the first place, and the 150 could also divert via South Killingholme to act as a partial replacement for the loss of the off-peak 45 to Immingham and Grimsby - otherwise South Killingholme will just be left with the very basic 250 (Barton-Immingham-Grimsby) off peak.

Interconnect 51 (Grimsby-Louth)

Apparently the plan is to reduce the Interconnect 51 from half hourly to hourly between Holton Le Clay and Louth - i.e. how it used to be until 2005. Given an hourly service will remain south of Holton Le Clay I suspect this won't be a priority cut for Lincolnshire County Council to reverse.

I also wonder if there will still be a half hourly service from the Chatsworth Drive area of Louth into the town centre - as there was pre-2005 when the 51 was only hourly to Louth.

Hopefully some or all of the cuts will be reversed in full, but what I have tried to do in this post is to set out some options if this is not possible. Ideas that could at least partially reverse the cuts

Interconnect 3 to two hourly?

A life of Lincolnshire travel reports that the Interconnect 3 between Grimsby and Lincoln will be reduced to two hourly, not just 2 journeys per day (plus extra short workings to Laceby) as reported by the Grimsby Telegraph.

In fairness to the Grimsby Telegraph they did indicate that the chnages were not 100% finalised (despite the changes being registered with VOSA), so maybe the information they published was Stagecoach's intention at one point? Or maybe it was inaccurate?

New 150 April Timetable

Traveline East Midlands has the new timetable for service 150 (East Halton-Immingham-Grimsby) from 2nd April. As already noted the service will omit Habrough from this date. Frequency remains 2 hourly on weekday daytimes. What is surprising though is that journey times will slightly increase as a result. What's being saved then by omitting Habrough other than a very small amount of fuel? Apparently it will take 16 minutes from Immingham County Hotel to North Killingholme. Really? The changes are rather strange to me. The only scenario I can think off is that the Harbough diversion is commercial and that Stagecoach want North East Lincolnshire Council funding for it.

I am also surprised that the service isn't being diverted into South Killingholme as a partial replacement for the withdrawal of the off peak service 45 from the village.

Scunthorpe Town Services Changes in April - Details

Traveline East Midlands now has details of the changes to Scunthorpe Town Services operated by Stagecoach from 2nd April.

Service 10, currently an hourly Monday to Saturday daytime service, mostly operating via 'side roads' in eastern parts of Scunthorpe, now forms a circular back into Scunthorpe. Traveline doesn't have a detailed route, but a commentor says from Ashby the 10 will operate to Beacon Hotel (my geography of Scunthorpe isn't good enough to know where that is) and then as the current 33/34 route via Westcliff (Bristol Road area) and John Leggott College. Frequency remains hourly. The service will run as route 10 in both directions, in contrast to other circulars in Scunthorpe that have a different route number in each direction.

The 10 has run as a circular before, with the 11 in the opposite direction. This happenned when the Scunthorpe Town Service network was recast in 2006. Back then the 10/11 operated from Ashby via Priory Lane, Bridges Road, Bristol Road, Scotter Road, Tesco and Scunthorpe Hospital.

Changes to circular service 31 are not showing (to me anyway) on Traveline East Midlands yet but a commentor suggests some early and/or late journeys will start/finish at Ashby rather than operate a full circular to/from Scunthorpe Bus Station.

The 31A, the Evening and Sunday Scunthorpe Town Service has some very minor timing changes on Monday to Saturday evenings and the Friday and Saturday 2330 departure from Scunthorpe Bus Station will terminate in Ashby rather than operate back into Scunthorpe 'in service' as at present. The mileage and time saving to their depot, close to Scunthorpe Bus Station, will be marginal.

The 32, which is the 'opposite' of the 31 sees the first two journeys Monday to Saturday start in Ashby rather than Scunthorpe Bus Station. Otherwise the mostly 20 minute frequency in unaltered.

The 32A, which runs in the opposite direction to the 31A also sees minor timing changes in the evening and the Fri/Sat only 2330 from Scunthorpe truncated in Ashby.

The biggest change comes to the 33/34 circulars; currently half hourly Monday to Saturday daytime, they will be reduced to hourly. However the changes to the 10 compensate for this around Westcliff.

