Stagecoach win Priory Park Park and Ride Contract

From VOSA:

PB0001484/315 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB

• Registration Accepted
• Starting Point: Priory Park Park & Ride Site
• Finish Point: Hull City Centre
• Via:
• Service Number: 701
• Service Type: Normal Stopping
• Effective Date: 29-SEP-2014
• Other Details: Monday to Saturday. Every ten minutes at peak periods and Saturdays and every fifteen minutes during off peak.

The Priory Park Park and Ride is tendered by Hull City Council and is currently operated by CT Plus. Prior to CT Plus, EYMS provided the service. As well as a Hull City Centre service, the park and ride operator is also required to provide a service to the KC Stadium for football and rugby matches (and Hull Fair?).

Enterprise Coaches to operate Sunday 155

It seems Enterprise Coaches have won the contract for the East Riding of Yorkshire Council tendered Sunday service between South Cave, Gilberdyke, Howden and Goole. This is currently operated by EYMS.

Colins of Goole operated the service from May 2011, having won the tender from EYMS, before EYMS took the service over again in Spring 2012.

From VOSA:

PB0004003/5 - GEORGE TIMOTHY JAMES MILLS T/A ENTERPRISE COACHES, TOCKI HOUSE, HULL ROAD, EASTRINGTON, GOOLE, DN14 7XL

• Registration Accepted by SN
• Starting Point: SOUTH CAVE MARKET PLACE
• Finish Point: GOOLE NORTH STREET
• Via:
• Service Number: 155
• Service Type: Normal Stopping
• Effective Date: 01-SEP-2014
• Other Details: SUNDAYS AND BANK HOLIDAYS

More Stagecoach September Changes

Following on from Wednesday's post, Stagecoach have registered more service changes with VOSA today, effective from the start of September:

• 1/2/20 Cleethorpes-Grimsby-Europarc
• 3/4/4A Morrisons-Grimsby-Cleethorpes
• 5/5C Grimsby-Immingham
• 6 Grimsby Town Centre-Wybers Wood
• 8 Grimsby-New Waltham
• 9/9V/10 Waltham-Grimsby-Cleethorpes-North Sea Lane
• Humber Flyer HF1/CF Cleethorpes-Grimsby-Humberside Airport section

It seems that as part of the Grimsby area changes quite a few services will be renumbered.

The following new registration has also been made:

PB0001484/313 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB

• Registration Accepted
• Starting Point: North Sea Lane
• Finish Point: Grimsby Colleges
• Via:
• Service Number: 8C
• Service Type: Normal Stopping
• Effective Date: 01-SEP-2014
• Other Details: New College Service. Hail & Ride will operate where traffic and safety conditions allow

X62 September Change Details

North Yorkshire County Council have published the following details about Stagecoach's September change to the X62 between Hull, Brough, Goole, Castleford and Leeds.

"The following journeys will no longer operate: Glasshoughton to Goole Monday to Saturday 0705hrs, Sunday 1145 and 1700hrs. Goole to Glasshoughton Monday to Saturday 0543hrs Sunday 1003 and 1523hrs. There are minor changes to intermediate running times."

From this it can be deduced that the Monday to Saturday 0450 Hull to Leeds and 0645 return plus the Sunday 0910 and 1430 Hull to Leeds and 1125 and 1640 return will be withdrawn. All these journeys were introduced in February. The next service in the current timetable from Hull to Leeds is at 0630 Monday to Saturday, arriving in Leeds at 0818, and from Leeds to Hull at 0845. On Sundays a service currently operates an hour later than all off the journeys which are being withdrawn.

While it is a shame to see services cutback, Stagecoach have tried a package of enhancements and some of their risky ideas sadly seem to not have been a success. At least they were tried. An 0450 from Hull to Leeds was always going to be a 'bold' move and the X62 will remain suitable for most commuters into Leeds, as well as continuing to offer suitable times for Sunday days out to Castleford and Leeds.

Stagecoach September Changes

Stagecoach have today registered variations to many services with VOSA, with effect from 1st September. I have noted selected other service numbers mentioned on the registrations; these may indicate a new service variation or they could be old service numbers for long cancelled services.

Hull Area

• Services 1/2 Boothferry Estate Circulars
• Service 10 Orchard Park/North Point/Salthouse Road Circular
• Services 13/14 Orchard Park Circulars
• Service 15 Orchard Park and Kingswood (registration also mentions a service 16)
• Service 28 Sutton Park, North Point and Kingswood (registration also mentions a service 29) - this service is also due to see changes in August
• Service 30 North Point, North Bransholme and Wawne
• Services 31/32 Sutton, Noddle Hill and North Point
• Services 41/42 Greatfield
• Services 43/54 Greatfield/Bilton Grange Circulars (registration also mentions a service 55)
• Service 46 Marfleet (registration also mentions a service 17)
• Service 51 North Point and Kingswood
• Service 110 Cottingham - the registration lists Chamberlain Road as the starting point which must be new as the 110 has never served Garden Village/Chamberlain Road - this service is also due to see changes in August
• Services 101/677 Clough Road and Cranswick Foods - this service is also due to see changes in August
• Service X62 Brough, Goole and Leeds

The separate registration for the 54 to Bilton Grange has been cancelled. This service is instead on the service 43 registration. More noteworthy is the cancellation of the Saturday evening/night LINQ services registration.

Service 52 has also been registered, but it seems to resemble part of the route of soon to be cancelled service 53 rather than the current service 52:

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

• Registration Accepted
• Starting Point: Hull Interchange
• Finish Point: Kingswood
• Via:
• Service Number: 52
• Service Type: Normal Stopping
• Effective Date: 01-SEP-2014
• Other Details: New Service to cover James Reckitt Avenue, Garden Villag and Savoy Road.

There is also a new W5 Boothferry Estate-Wilberforce College registered.

Grimsby Area

• Service 7 Laceby, Grange Estate and North Sea Lane
• Service 51 Louth
• Services 53/53A/53B Market Rasen - this currently as service 3

A new service 17 Cleethorpes seafront registration has also been made to extend the operating season to November.

PB0001484/312 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB

• Registration Accepted
• Starting Point: Thorpe Park Reception
• Finish Point: Cleethorpes Pier
• Via:
• Service Number: 17
• Service Type: Normal Stopping
• Effective Date: 01-SEP-2014
• Other Details: Service extended from September until November. Hail & ride will operate where traffic and safety conditions allow.

Overall it looks to be a very interesting set of changes, especially in Hull.

EYMS Hull-Withernsea Change

EYMS have registered with VOSA to amend their Hull-Withernsea services:

PB0000328/6 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS
Variation Accepted: Operating between Hull and Withernsea given service number 75/75H/76/77/914 effective from 31-Aug-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

I wonder if this is at least partly related the recast of the Wyke College bus network and the start of a dedicated Withernsea-Wyke College service?

Brough Town Service September Change

EYMS have registered with VOSA to amend the 158 Brough and Elloughton Town Service in September:

1.   PB0000328/245 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS

Variation Accepted: Operating between Brough and Town Circular given service number 158 effective from 08-Sep-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

EYMS in Goole

Another tender win for EYMS? I guess this may relate to the Arriva operated tendered Sunday service 400 between Goole, Snaith and Selby? That service is currently interworked with Sunday service 356 between Goole and Swinefleet. From VOSA:

PB0000328/458 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS

• Registration Accepted
• Starting Point: Selby
• Finish Point: Goole
• Via:
• Service Number: 400
• Service Type: Normal Stopping
• Effective Date: 14-SEP-2014
• Other Details: Selby - Goole

The East Riding has a very good level of Sunday service (compared to many other parts of the country) with rural routes such as the 356, 142 between Beverley and Middleton and 220 between Hornsea and Aldbrough all enjoying East Riding of Yorkshire Council funded Sunday services. Many trunk routes enjoy commercially operated Sunday services as well, such as EYMS's hourly 121 between Hull and Scarborough.

EYMS have also registered with VOSA their tendered win for the Scunthorpe-Goole services currently operated by Sweyne Coaches, and on Saturdays only, by Stagecoach.

PB0000328/455 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS

• Registration Accepted
• Starting Point: Goole
• Finish Point: Scunthorpe
• Via:
• Service Number: 360
• Service Type: Normal Stopping
• Effective Date: 01-SEP-2014
• Other Details: Goole - Scunthorpe

Please correct me if I am wrong but at the start of 2009 EYMS only operated into Goole from Hull. In Spring 2009 they added the Tuesday only service 358 from Holme Upon Splading Moor via Howden following their takeover of Veolia's Hull operations. They then gained the Goole Town service in 2010 and soon services to Scunthorpe and Selby. Based on the VOSA cancellation however EYMS are to cease operating the 358. Will it be replaced?

PB0000328/342 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Holme upon Spalding Moor and Goole given service number 358 effective from 09-Sep-2014.

In addition to the above EYMS have also registered with VOSA to amend the 155 and X55/X56/X57 routes between Hull, Brough, Howden and Goole from September, as well as the 160 from South Cave and the Goole Town Service. Interestingly some of the changes are from the 1st September (commercial services?) and others with effect from dates in the 2nd week of September (tendered services?).

As a final side note the 160 timetable has not changed since 2008 according to the EYMS website and the pdf timetable leaflet dates from 15th August 1999. Can't be many services that have seen such few changes in the past 15 years.

Are East Midlands Trains really a suitable operator for the Barton Line?

In the current Department for Transport (DfT) consultation into the next Northern and TransPennine Express Rail franchises, one of the questions posed is:

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?

Currently the service between Cleethorpes, Grimsby Town, Habrough and Barton is the responsibility of the Northern franchise. A single Northern Rail Class 153 Diesel Multiple Unit is usually used, operated by Cleethorpes based TransPennine Express crews; the exception being the first service in each direction on weekdays (and Saturdays?) which is worked by stock that then forms a Scunthorpe to Doncaster morning peak service. Services operate two hourly Monday to Saturday daytime and evenings (plus an extra early morning service) and there are four return services on Summer Sundays. When Northern need to rotate their stock to/from the Barton service they have to use their early morning service or their Saturday only Cleethorpes-Brigg-Sheffield service, which is the only other service they operate to Cleethorpes.

As can be seen the current operational set-up is not ideal.

As part of the DfT consultation one of the options is that TransPennine Express would cease to serve Cleethorpes, with a replacement service being operated by Northern Rail. This would not at all be welcome, but under these circumstances Northern Rail would remain the operator of the Cleethorpes to Barton service. They would inherit the TransPennine Express Cleethorpes crew depot and would have more options to swap the Barton Line stock as and when required. The current operational circumstances of the service would be greatly simplified.

However if TransPennine Express do continue to serve Cleethorpes, then the DfT proposes transfering the Cleethorpes to Barton service to East Midlands Trains. Here is the DfT's preamble to question NTSR5 explaining their thinking on the potential change:
In addition to the proposals for transfer of TPE services set out in Chapter 5, we are seeking views on the future franchise responsibility for the route from Cleethorpes and Grimsby to Barton-on-Humber. Since the previous 're-mapping' in 2004, this service has been operationally separated from the rest of Northern, making it difficult for the franchisee to develop the service strategically and for it to handle service disruptions.

These difficulties would be resolved if the main south Humberside service between Sheffield and Cleethorpes was transferred to Northern (see chapter 5), but if this change does not proceed we propose the transfer of the route from Cleethorpes and Grimsby to Barton-on-Humber to East Midlands Trains (EMT). EMT operates other local and regional services in Lincolnshire, and the route appears to fit better in its portfolio. However would transfer to East Midlands Trains really solve the issues surrounding the current arrangements?

The following arguements should be prefaced with the fact that the operational arrangements that any East Midlands Trains operation would involve are not known. However I would assume the status quo of TransPennine Express crewing most services would be unlikely since it would retain the current complexity of having two franchises involved in the service, and would not improve on the current operational arrangements. I would also assume that East Midlands Trains setting up a Cleethorpes crew base of it's own would be unlikely due to increased costs, and this could also be done under Northern Rail control. Therefore I am assuming that the use of Lincoln based crew, and possibly Lincoln 'overnighted' stock.

Firstly there needs to be a recognition that railway geography means a unit failure for example during the day on the Barton Line is not going to be quick to recover. There is no major depot or stabling point nearby with standby stock. Service disruptions will always be difficult to handle, whatever the operational arrangements.

We also need to look at East Midlands Trains current services to Cleethorpes. Two weekday departures, one weekday arrival (plus an empty stock working) and three Summer Sunday return services. Not much of an improvement on the current Northern Rail services to Cleethorpes excluding the Barton Line. Of course East Midlands Trains operate more regular services to Grimsby Town, however to maximise options for swapping stock between the Barton Line and the rest of the East Midlands Trains network either some Barton Line services would need to terminate/start from Grimsby Town not Cleethorpes, or more Lincoln-Grimsby services would need to extend to Cleethorpes. Times would also need to be altered to facilitate swaps between stock. Is East Midlands Trains really better placed to handle service disruptions? Would some Barton Line services need to be cutback to Grimsby Town? How easily can the Lincoln-Grimsby timetable be recast to facilitate more regular extensions to Cleethorpes if required? And if Lincoln based crew were used the ability to recover service disruptions quickly would be even less than at present with Cleethorpes based crew used.

It's not just about service disruptions or routine stock swapping. If you had Lincoln based crew, and potentially Lincoln based/ouststationed stock how do you get them home at the end of the day without adding extra cost? While there is an existing early morning empty stock working that arrives in Cleethorpes before the start of the days service (Mon-Sat), in the evening the last East Midlands Trains working is the 2116 from Cleethorpes on weekdays and 1945 on Saturdays. The last Barton line service arrives in Cleethorpes at 2248. So what would the options be? Cut the evening Cleethorpes to Barton service? Add, at cost to the taxpayer, a new 2250-ish Cleethorpes to Lincoln service? Taxi, at cost to the taxpayer, crew back to Lincoln at the end of the day? A similar sitation also surrounds the Summer Sunday service where the first Barton Line services leaves Cleethorpes at 0958 yet the first East Midlands Trains arrival at Cleethorpes is at 1316.

Am I making a case for an East Midlands Trains Cleethorpes depot to operate the Barton Line and the North East Lincolnshire-Lincoln service. Maybe. But what savings would that bring? It would eliminate the early morning Lincoln-Cleethorpes empty stock move but either a new late Lincoln-Cleethorpes service would have to be added to compensate, or the last service of the day from Cleethorpes/Grimsby to Lincoln would need to be withdrawn.