It also won't be a disaster for passengers along Cemetery Road, Old Brumby Street, Alvingham Road and Collum Avenue who have the half hourly Hornsby 12 - though gone is the co-ordinated 15 minute frequency between the 12 and 34 from Scunthorpe Bus Station. Furthermore I suspect Stagecoach have just given Hornsby a big present here as they will have an inferior frequency compared to their independent rival.

In Bottesford passengers also have others services; the 11 and 22. It's Yaddlethorpe and Riddings that will be most affected, but these areas are 'roughly' half way on the 33/34 so passengers have 2 services an hour into Scunthorpe Town Centre. Still it's a big reduction compared to 2003 when High Leys Road and Quebec Road for example had the 341 every 20 minutes and either the 323/333 or 322/332 every half hour.

Overall these changes could have been a lot worse, and unless there are specific journeys that cause an issue, I can't see the changes causing hardship. I suspect however the 10/33/34 changes could mean a PVR reduction (by 1?) and combined with the cancellation of the 90/590, Stagecoach's Scunthorpe depot will see a significant loss of work in April.

Potential significant cutbacks by Stagecoach Grimsby Cleethorpes

The Stagecoach Grimsby Cleethorpes April service changes aren't just severe, they are very severe. The Grimsby Telegraph has the details

Interconnect 3 - Reduced from hourly to just 2 per journeys per day to Lincoln, with 6 further short journeys to Laceby
7 - Sunday daytime service between Grange Estate and Grimsby Town Centre withdrawn
8 - Evening service after 2045 and Sunday service withdrawn
9/9A - Evening service after 2040 withdrawn
12 - Withdrawn entirely
13/14 - All services to serve Morrisons (an enhancement?)
16 - Asda extensions reduced to half hourly and Sunday service withdrawn. The service is getting new vehicles however
45/46 - Ending extenions to Immingham MIC and off-peak South Killingholme services. Evening service withdrawn after 2015 and Sunday service to also serve Waltham
Interconnect 51 - Reduced from half hourly to hourly between Holton Le Clay and Louth
150 - To no longer serve Habrough

While passengers are not being urged to panic, the changes have already been registered with VOSA. Negotiations are taking place with local authorities however which could hopefully mitigate the proposed changes, being caused by BSOG reduction and issues with concessionary fare reimbursement.

Briefly some comments:

• The 3 would probably have to leave the Interconnect network unless the current hourly frequency was maintained on the southern section of the route from Lincoln. Arguably the biggest shock for me, I'd have thought the Interconnect network would be safe, but clearly not


• Bradley Park, Littlefield Lane, Wellington Street, Queen Mary Avenue, Brereton Avenue, Trinity Road, Belvoir Road and parts of New Waltham could be left unserved by the 12 withdrawal. The proposed change likely to cause the biggest public concern?


• The only evening service after 9pm in Grimsby and Cleethorpes would be the 13/14


• The 16 is getting new vehicles but could see it's Sunday service end...


• Habrough could only be left with peak time bus services, but does it really cost that much to divert the 150 via Habrough?

Petuaria Express Changes

As noted by a commentor, EYMS are making some quick alterations to the Petuaria Express from Monday 27th February. They partly reverse some of the reductions from the changes earlier this month.

Firstly the X56, which currently serves South and North Cave but not Newport or Gilberdyke, will now serve Newport and the B1230 in Gilberdyke. It will not however have time to serve Gilberdyke Village Centre. This means Newport and Gilberdyke have a roughly hourly bus to Hull, and have Monday to Saturday daytime links with South and North Cave restored.

Secondly all Petuaria Express journeys will now serve Goole Hospital inbound to Goole, a location which the previous 156 served, and the residual 155 Goole journeys still do serve. There is however no time to serve Goole Hospital on outbound journeys from Goole, but on most journeys passengers can board at Goole Hospital inbound and travel via Goole Town Centre to Howden and beyond.

Hornsby 16 to Ashby on Thursdays

The changes to Hornsby Scunthorpe Town Service 16 (Parklands Caravan Site-Brumby Wood Lane-Scunthorpe Bus Station) from 15th March see the Thursday service diverted to serve Ashby instead of Scunthorpe Town Centre. The Tuesday and Friday service is unaffected and will continue to serve Scunthorpe Bus Station.