There is also the additional early morning service that requires an additional train to be considered; as already mentioned this is efficiently linked to a Scunthorpe-Doncaster peak service at present. What East Midlands Trains service could this be linked too without requiring an extra unit? There isn't one unless the 0740 Newark-Grimsby Town (0815 Lincoln-Grimsby Sat) was cancelled so to allow the stock to work the extra Barton Line services and then return on the 0920 from Grimsby to Lincoln. The only other option I can see is to get TransPennine Express to operate the extra early morning service as happenned for a number of years. Nothing wrong with that but it hardly simplifies operations. The current arrangement also supports an early morning Scunthorpe to Cleethorpes service.

Has the DfT actually done any analysis of how an East Midlands Trains operation of the Cleethorpes to Barton line would work in reality? Could this mean cuts to the Barton Line service by stealth as East Midlands Trains operation could increase operating costs? If so please hold an open consultation on cuts rather than trying to inflate costs first to try and justify them.

It is also worth pointing out the Barton Line is not within the East Midlands, and the DfT comment "EMT operates other local and regional services in Lincolnshire" is largely irrelevant. Relationships with Lincolnshire County Council are irrelevant. It is also worth noting that Community Rail Humber, the umbrella brand of the Barton Cleethorpes Community Rail Partnership and Yorkshire Coast Community Rail Partnership (Northern Rail operated Hull-Scarborough line) has recently advertised for a community rail officer to work across both partnerships. It is hardly going to help that officer if they have to work with two rather than one franchises.

The current arrangement for the Barton Line is far from ideal, but would East Midlands Trains be any better? Is the current arrangement the least-worst arrangement? Personally I think so. I would be interested to hear any opposing views however.

EYMS to operate between Goole and Scunthorpe from September

Last week I posted Sweyne Coaches's VOSA cancellations for their Scunthorpe-Goole services. A commentor posted a rumour that EYMS had won the contract for the replacement service. EYMS have confirmed today on their twitter feed they will be operating between Goole and Scunthorpe from September.

EYMS already serve Scunthorpe with their share of the 350 Humber Fastcat service from Hull and National Express contracts. In Goole they operate the town service and services along the 'A63/M62' corridor to Hull. I would presume EYMS will use their Elloughton depot to operate their new Goole-Scunthorpe service; this is their nearest depot to Goole.

If anyone has any details, there are some questions I have:

• Are Sweyne Coaches operating commercially or on a tendered basis at the moment?
• Are EYMS going to be operating a commercial service or will it be a contracted route?
• Does this affect the Stagecoach 357, the tendered Saturday service between Scunthorpe and Goole? (Sweyne do operate an Eastoft-Goole and Goole-Swinefleet journey on Saturdays as well)

Northern Rail and TransPennine Express franchise consultation

Early last week the Department for Transport released it's consultation on the new Northern Rail and TransPennine Express rail franchises, which contains some worrying proposals for the Humber Region. In summary:

• If the Hull to Selby line is not electrified one of the service options proposed is a Hull to Leeds diesel shuttle service. There is no guarantee that through services to Manchester will be maintained. A separate proposal raises the possibility of linking Hull to the South TransPennine service which could be an alternative option for Manchester links. This is not guaranteed however.
• A proposal is made to remove South Humberside from the TransPennine Express network. The new service pattern would be a TransPennine Express Doncaster to Manchester service and a Northern Rail Cleethorpes to Sheffield service. This would remove current through links to Manchester and Manchester Airport. What makes this proposal even more concerning is that the replacement Cleethorpes to Sheffield service could be an extension of the current Scunthorpe-Doncaster-Sheffield stopping service. This would increase journey times from Cleethorpes, Grimsby Town, Habrough and Barnetby and reduce Scunthorpe to Doncaster service frequency from two to one service per hour.
• If TransPennine Express continued to serve Cleethorpes the Northern Rail Cleethorpes to Barton service would transfer to East Midlands Trains.

I have submitted my own response to the consultation. To submit your response read the consultation document and submit your consultation response via this link. The response deadline is 2345 on 18th August.

Sweyne cancel Scunthorpe-Goole registrations with VOSA

From VOSA:

PB0000686/1 - JOSEPH ERIC HOLT & PARTNERS T/A SWEYNE COACHES, LONG SHORES, SWINEFLEET FIELDS, SWINEFLEET, GOOLE, DN14 8EL
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Scunthorpe and Goole given service number 357/360/361/362 effective from 30-Aug-2014.

PB0000686/4 - JOSEPH ERIC HOLT & PARTNERS T/A SWEYNE COACHES, LONG SHORES, SWINEFLEET FIELDS, SWINEFLEET, GOOLE, DN14 8EL
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Goole and Scunthorpe given service number 356/357/360/361/362 effective from 30-Aug-2014.

PB0000686/15 - JOSEPH ERIC HOLT & PARTNERS T/A SWEYNE COACHES, LONG SHORES, SWINEFLEET FIELDS, SWINEFLEET, GOOLE, DN14 8EL
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Swinefleet and Goole High School given service number 501 effective from 30-Aug-2014.

'Health Warning' - in the absence of further information this could purely be a 'housekeeping exercise' with services being re-registered. I would not take the cancellation of any service on VOSA as proof of service withdrawal until further information is available to confirm.

Stagecoach in Hull 53 Withdrawn? Other August Changes

The following appeared on the VOSA website today, including the cancellation of the service 53 registration between Hull City Centre, Garden Village, Ings Road and Salthouse Road. If this was cancelled without replacement parts of Hull would be left either unserved or with significantly worse services than presently provided.

PB0001484/244 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB
Variation Accepted: Operating between Hull Interchange and Kingswood given service number 28A/28 effective from 04-Aug-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

PB0001484/251 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Hull Interchange and Saltshouse Road given service number 53 effective from 04-Aug-2014.

PB0001484/254 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB
Variation Accepted: Operating between Hull Interchange and Cottingham Castle hill given service number 110 effective from 04-Aug-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

PB0001484/257 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB
Variation Accepted: Operating between Beverley Rd and Preston Cranswick Foods given service number 677/101 effective from 04-Aug-2014. To amend Timetable.

Evening EYMS Service 103 withdrawn for Summer

During the Hull University Summer Holidays from Monday 16th June to Saturday 27th September inclusive the evening service on route 103 between Hull City Centre, the Avenues, Hull University and Cottingham which operates hourly Monday to Saturday will be withdrawn. The daily daytime service is unaffected, as is service 105 which will continue to provide a half hourly evening link between Hull and Cottingham via Beverley Road and the University.

Stagecoach Grimsby routes 1/20 gain Saturday service

Since yesterday, Saturday 31st May, Stagecoach operated services 1 and 20 in Grimsby have gained a Saturday service; these routes previously operated on weekdays only.

Service 1 now operates between Grimsby Town Centre and Europarc hourly during Saturday daytimes. Unlike weekday service 1, Saturday services will not extend beyond Europarc to Wybers Wood, which seems odd as there is 24 minutes layover time in the new Saturday timetable at Europarc. The weekday morning journeys on service 20 from Cleethorpes and Grimsby to Europarc and Wybers Wood now also operate on Saturdays; these comprise the 0510 and 0650 from Cleethorpes and 0608 from Wybers Wood.

Services 1 and 20 are operated by Stagecoach on behalf of North East Lincolnshire Council. While one of the main aims is to serve the Europarc industrial estate, service 1 also serves residential areas in the West Marsh area of Grimsby.