Info tfrom Traveline East Midlands

Hornsby 35 Changes

From yesterday (13th February) Hornsby service 35 between Scunthorpe, Keadby and Amcotts saw minor changes. Some times are slightly adjusted by 1/2 minutes, while 3 journeys are extended to serve Chapel Lane in Keadby.

The service is operated under contract to North Lincolnshire Council and operates every hour Monday to Saturday daytimes between Scunthorpe and Keadby, with some services extending to Amcotts.

Info from Traveline East Midlands

Hull Bus Forum Notes, 13th February

Today saw the first Hull Bus Forum for around two years, attended by Stagecoach in Hull, EYMS and CT Plus as well as Hull City Council.

Some notable (to me) points:

Stagecoach in Hull April Service Changes

Firstly I should preface this with Jon Donnelly's (Stagecoach East Midlands North Commercial Manager) note at the start of the forum that the changes are still to be finalised. Despite this he did reveal some details of what is planned.

Some of April's changes will be related to reliability/punctuality so not every service is seeing major changes. One route this applies to is the 46.

Major Changes are coming to Bransholme services. The 31 in it's current form is withdrawn. Part of the replacement will see alternate journeys on service 30 operating via Leads Road and Midmere Avenue. There will also be a new route that is a 'hybrid' of services 30 and 32. In Orchard Park all journeys on the 13/14 will extend to Tesco. Meanwhile in East Hull the 42 will switch from serving Maybury Road to Portobello Street while the 54 shall make the reverse switch.

It has been reported on yahoo groups that Stagecoach in Hull are receiving new single deckers for the 43/54. It would seem the displaced Dennis Dart SLF's will be staying in Hull as from 2nd April the 10, 52 and 53 will go low floor. Apparently only around 3 vehicles in the Stagecoach Hull fleet will not be low floor from April.

Humber Bridge tolls

Currently the Humber Bridge Board grant a discount for buses. However when (hopefully) the tolls are reduced the discount may be removed, potentially negating the impact of lower tolls. Even if the tolls remain discounted for buses other cost pressures mean cross Humber fares won't be reduced. Jon Donnelly noted that the bridge tolls are only a small part of the costs incurred on cross Humber bus services.

Peter Shipp (EYMS Owner/Chairman) also noted that as tolls are hopefully reduced, some current bus passengers may use the car instead and that potentially bus services could see reduced use. Yes, there is a potential negative from reducing the bridge tolls!

Further Arriva changes between Selby and Goole

More changes are due for Arriva's services between Selby and Goole in April

VOSA - Bus Registration Search Results: PB0001672/5 - ARRIVA YORKSHIRE NORTH LTD, 24 BARNSLEY ROAD, WAKEFIELD, WF1 5JX
Variation Accepted: Operating between Selby Bus Station and Goole, North Street given service number 400/401/8 effective from 02-Apr-2012. To amend Timetable.

Stagecoach in Hull April Service Changes

Most Stagecoach in Hull services are changing from April 2nd. All details taken from the VOSA website:

1/2/N2 Hull-Boothferry Estate
10 Hull City Circular
13/14 Hull-Orchard Park
15/N15 Hull-Orchard Park-Kingswood
28/28A Hull-Sutton Park-Bransholme-Kingswood
30/30W Hull-Bransholme-North Bransholme-(Wawne)
31 Hull-Kingswood
32 Hull-Bransholme
41/42 Hull-Greatfield
43/N43 Hull-Greatfield
46 Hull-Marfleet Village
51/N51 Hull-Bransholme-Kingswood
52/53 Hull-Bilton Grange/Ings Estate-Salthouse Road
54 Hull-Bilton Grange
70/677 (Beverley Road)-Hull-Ferry Terminal-(Cranswick Foods Preston)
110 Hull-Bricknell Estate-Cottingham-Castle Hill

(Note: when multiple services are registered on the same license, only some services may change)

So far at least no changes due for the K1, 123, 242, 350 Humber Fastcat, Humber Flyer and (X)62

Stagecoach Grimsby Cleethorpes April Service Changes

Stagecoach Grimsby Cleethorpes have cancelled service 12 between Bradley Park, Grimsby, Cleethorpes and New Waltham (with one journey each way also serving Waltham) from April 2nd. If not re-registered or replaced by other services this would leave Bradley Park, parts of New Waltham and some side roads in Grimsby and Cleethorpes without a bus service.

VOSA - Bus Registration Search Results: PB0000163/41 - GRIMSBY CLEETHORPES TRANSPORT CO LTD T/A STAGECOACH GRIMSBY CLEETHORPES, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Bradley Park Grimsby and New Waltham given service number 12B/12/12W effective from 02-Apr-2012.

Services being amended from the same date are:
3 Grimsby-Caistor-Market Rasen-Lincoln
7 (Laceby)-Grange Estate-Grimsby-North Sea Lane
8 Grimsby-New Waltham-North Sea Lane
9/9A Waltham-Hospital-Grimsby-Cleethorpes-North Sea Lane
13/14 Bradley Cross Roads-Grimsby-Cleethorpes
16 Wybers Wood-Willows-Grimsby-Asda
45/46 (Cleethorpes)-Grimsby-Immingham-South Killingholme-(Ulceby)
51 Grimsby-Louth
150 Grimsby-Immingham-East Halton

(Note: when multiple services are registered on the same license, only some services may change)

Stagecoach Scunthorpe April Service Changes

Stagecoach have today registered with VOSA the Thursday and Saturday North Lincolnshure Council contracted Goxhill-Ulceby-Brigg-Scunthorpe service on the Lincolnshire Road Car license from April 2nd. The service is currently operated on the Grimsby Cleethorpes Transport license by Grimsby depot, so I presume is transferring to Scunthorpe depot.

Stagecoach Scunthorpe Town Services with changes registered with VOSA from the same date are:
10
31/31A/32/32A
33/34

Plus the 101/601 to Gainsborough

(Note: when multiple services are registered on the same license, only some services may change)
UPDATE - Grimsby Cleethorpes Transport have cancelled their 366 reigistration

Stagecoach also cancel the 90

It's not just the 398 Stagecoach have cancelled today, also the commercial hourly 90 between Brigg, Ashby, Scunthorpe and Crowle, along with college day variant 590

VOSA - Bus Registration Search Results: PB0001484/4 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Brigg and Garthorpe given service number 90/590/90C effective from 02-Apr-2012.

The 90 currently provides a 'fast' service between Brigg and Scunthorpe in contrast to Hornsby service 4 that operates via Broughton. Some journeys also divert via Scawby. Between Scunthorpe and Crowle Sweyne Coaches also provide alternative services on weekdays, though at a far lower frequency. Stagecoach operated Saturday tendered service 357 also links Scunthorpe and Crowle on Saturdays.

Stagecoach cancel 398

From VOSA:

VOSA - Bus Registration Search Results: PB0001484/115 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Gainsborough and Belton given service number 398 effective from 02-Apr-2012.

The 398 is a Tuesday 'shopping' service from the Isle of Axholme to Gainsborough. I'm unsure if it is tendered or not, so it could simply be transferring to another operator.

Interconnect 51 Changes

From February 20th Stagecoach Interconnect 51 between Grimsby and Louth will have a revised route in Louth town centre due to congestion and most journeys from Louth will run 5 minutes earlier throughout

New timetable

Hull Bus Forum

On Monday (13th) there will be a Bus Forum held at the Guidhall in Hull, starting at 12 Noon. This must be first bus forum, as opposed to surgery, in Hull for around two years. The one previous forum I attended in 2009 got very heated after controversial changes to service in East Hull.

The event is organised by the City of Hull and Humber Environment Forum and will be attended by bus operators and Hull City Council.

Snow

Credit to everyone trying to keep bus services running during tonight's snow. Hopefully the driver of Stagecoach 22757 on the Humber Fastcat will get home safely - I passed the bus stuck in a queue of waiting traffic on the almost blocked A1077 between Barton and South Ferriby tonight while having to walk home myself in the opposite direction.

Also credit to EYMS for keeping their twitter feed updated on a Saturday night.

Not bus related, but also credit to those in 4x4's/Landrovers coming to the rescue of those who were stuck in the snow.

Holloways 55 Changes

Holloways Coaches service 55 between Scunthorpe, Appleby and Winterton, operated under contract to North Lincolnshire Council, is being amended from 5th March.