EYMS X47 Evening Changes

EYMS are altering their evening service X47 between Hull, Beverley, Market Weighton, Pocklington and York from Sunday 1st June. The Friday and Saturday only 1915 from Hull to York will operate 40 minutes later at 1955; this is the last through journey from Hull to York. The 2208 return will operate 20 minutes later at 2228; this is also the last journey from York to Hull.

The 2208 had previously travelled through Beverley at 2310 and was followed by a daily 2335 from Beverley to Hull. This short journey will operate at 2330 Sunday to Thursday only from 1st June, with the retimed 2228 from York serving Beverley at 2330 on Friday and Saturday.

The 2335 short journey was previously worked from the 2300 121 from Hull to Beverley though from 1st June this will only operate on Sundays as service 246 with the equivalent Monday to Saturday journey operating through to Hornsea. Instead the Monday to Thursday 2330 X47 from Beverley will be worked from the 2251 Nafferton to Beverley service 121. On Friday and Saturdays this working will operate a new 2330 Beverley to Driffield and 0000 Driffield to Hull on service 121.

EYMS Hull-Beverley-Hornsea changes

From Sunday 1st June, EYMS are altering their services between Hull and Hornsea. The main change is that the Monday to Saturday 2055 and 2300 journeys from Hull to Hornsea on service 240 via Skirlaugh are replaced by new journeys from Hull to Hornsea on service 246 via Beverley at 2025 and 2300. Additionally the 2300 shall operate on Sundays between Hull and Beverley only; this will be the only Sunday service 246 journey between Hull and Beverley. The new service 246 journeys partially mitigate the evening cutbacks to service 121.

The Monday to Saturday 1750 240 from Hull to Hornsea will operate 25 minutes later at 1815; this is now the last bus from Hull to Ganstead, Coniston, Skirlaugh and Long Riston. Evening journeys on service 240 from Hornsea to Hull at 1830 and 2200 are unaltered.

Finally the Monday to Saturday 0900 and Monday to Friday 0940 service 246's from Beverley to Hull shall instead operate at 0855 and 0915.

EYMS 121 June Changes

Following the closure of Driffield depot which operated most of service 121 between Hull, Beverley, Driffield, Bridlington, Filey and Scarborough, EYMS are amending the timetable from Sunday 1st June. The route will be transferred to Hull and Scarborough depots (not sure if Beverley and Bridlington depots may operate a small number of journeys?), meaning if the inbound bus arrives late, a different bus and driver can be more easily sent to ensure the outbound bus departs on time. Also to help punctuality EYMS are introducing separate summer and winter timetables, while all journeys will once again serve Reighton.

Comparing the new Summer timetable to the current timetable (excluding schoolday only services):

Northbound

• The 0630 Driffield to Bridlington (Mon-Sat) and 0705 Driffield to Scarborough (Mon-Sat) are replaced by a 0653 Driffield to Bridlington and a 0730 Bridlington to Scarborough. There is no 'balancing' working to get a vehicle to Driffield for this journey
• The 0640 Hull to Nafferton (Mon to Sat) will operate at 0630
• The 0700 (Mon-Fri)/0715 (Sat) Hull to Scarborough will operate at 0650
• The 0735 Driffield-Scarborough (Sun) is replaced by a 0826 Hunmanby to Scarborough. The first Sunday bus from Driffield to Scarborough is now at 0925
• The 0740 Driffield to Bridlington (Sat and School Holidays) is withdrawn
• The 0820 (Mon-Fri)/0830 (Sat) Hutton Cranswick to Bridlington is replaced by a 0825 Beverley to Bridlington (Mon-Fri)/0745 Hull to Bridlington (Sat)
• The 0823 Driffield-Scarborough (Sun) is replaced by a 0926 Hunmanby-Scarborough
• The 0825/0829 (Mon-Fri) Primrose Valley to Scarborough is withdrawn
• The 1725 Hull to Driffield is extended through to Scarborough. The current last through service from Hull to Scarborough is at 1525
• The 1835 Primrose Valley Lane End to Scarborough (Mon-Fri)/1836 Hunmanby to Scarborough (Sat) is replaced by a daily 1830 Bridlington to Scarborough that connects out of the 1625 Hull to Bridlington

The current daily evening service from Hull is hourly, with journeys at 1825, 1925 and 2025 to Driffield (1825 to Bridlington on Sundays), 2125 and 2225 to Nafferton and finally 2300 to Beverley. This is reduced to an 1825 (not Sun) to Beverley plus 1925 and 2125 to Nafferton. Enhanced service 246 will provide a replacement between Hull and Beverley. Additionally a new Friday and Saturday only 2330 Beverley to Driffield will operate, which connect from the 2300 service 246 Hull to Hornsea at Beverley.

Southbound

• The 0555 Driffield to Hull (Mon to Sat) is replaced by a 0615 Beverley to Hull (Mon to Fri). The first bus from Driffield to Hull is now at 0647.
• The 0615 Scarborough to Primrose Valley (weekday only) and 0737 Driffield to Hull (Mon to Sat) are replaced by a new 0555 (Mon to Sat) Scarborough to Hull. The current first through service from Scarborough to Hull is at 0925
• The 0636 Nafferton to Hull (Mon-Sat) will operate at 0635. There is no 'balancing' working to get a vehicle to Nafferton for this journey.
• The 0645 Scarborough to Primrose Valley (Mon-Fri) is replaced by a 0630 Scarborough to Bridlington that will now additionally operate on Saturdays
• The 0657 Driffield to Hull (Sun) is replaced by an 0704 Leconfield-Hull
• The 0730 Scarborough to Bridlington (Mon-Fri) will operate via Eastfield rather than Cayton Bay Holiday Village and will now additionally operate on Saturdays and Sundays
• The 0750 Scarborough to Primrose Valley (Mon-Fri) is withdrawn
• The 0807 Driffield to Hull (Sun) is replaced by a 0824 Leconfield-Hull
• The 0815 Bridlington to Hull (Sat) is split into a 0815 Bridlington-Driffield and 0904 Driffield-Hull matching the weekday timetable (see below)
• The 0851 Driffield to Hull (Mon-Fri)/0907 (Sun) will operate at 0904
• The 1007 (Sun) Driffield to Hull will operate at 1004
• The 1725 Scarborough to Hull is split into two seperate Scarborough to Bridlington and Bridlington to Hull journeys
• The 1755 Scarborough to Hunmanby (Sat) is withdrawn
• A new 1905 Beverley to Hull (Mon-Sat) journey is added
• The 2030 Bridlington to Hull is replaced by a 2051 Nafferton to Hull; the last journey from Bridlington to Hull is now at 1930
• A new 2251 Nafferton to Beverley is added
• A New 0000 Driffield to Hull (Fri and Sat) is added

Overall while there are some cutbacks following the closure of Driffield depot there are also enhancements, including the new late journey to Driffield on Friday and Saturday nights.

EYMS 180 June Change

From Monday 2nd June, on weekdays the 1400 EYMS service 180 from Beverley to Swanland will terminate in Hessle, while the 1535 return from Swanland to Beverley will start in Hessle at 1615. These journeys will continue to serve Swanland on Saturdays.

As a result Swanland and North Ferriby no longer have a 'usable' option to visit Beverley on weekdays. The first bus from these villages arrive in Beverley at 1115 with the last departure 45 minutes later. The 180 continues to provide usable weekday links from these villages to Hessle and Willerby Shopping Park 6 days a week, and to Beverley on Saturdays.

The 180 was extended to Swanland and North Ferriby last July replacing once-a-day Monday to Saturday service 184 from the villages to Hessle, and three day a week service 144 from the villages to Beverley.

EYMS 45/46/46A/142 Changes

Partly because of the closure of EYMS's Driffield depot, services 45, 46 and 46A between York, Pocklington, Market Weighton, Driffield and Bridlington will be amended from Sunday 1st June. Sunday services are unchanged so the below only applies to Monday to Saturday services.

The main changes are to the once a day 46A variation that provides a link to Driffield from Tibthorpe and Kirkburn. This variation to the main 46 service will also serve North Dalton, which is additionally served by the 45. Currently the 46A operates on weekdays only with a 0900 York-Bridlington and 1305 Driffield-York return. However from June the 0900 46A becomes a 46 (matching the Saturday service) with a new 0905 Pocklington-Driffield 46A added. The 1305 will operate earlier at 1255.

The 46A also gains a Saturday service, operating at the same times as on weekdays. This replaces the last two journeys on service 142 to continue serving Driffield, the 0930 from Middleton and 1250 return. The 142 previously provided an alternative through service between Beverley and Driffield serving various villages but in recent years the remaining EYMS service has comprised two seperate Beverley-Middleton and Middleton-Driffield links. While in some ways it's the end of an era with the 142 no longer serving Driffield, it does simplify the network. The 1255 46A from Driffield to York will replace the previous Saturday only 1310 service 46 from Driffield to York.

Elsewhere the 0945 York to Driffield service 45 is extended through to Bridlington but the 1730 weekday/1645 Saturday service 45 from York to Driffield terminates in Pocklington instead, Driffield passengers will instead need to use the earlier 1545 or later 1835. The 1750 service 45 from Bridlington to Driffield moves to 1635 and operates through to York replacing the previous 1710 from Driffield to York. The 0605 service 46 from Pocklington to York will operate at 0600 while the 1955 service 46 from Pocklington to York will operate at 2025.

EYMS New Moors Explorer

For many years EYMS had provided Summer links from Hull and Beverley to the North Yorkshire Moors as part of the Moorsbus network of services designed for visitors to the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. However the national park authority have pulled funding for the network and it has sadly ceased.

Starting on Sunday (25th May), EYMS are attempting to provide a commercial replacement. Every Sunday and Bank Holiday until the end of September, the new Moors Explorer service will link Hessle, Anlaby, Willerby, Hull City Centre, Cottingham and Beverley to Bainton, Wetwang, Malton, Pickering, Kirkbymoorside and Danby. A single journey operates in each direction over the whole route, allowing for daytrips to the North Yorkshire Moors, as well as an extra journey during the day between Pickering and Danby. Connections can be made onto other services at Pickering, Kirkbymoorside and Danby.

The service is classed as a tourist service so concessionary passes cannot be used; considering low reimbursement rates this is probably the only way to make the service viable. Hopefully this commercial experiment will be a success for EYMS.

New EYMS service to ABP Alexandra Dock

From VOSA's website. Is this a worker/commuter service?

PB0000328/444 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS

• Registration Accepted by SN
• Starting Point: Hull Interchange
• Finish Point: Alexandra Dock
• Via:
• Service Number: ABP
• Service Type: Normal Stopping
• Effective Date: 21-JUN-2014
• Other Details: Hull Interchange - Alexandra Dock

Hornsby 16/327 June Changes

Two Hornsby Travel operated services in Scunthorpe are getting revised timetables from 10th June. Service 16 from Parklands Caravan Site to either Scunthorpe Bus Station (Tuesday and Friday) or Ashby (Thursday) will have all journeys operating 30-40 minutes earlier. Meanwhile the two return journeys on Friday only service 327 to Dragonby will operate 50 minutes earlier.

Info taken from Traveline East Midlands

Busking 136 Changes

From Tuesday 7th May Busking are amending their Monday to Saturday 136 service between Bridlington, Skipsea, Beeford, North Frodingham and Driffield:

• The 0710 from Beeford to Driffield will operate at 0700
• The 0830 from Bridlington to Driffield has it's journey time increased by 10 minutes
• The 1100 and 1400 from Bridlington to Driffield will operate at 1130 and 1430 and have their journey time increased by 10 minutes
• The 1620 from Bridlington to North Frodingham will operate at 1700
• The 1730 from Bridlington to North Frodingham will operate at 1815
• The 2200 from Bridlington to Beeford is cancelled

While disappointing to loose the 2200 departure, with the last arrival into Bridlington having been over five hours earlier, it's usefulness was limited for evening's out.

In the reverse direction:

• The 0730 from Driffield to Bridlington will operate at 0720 and have it's journey time increased by 10 minutes
• The 0930 and 1230 from Driffield to Bridlington will operate at 0940 and 1240 and have their journey time increased by 10 minutes
• The 1510 from Driffield to Bridlington will operate at 1530 and have it's journey time increased by 10 minutes.

All comparisons in this post are between the current timetable as posted on the Busking website, and the new timetable as posted on Traveline Yorkshire.

EYMS 705 Details Revealed

Last month I asked what the new service 705 registered by EYMS to operate between Hessle and Barton was for. EYMS have now announced details.

The 705 is a vintage bus service (though EYMS reserve the right to substitute a standard bus) between Hessle Square, Hessle Foreshore, the Humber Bridge Country Park and Barton Station, operating to a roughly hourly timetable on 8 days this Summer; Saturday 3rd May, Sunday 4th May, Saturday 31st May, Sunday 1st June, Saturday 5th July, Sunday 6th July, Saturday 2nd August and Sunday 3rd August.

The pdf timetable contains an East Riding of Yorkshire Council logo, so I presume they are involved in the funding of this service. Ideally such a service would serve additional points in Barton such as Waters Edge Country Park, the Ropewalk (though that is very close to the Station) and the Market Place, but if East Riding of Yorkshire Council are funding the service understandably they aren't are going to place too much emphasis on Barton's tourist attractions. At least the Station is a fairly central stop for those who are able to walk for 10-15 minutes to wherever they want to visit, and it does allow connections with other services.

Fares are £2.50 for adults and £2.00 for children and over 60's, with tickets valid on the service all day, which enables a passenger to say travel from Hessle to the Humber Bridge Country Park then have a ride across the Humber Bridge before going back to Hessle. And while this is far from the intention of the service, these very good value fares mean it will be cheaper to travel from Barton to Hessle on service 705 then catch a bus into Hull (£3.75 adult return) than pay for a Barton to Hull return (£7.40 on Stagecoach, EYMS maybe a little cheaper).

Anyway hopefully the service is a success, both as a bus service and to help attract visitors to both banks of the Humber. I will be hopefully be trying it out at some point.

Transdev 36 to Sutton Upon Derwent

From tomorrow, Monday 28th April, Transdev York service 36 (a City of York Council tendered service?) between York and Elvington is extended to Sutton upon Derwent in the East Riding of Yorkshire. By extending the 36, the village will benefit from a significantly improved service; 5 journeys will operate from Sutton upon Derwent into York, with three return journeys Monday to Saturday daytimes. Peak time links will continue to be provided by the X36, and the 195/196 continue to provide some additional daytime services on certain days of the week.