VOSA - Bus Registration Search Results: PB0001403/10 - HOLLOWAYS COACHES LTD, COTTAGE BECK ROAD, SCUNTHORPE, DN16 1TP
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Scunthorpe Bus Station and Winterton given service number 55 effective from 05-Mar-2012. To amend Route and Timetable.

York Pullman cancel service 10

No sooner do I cover the takeover of York Pullman's local bus operations by Transdev, and they cancel the 10, a month after the takeover occurs. The cancellation could simply be related to the takeover, so eyes out for a Transdev re-registration.

VOSA - Bus Registration Search Results: PB1081341/5 - YORK PULLMAN BUS COMPANY LTD, Wetherby Road,, RUFFORTH, YORK, YO23 3QA
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Stamford Bridge and Poppleton given service number 10/10A effective from 25-Mar-2012.

No cancellation yet for any other York Pullman service however.

Transdev acquire York Pullman

Route 1 magazine reports that from February 25th Transdev will acquire the local bus operations of York Pullman. This includes two tendered routes into East Yorkshire; the daily evening and Saturday morning service 10 from Nether Poppleton and York to Stamford Bridge and the weekday X36 commuter service from Pocklington to York via Elvington.

Transdev's Yorkshire Coastliner route already operates into East Yorkshire, with a limited service from Bridlington to Malton, York and Leeds.

Colins of Goole 156 to no longer serve Elloughton

It seems that Colins of Goole tendered service 156 will only operate from Goole to North Cave from Sunday, no longer extending to Elloughton. No doubt related to EYMS replacing the Sunday 155 with the X57 serving North and South Cave and Gilberdyke (3 out of 4 journeys only).

VOSA - Bus Registration Search Results: PB1072985/3 - THOMAS WHEELER T/A COLINS OF GOOLE, MORDEN, MAIN STREET, HEMINGBROUGH, SELBY, YO8 6QU
Registration Accepted by SN
Starting Point: North Cave
Finish Point: Goole
Via: Gilberdyke, Eastrington, Howden
Service Number: 156
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 05-FEB-2012
Other Details: Sunday service and Bank Holidays

Hornsby 16 Changes

Hornsby have applied to alter tendered Scunthorpe Town Service route 16 in March. The service was last revised in August when a Friday service was added.

VOSA - Bus Registration Search Results: PB0001410/26 - HORNSBY TRAVEL SERVICES LTD, 51 - 53 ASHBY HIGH STREET, SCUNTHORPE, DN16 2NB
Variation Accepted: Operating between parklands Scunthorpe and Scunthorpe bus station given service number 16 effective from 15-Mar-2012. To amend Timetable.

National Express Changes

East Riding of Yorkshire Council reports that Beverley will lose it's National Express service to Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow next month.

Future bus service changes: National Express, Service 534 Hull to Glasgow - will no longer serve Beverley from 27th February 2012.

Colins of Goole 156 Changes

East Riding of Yorkshire Council reports that Colins of Goole tendered Sunday service 156 is changing as a result of the A63 corridor service changes by EYMS. EYMS are replacing their Sunday service on the 155 between Brough and Hull (with one journey also serving South Cave) with service X57 between Gilberdyke, South Cave, Brough and Hull (plus changes to the 153).

Future bus service changes: Colins of Goole, Service 156 Goole to Elloughton - Sunday service will be revised because of the changes being introduced by East Yorkshire Motor Services from 5th February 2012.

144 to Brough

From February, and as part of the A63 Corridor Changes by EYMS, service 144 will gain a Thursday journey, as well as it's current Tuesday and Friday journeys. It will also start back in Elloughton, operating via Brough, Welton and Melton before picking up it's current route from North Ferriby, Swanland and Kirk Ella to Willerby, Castle Hill Hospital, Cottingham and Beverley. The current frequency of one journey each way will remain.

Combined with service 143, Melton, Welton, Brough and Elloughton will have a link to Beverley 6 days a week.

Wicstun Express to Brough

As part of February's A63 corridor changes by EYMS, the X4 Wicstun Express from Market Weighton to York will be extended to start from Brough, also serving Elloughton, South Cave and Sancton. 4 journeys will operate on weekdays, and 3 on Saturdays, providing links for commuters and leisure travel.