From reviewing the new timetable, it seems that service 36 will have a 30 minute layover in Sutton Upon Derwent. Could be the 36 be further enhanced by using these 30 minutes to serve additional villages, such as Newton upon Derwent ot Melbourne, delivering significant enhancements to these villages bus services? Additionally extending the 36 to Newton upon Derwent could enable the 196/196 to eliminate their 'detour' to the village (except for maybe a Pocklington shopping link on certain journeys); the 195 in particular is already a lengthy journey.

Stagecoach North Hull Changes

Last November Stagecoach in Hull made significant changes to North Hull services 32 and 51, which from Monday 28th April will be further refined.

The main change is the renumbering of the 32A and 51A variations to numbers 31 and 52 respectively, following customer feedback. The 'new' 31 will follow the current 32A route except the inward journeys towards Hull will operate via Robson Way and enter Sutton Village from Wawne Road. The new '52' follows the current 51A route except in Hull City Centre it will operate via Drypool Bridge and Alfred Gelder Street, following the same route as service 31/32, instead of serving North Bridge and George Street. This improves links to the Old Town area of Hull City Centre.

Interestingly one of the reasons for introducing the 32A was to link Howdale Road and Dunvegan Road to the Old Town as it could not be done without putting extra resources into service 51, yet now service 51 variant, new route 52, is being routed via the Old Town.

Also of note is a slightly increased peak time service on routes 31/32; currently the 32/32A provide a service every 10 minutes combined but from next week the 32 will operate every 10 minutes into Hull for half an hour in the morning peak, and from Hull for an hour in the evening peak, supplemented by service 31 every 20 minutes.

The other main change concerns evening services on routes 30, 31 and 32. There is currently a completely different service 31 that operates every hour in the evening (daily) between Hull City Centre and North Bransholme via parts of both routes 30 and 32. This service is to end, replaced by increasing evening service 32 from hourly to half hourly. Additionally service 30 shall operate half hourly all evening Monday to Saturday, rather than until just mid-evening as at present when it then reduces to hourly. The odd thing is that all evening, and all day Sunday, journeys on service 30 shall operate via Leads Road, but not use the 30A prefix used for the Leads Road diversion in the daytime. While removing the old 31 simplifies the network, the numbering of evening and Sunday service 30's add confusion. Why not use the 30A number?
UPDATE 3/5/14 - While the 30 in the evenings and Sundays is now serving Leads Road it is not using the same route as the 30A. So that is probably why the 30A number is not being used. However it does add further complexity to the network.

Another service ending is weekday peak time 31X, which had provided two morning journeys from Wawne into Hull via North Bransholme, Noddle Hill Way, Barnstaple Road, Holwell Road and Garden Village, plus three evening return services. The increased service 32 along Noddle Hill Way previously mentioned provides a replacement for that area, though without the Holwell Road link. In the morning the 0750 30A from North Bransholme starts back in Wawne at 0747 and operates as a service 30W, omitting Bodmin Road but serving Garden Village, to provide a partial replacement for the 31X (returning to the service level provided until last November). Similarly in the afternoon the current 1710 30A from Hull Interchange becomes a 30W.

There are also changes to the weekday late afternoon service on the route 30 corridor. The current 1457, 1557 and 1657 30W's from Wawne will start at North Point at 1520, 1620 and 1720 with the current 1510, 1610 and 1710 30's from Bodmin Road starting at Wawne instead. The 1440 30A from North Bransholme moves to 1445 with the 1450 service 30 from North Bransholme to Hull withdrawn.

Finally KC Stadium service 31F is renumbered 40F; following the changes to the 31 described above the 31F number would no longer make sense.

EYMS Service 705

The following registration appeared on the VOSA website today. I presume from the service number it is a special event park and ride, but does anyone know for what special event?

PB0000328/442 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS

• Registration Accepted by SN
• Starting Point: Hessle
• Finish Point: Barton
• Via:
• Service Number: 705
• Service Type: Normal Stopping
• Effective Date: 03-MAY-2014
• Other Details: Hessle - Barton

EYMS 510 Changes - Again, Plus Service 100 Returns

EYMS are amending service 510 between Bridlington and Flamborough again from Monday 28th April.

Last June, EYMS diverted the 510 to operate via Bridlington Promenade instead of Quay Road. They also increased the Summer School Holiday frequency to half hourly, replacing previous peak Summer sevice 100. Then in September, following passenger feedback the service was re-routed back via Quay Road.

The latest change will incorporate both routes. Services from Flamborough will operate via Quay Road to Bridlington Bus Station before returning to Flamborough via the Promenade. Through journeys are available from Quay Road back to Flamborough with a five minute wait at Bridlington Bus Station. Services will now leave Bridlington Bus Station at :55 rather than :50 minutes past the hour. All services will leave Flamborough at :25 past the hour as opposed to the current mix of :18 and :25 minute past the hour departures. This means 'short' journeys will wait at Flamborough Dog and Duck for a rather long 12 minutes, which I guess might not please passengers who board on Southsea Road, on the Flamborough 'loop' these journeys follow. A trade off between minimising waiting time at Flamborough, minimising waiting time at Bridlington Bus Station, and standard interval timetables.

The peak Summer frequency increase will be provided this year by the return of service 100, operating between Belvedere Turning Circle, south of Bridlington Town Centre and Thornwick Camp, daily between 20th July and 30th August. Services operate every 55-65 minutes with only alternate journeys serving Belvedere Turning Circle. The 100 is well spaced between journeys on service 510. As a result of the reintroduction of service 100, North Landing and St Aidan Road will not benefit from the Summer frequency increase they enjoyed last year.

Acklams Beverley Town Service Changes

From Tuesday 22nd April, Acklams Coaches Beverley Town Service 522 will depart Beverley Bus Station 10 minutes earlier, at :35 past the hour instead off :45 past the hour. Arrival times back into Beverley Bus Station are unchanged.

Acklams Beverley Town Service 6 also has a very minor change with the 0925 from Beverley Parklands to Beverley Bus Station departing 3 minute earlier.

All info is based on comparing the current timetable on Acklams Coaches website to Traveline Yorkshire. All the change apply Monday to Saturday.

EYMS Weekday Bridlington Changes

From Monday 28th April, EYMS are adjusting weekday services in Bridlington

• Service 504 will gain a new weekday 0910 Bridlington-Bempton journey; the previous first journey was at 1010. The 0910 currently, and will continue to, operate on Saturdays
• The 505 Bridlington-West Hill circular sees the current part-route schoolday 0925 West Hill-Bridlington journey start back at Bridlington Bus Station at 0905, matching the equivalent school holiday and Saturday journey.
• The 512 Bridlington Town Service journey at 1405 will no longer operate on Wednesdays during school term time. This shall create a 2 hour 15 minute gap in the service, though service 513 covers most of the route, operating as a circular service in the opposite direction to the 512
• The 517 journey at 1607 from New Pasture Lane to Bridlington Town Centre is withdrawn on schooldays

Rather confusing is the change to service 507. The EYMS announcement (as off 18/4/14) states:

"The 2.20pm Service 507 from Bridlington Bus Station will now run on Wednesdays during school term time."

Yet the timetable shows the 1420 service 507 journey as no longer operating on Wednesday's in school term time?

EYMS 103 June Change

EYMS have registered a variation with VOSA to service 103 between Hull and Cottingham from mid-June.

PB0000328/426 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS
Variation Accepted: Operating between Hull and The Lawns given service number 103 effective from 15-Jun-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

Hornsby 16/327 June Changes

Hornsby Travel will be amending two Scunthorpe area tendered services in early June. From VOSA:

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 09-Jun-2014. To amend Timetable.

PB0001410/33 - HORNSBY TRAVEL SERVICES LTD, 51-53 ASHBY HIGH STREET, SCUNTHORPE, DN16 2NB
Variation Accepted: Operating between SCUNTHORPE BUS STATION and DRAGONBY given service number 327 effective from 09-Jun-2014. To amend Timetable.

EYMS 195/196/199 (Updated)

EYMS are making major changes to their 195 Pocklington-Elvington-York service from Monday 28th April, as well as making a smaller change to service 196 between Aughton, Elvington and York and withdrawing part off Pocklington local service 199. According to EYMS, the changes are due to funding cuts from East Riding of Yorkshire Council, as well as lack of use of some journeys. The services are mostly tendered.

Service 195

The current Monday and Thursday 0920/Saturday 0935 from Pocklington to York War Memorial is replaced by a Wednesday and Saturday departure at 0930, which will additionally divert via Allethorpe and Thornton but terminate at York Piccadilly rather than extending through the city centre to the War Memorial. Returning from York the Monday and Thursday 1330/Saturday 1440 departure from York War Memorial is replaced by a Wednesday 1345/Saturday 1445 departure from York Merchantgate, again also additionally serving Allerthorpe and Thornton. As a result Allethorpe and Thornton gain new links to York.

The current weekday 0930 departure from Newton upon Derwent to Pocklington will continue to operate, but only on Tuesdays and Thursdays and will additionally serve Allerthorpe and Thornton. The 1240 return, which currently operates on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays and runs as far as Sutton on Derwent, will instead operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays, additionally serve Allethorpe and Thornton, also extend beyond Sutton on Derwent into York. A return option is available for some villages using Transdev York service X36.

Finally the Tuesday only 1255 from Newton upon Derwent to York is unchanged apart from it will now terminate at York Piccadilly and not continue to the War Memorial.

Overall while the changes are service reductions, with some links going from 3 to 2 days a week, they could have been a lot worse and there are even a couple of positives. And I doubt a Monday 0930 from Newton upon Derwent to Pocklington with no return option until Tuesday was well used in the first place!

Service 196

This Tuesday only service, which provides a shopping link into York, will see it's return journey from York War Memorial operate 7 minutes later throughout, departing at 1337 rather than 1330.

Service 199

The Pocklington-Allerthorpe-Thornton part of the 199 is being withdrawn; it provides two journeys in each direction on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays which the 195 changes described above will replace. The Tuesday only Pocklington-Huggate section of the 195 is unaffected.

If anyone can clarify the situation, or add any extra info about part of East Yorkshire that I am not overly familiar with, please post a comment.

Finally, according to itravel York, some journeys on Transdev York service 36 between York and Elvington are to be extended to Sutton on Derwent from late April.

NOTE - The original version of this post suggested the 199 could possibly be withdrawn entirely, as when it was written on Monday night the Huggate-Pocklington part of the service was not showing on EYMS's website. At some point on Tuesday the website was updated to re-add the timetable for the Huggate-Pocklington link and this post has been reflected to update that.

Introducing new EYMS Service 18

From Monday 28th April, EYMS introduce new service 18 between Market Weighton, Holme On Spalding Moor, Bubwith, North Duffield, Wheldrake, York Designer Outlet, Fulford and York, replacing EYMS service 34 between Market Weighton and Holme On Spalding Moor, and Transdev York service 35/X35 between Holme On Spalding Moor and York.

Transdev 35/X35 has been operated under contract to City of York, North Yorkshire and East Riding of Yorkshire Councils, and provides a two hourly Monday to Saturday daytime service, with extra weekday peak journeys and a basic Friday and Saturday evening service. It does not serve York Designer Outlet. EYMS service 34 provides an hourly morning/early afternoon Monday to Saturday service.

New EYMS service 18, which is only receiving funding from City of York and East Riding of Yorkshire Council's for some journeys, will provide a broadly two hourly service Monday to Saturday daytimes and continue the basic Friday and Saturday evening service.

Weekdays have departures from Market Weighton to York are at 0630, 0915, 1015, 1215, 1415 and 1615 with extra short departures from Holme On Spalding Moor to York at 0715 and North Duffield to York at 1731. The Friday evening service has 1835 and 2200 departures from Holme On Spalding Moor to York. Saturday departures from Market Weighton to York are at 0700, 0915, 1015, 1215, 1415 and 1615, with evening journeys from Holme On Spalding Moor to York at 1835 and 2200.

In the reverse direction services depart York on weekdays at 0830, 1040, 1140, 1340, 1540, 1640 (to North Duffield), 1740, 1820 (to Holme On Spalding Moor) then on Fridays only to Holme On Spalding Moor at 1940 and 2200 (on the 35 the evening departures are at 2105 and 2325). Saturday departures are the same as Fridays except there is no 1640 or 1820.

As a result the Holme On Spalding Moor to York section retains a broadly similar level of service; the first service from York is over two hours later but I guess the 0620 from York is largely an 'in-service positioning journey' from Transdev's depot. Between Market Weighton and Holme Upon Spalding Moor the morning/early afternoon frequency is reduced, and the link to Langlands Garden Centre provided by the 34 is lost, but journeys are spread over a longer period of the day.

However what matters most here is that EYMS are operating the new 18 on a part-commercial basis and with current funding cuts, particularly in North Yorkshire, if the service wasn't operated on a part commercial basis the remaining service could have been a lot worse. Good luck to EYMS, and the diversion via York Designer Outlet, all-day connections onto the X46 at Market Weighton, plus the through journey opportunties from linking the old 34 and 35 services into one route, should hopefully help attract new passengers.

Finally worth pointing out that for a number of years EYMS have provided the tendered Sunday service between Holme Upon Spalding Moor and York operating via Elvington Air Museum instead of Fulford, with four journeys provided each way. That service continues meaning EYMS will offer a 7 day a week service on the Holme Upon Splading Moor to York route.

New timetable

EYMS 180/X80 June Change

EYMS are amending service 180 (Swanland-North Ferriby-Hessle-Cottingham-Beverley) and/or service X80 (Hessle-Cottingham-Beverley) from 4th June. From VOSA:

PB0000328/50 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS

Variation Accepted: Operating between Beverley and Swanland given service number 180/X80 effective from 04-Jun-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

Acklams Beverley Town Services April Changes

After Easter Acklams Coaches are revising two of their Beverley Town Services. From VOSA:

PB1075166/6 - ACKLAMS COACHES LTD, BUS & COACH DEPOT, BARMSTON ROAD, BEVERLEY, HU17 0LA
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Beckside Beverley and Beckside Beverley given service number 6 effective from 22-Apr-2014. To amend Timetable.

PB1075166/8 - ACKLAMS COACHES LTD, BUS & COACH DEPOT, BARMSTON ROAD, BEVERLEY, HU17 0LA
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Beverley Sowhill Bus Station and Beverley Sowhill Bus Station given service number 522 effective from 22-Apr-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

EYMS 120/X20 return for 2014

EYMS/Scarborough and District are resuming their Summer services 120 and X20 from Saturday 15th March, operating daily until Sunday 2nd November. The 120 links Bridlington, Filey and Scarborough, operating hourly and also serving various holiday parks en-route. The X20 provides extra hourly short journeys between Filey and Scarborough.