The changes do mean a slight reduction between Market Weighton and York from the current 5 weekday/4 Saturday journeys into York, but the X4 does gain a later last departure from York under the new timetable, ideal for commuting. Market Weighton also has the hourly X46 and hourly 746 into York.

Good to see EYMS trying out new links from Brough, Elloughton and South Cave into York, with a nice quick, direct route.

I guess the X4 will pass from Pocklington to Elloughton depot as part of these changes.

The Humber Linc

Contained within the minutes of a December Barton Town Council meeting is a proposal by the Barton to Cleethorpes Community Rail Partnership to rename the Barton to Cleethorpes rail route to 'The Humber Linc'. The idea hasn't gone well with Barton Town Councillors however who resolved to strongly object, feeling that retaining Barton and Cleethorpes in the route's title would be more appropiate.

EYMS A63 Corridor Changes Announced

EYMS has released details of changes to the A63 corridor following consultation last year, coming into effect on Sunday 5th February. My first impression - complicated. Gone is the relatively simple arrangement of the hourly (Mon-Sat daytime) 155/6 between Hull and Goole serving every settlement in between, supplemented by the fast X55 Petuaria Express between Gilberdyke, Brough and Hull (hourly weekdays, 2 hourly Saturday). Now there will be the 155, X55, X56 and X57 (plus the occasional 153 as now). There are clear advantages for some in the new arrangements however, but it's not good for everyone.

Under the new arrangements on Monday to Saturday daytimes the Petuaria Express remains hourly between Hull, Brough and Elloughton. It then operates either via South and North Cave as the X56, or as the X55 via Gilberdyke before provding an hourly service to Howden and Goole. Some journeys will serve both South and North Cave and Gilberdyke, operating as the X57. The X57 also operates on Sundays, with 4 return journeys between Hull and South Cave, with 3 extending to Gilberdyke.

The 155 is a roughly two hourly service between Hull, Brough and South Cave with odd extensions to North Cave, Gilberdyke, Howden and Goole. It remains the only Monday to Saturday evening service along the corridor, but the Sunday service is axed, replaced by the X57 and changes to the 153.

Let's look in detail at what the changes mean for certain areas or links. I've not looked into peak times where things get rather complicated, including 153's to Gilberdyke, but EYMS say the Petuaria Express now has earlier and later journeys.

Boothferry Road, Hull

The Hull to Goole service has been the main bus service along Boothferry Road, between the Anlaby Park Road Junction and Darley's Roundabout for some years. Even after the doubling to half hourly of the 350 (Humber Fastcat) and the diversion of the Humber Flyer along Boothferry Road, I've still seen customers wanting to know if they could buy a ticket on a Humber Fastcat/Flyer and return on the 155. The perception seems to be that the 155 is the main bus service along this stretch of road.

Now the 155 will most certainly not be the main service here. It will be pretty token compared to the 3 buses an hour provided by the Humber Fastcat/Flyer. And an interesting side note, EYMS are effecticely giving up the stretch of road to Stagecoach, who operate all of the Humber Flyer and most of the Humber Fastcat. It's not a key stretch of road, but interesting anyway.

Hessle

Within Hessle the 155 provides the main or only bus services for a number of roads to the west of the town centre; part of Swanland Road, Barrow Lane and Ferriby Road. These roads will see their bus service halved Monday to Saturday daytimes and their Sunday service withdrawn.

North Ferriby

Currently North Ferriby has 2 buses an hour into Hull City Centre, the 153, via Swanland and Anlaby, and the 155 via Hessle. Under the new arrangements, with the 155 frequency cut, North Ferriby is left with 1.5 services an hour with EYMS into Hull City Centre Monday to Saturday daytimes. It also looses it's Sunday 155 service, but this is unlikely to be a great loss given the 153 operates hourly on Sunday daytimes.

Melton and Welton

Two more communities that loose out from the 155 cutbacks on Monday to Saturday daytimes. However they don't loose out on Sundays, with the 153 extending to these two communities every 2 hours as a replacement for the axed 155 Sunday service.