120/X20 timetable

For 2014 a new 0805 Scarborough-Bridlington service 120 will be added (previous first bus 0905), as will new 1840 and 1940 Bridlington-Scarborough journeys (previous last bus 1735). Service X20 will now operate via Cayton Bay Holiday Village, and therefore follow the same route as service 120. The 0830 X20 from Scarborough to Filey and 0905 return will no longer operate on Sundays. Some journeys on both the 120 and X20 are slightly retimed.

While both services are aimed at tourists, they are also off use to local residents during the seven and a half months they operate. For example the last service from Bridlington to Scarborough on year round service 121 is at 1710, whereas the 120 provides later departures at 1740, 1840 and 1940. Filey residents can also benefit from a last 1905 departure from Scarborough on service 120 at 1905 compared to service 121's last departure at 1825.

Stagecoach in Hull Bransholme Area April Changes

Stagecoach in Hull are revising some of their Bransholme area services in late April:

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/30B/30W effective from 28-Apr-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

PB0001484/246 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB
Variation Accepted: Operating between Hull Interchange and North Point Shopping Centre given service number 32/31/40 effective from 28-Apr-2014. 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/52/N51 effective from 28-Apr-2014. To amend Timetable.

EYMS April Changes

From VOSA:

PB0000328/21 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS
Variation Accepted: Operating between Pocklington and York given service number 195/196/X36 effective from 27-Apr-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

PB0000328/69 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS
Variation Accepted: Operating between Bridlington Bus Station and Bempton Lane Circular given service number 512/513 effective from 28-Apr-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

PB0000328/70 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS
Variation Accepted: Operating between Bridlington Bus Station and West Hill Circular given service number 505/506 effective from 28-Apr-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

PB0000328/71 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS
Variation Accepted: Operating between Bridlington Bus Station and New Pasture Ln Circular given service number 507/517 effective from 28-Apr-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

PB0000328/72 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS
Variation Accepted: Operating between Bridlington Bus Station and Flamborough given service number 510 effective from 28-Apr-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

PB0000328/163 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS
Variation Accepted: Operating between Holme on Spalding Moor and York given service number 18A/18 effective from 27-Apr-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

 

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

Variation Accepted: Operating between Market Weighton and Holme on Spalding Moor given service number 18 effective from 27-Apr-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

EYMS Driffield Depot Closure: Official Press Release

Further to my earlier post, here is the official EYMS Press Release on the closure of their Driffield depot, including comments regarding punctuality on service 121.

27/02/2014 - Driffield Depot closure

The Hull-based family-owned bus company, EYMS Group, has today announced, with great regret, plans to close its depot at Driffield to reduce its overhead costs following significant cuts in the funding the company receives from central and local governments. All the routes currently operated from the depot will be reallocated to other EYMS depots with only very minor changes and the Company hopes that as many as possible of the current staff at Driffield can be found work elsewhere in the company as overall there will be no reduction in driver requirements.

An additional factor is that through no fault of the staff at Driffield, timekeeping on the depot's main route, EYMS's major trunk route 121 between Hull and Scarborough, has suffered badly in recent years from the lowering of many rural speed limits, increasing numbers of traffic signals, and delays caused by traffic congestion, slow-moving vehicles and roadworks. Basing the buses and drivers at the large depots at each end of the route instead of in the middle at Driffield will give better control by making it much easier to substitute buses and drivers when a journey runs late.

But the chief reason is financial. Only recently the East Riding of Yorkshire Council confirmed that it is to cut £240,000 a year from the money it pays to bus operators in the East Riding to carry passengers who travel free under the National Concessionary Travel Scheme and, as EYMS provides by far the majority of bus services in the East Riding, most of this money will be cut from the payment to EYMS for the 2014/2015 financial year and in the following years, with more reductions likely to follow.

In North Yorkshire which covers the northern section of route 121 route, that County Council is also proposing further reductions in the money it pays operators for the free travel scheme in the county and has already reduced significantly the money available for the bus routes which it currently supports directly.

EYMS says it is very reluctant to have to plan a depot closure, but by taking this action it would bring worthwhile overhead cost savings with only a very minor effect on the bus services themselves.

All the bus services currently operated by Driffield depot could in future be run from other EYMS depots at Hull, Bridlington Scarborough and Pocklington with only minor timing changes on some journeys. The only journeys to go would be a very small number of evening journeys on route 121 as they would be no longer be needed to get buses back to the Driffield depot from Hull or Bridlington.

Driffield is home to 15 buses and 33 staff, 28 of them drivers, and the Company says that jobs will be available at other depots for the vast majority of the staff if suitable travel or relocation arrangements can be made.

Consultations with the Union and staff representatives have started today and subject to these the depot could close by June.

EYMS Chairman, Peter Shipp, said "Many bus routes in other parts of the country have seen significant reductions and many have gone altogether over the last few years, but we have worked hard to maintain our services and have been prepared to accept very low profits in the face of increasingly difficult circumstances. So I am desperately sorry that we have finally had to take this step but it is vital that we do whatever we can to cut our overhead costs, and the work operated from Driffield depot can be accommodated at our other garages."

"To make anything approaching this level of savings by cutting bus services would mean a significant loss of journeys and possibly even whole routes. We would reduce costs but we would also lose passengers and revenue and job losses would be inevitable. Making savings this way we cut overhead costs but we are able to maintain virtually all of the journeys currently operated by Driffield depot, although I cannot rule out the possibility of bus service cuts elsewhere in future given the scale of the funding issues we are facing."

"However we have given staff an assurance that we are certainly not considering any other depot closures."

"In 2012 the Government cut the grant which has been paid to bus operators since the sixties to offset fuel duty. This has reduced EYMS income by £600,000 each year since then and it is just not possible to absorb all these large funding cuts without taking some fairly serious action."

"A major factor in all this is the National Concessionary Travel Scheme. It is great scheme for getting people out and about on buses and is very useful for older and disabled people who would otherwise be unable to get to essential services, but from the start in 2008 the scheme has been seriously underfunded. The incredibly complicated reimbursement formula, which we believe is seriously flawed and is changed each year by the Department for Transport, means that the payment made to bus operators by the local authorities who administer the scheme in each area has been reduced almost every year, and coupled with other funding cuts this is simply not sustainable. I think the scheme should remain free but it is vital that operators are properly reimbursed".

"The local authorities in our area have been very supportive and I have no doubt that they would prefer not to make these funding cuts but we all know they are under pressure and suffering big reductions in their budgets. It is just a great pity that bus services, which are a lifeline for many, are not given more priority especially by central government."

East Yorkshire Motor Services has had a presence in Driffield since the Company was formed in 1926 and the present depot was built in 1958 to replace the former garage premises.

Peter Shipp added "It will be a very sad day when the depot closes. Over the years we have shut a few depots inherited from local bus operators EYMS has bought, when those operations have been absorbed into our existing garages, but this would be the first original EYMS depot to close. An independent report into the UK bus industry commissioned in 2012* said that buses have been more adversely affected by cuts to Government spending than other transport modes, and that the industry is facing its greatest financial challenge for a generation. I'm afraid this is just one regrettable result of those challenges".