Brough and Elloughton to Hull

Currently Brough and Elloughton have 2 buses an hour into Hull on weekday daytimes, the X55 Petuaria Express and slower 155. On Saturdays the X55 is just every 2 hours. From February Mondays to Saturdays see 1.5 buses an hour into Hull City Centre from EYMS, the Petuaria Express hourly and two hourly 155. So a weekday reduction, and Saturdays the same, but with more faster Petuaria Express buses instead of slower 155's. Sundays see the current 4 services into Hull City Centre, but now on the faster X57, rather than the 155.

Of course prior to the launch of the Petuaria Express, Brough only had one EYMS service an hour into Hull. And it what impact could the proposed BAe redundancies have on demand for bus travel?

Brough and Elloughton to North and South Cave

Ignoring the 3 day a week 144, currently Brough and Elloughton are linked to North and South Cave by 155 every hour Monday to Saturday daytimes. From February this link will be maintained by a combination of the 155 (mostly just to South Cave), an extended X4 Wictsun Express (just to South Cave) and the X56, with some rather uneven interval timings. Let's take an example from Elloughton:

1000 (X4) 1003 (155) 1051 (X56) 1216 (155), 1249 (X56), 1300 (X4), 1431 (155), 1449 (X56)

From South Cave:

0933 (X56) 0938 (X4) 1020 (155) 1128 (X56) 1228 (X4) 1235 (155) 1328 (X56) 1526 (155) 1528 (X4) 1528 (X56)

Not too bad from South Cave, but still not the easiest to remember. I'm guessing Brough/Elloughton-South Cave isn't the biggest traffic flow, but equally I doubt it is non-existant.

Brantingham

Another 155 casualty, as it's hourly service becomes about every two hours Monday to Saturday, with no more Sunday services.

North and South Cave to Hull

Currently both North and South Cave have the 155 hourly into Hull. From February they both get the 2 hourly, but much faster X56. South Cave (and occasionally North Cave) still has the reduced 155 giving an approximately hourly service combined with the X56 into Hull, and 2 buses every 2 hours coming back. Simplicity sacrificed in favour of some faster services.

North Cave does gain a Sunday link into Hull on the X57, and South Cave goes from 1 to 4 Sunday services into Hull, so clear improvements one day a week.

North and South Cave to Gilberdyke

Hopefully no one makes this journey much, since the changes make doing so Monday to Saturday daytimes near impossible.

Gilberdyke to Hull

Gilberdyke looses out big time. It's hourly Petuaria Express becomes two hourly, and the 155 disappears Monday to Saturday daytimes. From 2 buses an hour on weekdays, to 0.5. Maybe Gilberdyke's train service is responsible? Sundays do see Gilberdyke gain 3 journeys to Hull however.

Newport Industrial Estate

Newport Industrial Estate gains a new link from Hull and Brough; an X55 arrives at 0743 on weekdays, with a return at 1622.

Links to Howden and Goole

Howden and Goole retain an hourly EYMS service, on the X55/6 Petuaria Express rather than the 155/6. So an hourly link between the two, and to Brough and Hull, and two hourly rather than hourly to Gilberdyke, North and South Cave. Journey times to North Cave, South Cave, Brough and Hull are significantly reduced on the Petuaria Express compared to the 156/155.

As far as I can tell the Petuaria Express will not serve Goole Hospital, as the 156 currently does.

However just to confuse things, early morning, late afternoons and evenings still see 155 journeys to Howden and Goole (and these will serve Goole Hospital). Seems very messy, especially as the 155 and Petuaria Express do not have a joint timetable. Could things have been made simplier for example by operating the 0725 Elloughton-Goole 155, the only morning 155 to Goole, as an X57 (with a diversion via Goole Hospital if needed)?

Conclusion

Faster journey times have been the priority here. The Petuaria Express has been a success. The focus is on the major settlements, and links into Hull. Frequency, and smaller settlements have suffered as a result. As has simplicity. The 155 is left to 'pick up pieces' not served by the Petuaria Express. I'll let passengers judge if EYMS have made the right decisions.

Any comments, corrections or oversights to my post welcome.

133 Summer 2012 Changes

The 133 is a Summer weekend only service between Driffield and Malton

VOSA - Bus Registration Search Results: PB1084446/5 - BUSKING LTD, 52, MAIN STREET, NORTH FRODINGHAM, DRIFFIELD, YO25 8LG
Variation Accepted: Operating between Driffield and Malton given service number 133 effective from 07-Apr-2012. To amend Timetable.