Hornsby 22 Re-route

Hornsby Travel operated Scunthorpe Town Service 22 will be re-routed in September. Details here.

Hull-Hedon cutbacks

As well as changes to Hull-Withernsea services that serve Hedon, EYMS are altering 'short' Hull-Hedon journeys on services 78/79/80 from 31st October. Looks like EYMS's cuts are starting.

Currently the 78 and 79 operate roughly hourly combined Monday to Saturday daytime, but from the end of October almost all 79 journeys will cease to operate, while many 78 journeys are retimed to replace service 79.

New 78-80 timetable

Humber Fastcat November Changes get interesting

Traveline East Midlands has the new timetable up for the 350 Humber Fastcat from 7th November. Some of the changes are minor retimings, but some potentially interesting early morning changes.

The Stagecoach 0620 Scunthorpe to Barton is now extended to Hull and the 0707 Barton to Scunthorpe starts at Hull. Between Barton and Hull these services operate at the exact same times as the 0620 Hull-Barton and 0653 return EYMS journeys. However the EYMS journeys are not shown as cancelled. Stagecoach's early morning services are now shown as operating on Saturdays as well as weekdays. Saturday early morning services between Barton and Hull were withdrawn in 2006 North Lincolnshire Council cut backs.

These changes indicate that Stagecoach's Scunthorpe and Hull depots maybe 'swapping diagrams'. Hull depot would take over the current Scunthorpe diagram including the 0815 from Scunthorpe. This currently includes the 1840 from Hull to Scunthorpe. However Traveline East Midlands shows a new 1825 departure from Hull. My guess is that this replaces the current 1810 departure and the 1840 is cancelled. This would ensure the diagram starts in Hull (at 0620) and finishes in Hull.

Scunthorpe depot would operate the current Hull diagram starting with the 0805 from Hull (after a 45 minute layover in Hull). However there is no new evening journey from Hull to Scunthorpe shown on Traveline East Midlands, while the 1840 Scunthorpe to Hull, currently the last journey on this diagram is still shown as operating. So the diagram starts in Scunthorpe (at 0620) and finishes in Hull (at 1952). Unless Stagecoach plan to run out of service back to Scunthorpe, this does not add up.

So certainly more to come here. The early morning changes are very interesting though. I'd guess that EYMS get quite a few people buying weekly and return tickets on the 0653 from Barton. Are Stagecoach deliberately trying to snatch this revenue and weaken EYMS's position on the service. Or is it a 'side effect' from swapping diagrams and potentially altering (reducing?) evening services? Do EYMS not make as much as I think from the 0653 and are planning to give it up?

Hull-Withernsea October Changes Details

EYMS have released the timetables for revised Hull-Withernsea services from Sunday 30th October. As noted earlier in the month this is in response to customer feedback following cuts earlier in the year.

Currently there is one service 75 each hour between Withernsea and Hull, Monday to Saturday daytime, serving Burtswick and Holderness Road, and one service 74 each hour between Keyingham and Hull serving Ryehill and operating directly into Hull, omitting Holderness Road.

From late October the 74 is gone, while the 75 returns to being a peak time, evening and Sunday service. Monday to Saturday daytimes sees the return of the 76 from Withernsea to Hull every hour via Ryehill and Holderness Road, while the 77 will operate all day again, hourly between Withernsea and Hull via Burstwick but not Holderness Road. Both the 76 and 77 will serve Waxholme Road in Withernsea - I think only one of these services used to serve Waxholme Road prior to EYMS's first set of changes to the corridor earlier in the year.

A couple of short Keyingham-Hull journeys remain in the late afternoon, operating as either service 75 or 77. Also of note is that one Withernsea to Hull and return evening service now no longer operates Sunday to Thursday (the 7pm-ish departure from Withernsea and 8.15pm return from Hull). Meanwhile a morning gap in service is plugged with a new 0945 Hull to Withernsea on weekdays, and a 1011 Hedon-Withernsea on Saturdays.

Other timing changes affect the 277 (Hedon-Hull) and 71 (Easington-Withernsea). The 2.30pm weekdays Hull-Patrington appears to have been withdrawn.

Humber Fastcat November Changes

From Monday 7th November changes will be made to the 350 Humber Fastcat timetable. Traveline East Midlands says this affects early morning times at Barton Market Place.

Peak time Goole Town Service Withdrawn

From Monday 3rd October the peak time element of the Goole Town Service will be withdrawn. This comprises the 0630 and 0730 service 4 journeys, and the 1615, 1715 and 1815 service 5 journeys. Funding has been withdrawn by Goole Town Council.

The Goole Town Service is operated by EYMS.

New York Pullman X36

Since Monday (5th September) York Pullman have started operating a new weekday service X36 between Pocklington and York, replacing withdrawn services on EYMS route 195. The X36 leaves Pocklington at 0635, returning from York at 1740.

Timetable

Goodbye 51X

Since Monday (5th September) Stagecoach's 0725 51X from Louth to Grimsby has become a 0710 service 51, additionally operating via Louth Hospital and Holton Le Clay. This means the end of the 51X variant to the InterConnect 51.

Changes that haven't happenned

The 360 to Scunthorpe Colleges hasn't been truncated to Barton and still starts at East Halton, correcting this post from last month.

And the 2 and 20 in Grimsby haven't ceased running, with the re-registration of service 20 appearing on the VOSA website today.

Hull-Withernsea back to half hourly

Yesterday EYMS warned of forthcoming service cuts, yet today are announcing that they will reverse a frequency cut they made earlier in May, reintroducing half hourly services from Withernsea into Hull.

There had been opposition from those affected by the May changes, and this has been a reason why EYMS are reversing the cut. On one hand it is good to see them listen to feedback, but on the other does this mean deeper cuts will have to be made elsewhere to compensate? After all the service must be struggling as it was cut back in the first place. Or does this show that EYMS and local communities working together can avoid some of the proposed cuts having to take place?

EYMS: Service Cuts and Fares Increases Coming

On This is Hull, EYMS is warning that service cuts and fare increases are coming. Every service will be reviewed and cuts will likely hit rural and late evening services hardest; the intention is to phase in cuts to reduce their impact. A fare increase is expected before the end of the year.

On a personal note for the Humber Fastcat I suspect a fare increase is likely, probably to make fares in line with Stagecoach again. I'll put up with that, the reasons are understandable. However I hope no service cuts, particularly to the last departure in the evening (2110 from Scunthorpe Mon-Sat, 1955 from Ashby Sun) which is very handy to have as an option coming home from work.

Revised Hull Nightbus Network

From this coming weekend Stagecoach in Hull are making significant changes to their nightbus network in Hull.

Almost all Friday services are withdrawn. There wil no longer be any nightbuses on services N15, N32 or N43 on Friday nights (early hours Saturday morning). On the N2 and N51 only the 0000 and 0100 departures from Ferensway shall remain, with the 0200 and 0300 withdrawn. Return services from Hessle on the N2 are apparently unaffected - the service 2 timetable still includes an 0225 from Hessle despite the 0200 from Ferensway being cancelled.

On Saturdays the N2 and N51 are unaltered but the N15 will now start at Witham and operate via George Street (opposite direction compared to present) before joining the current route via Carr Lane and Ferensway in the City Centre. Wilberforce Drive and Alfred Gelder Street will no longer be served. Neither will Kingswood, with services curtailed to Orchard Park.

Both the N32 and N43 shall now start at Hull University's Asylum nightclub (except the first journey on each service) with the N32 operating via Newland Avenue and Queens Road to join the current route at the Welly Club, while the N43 shall operate via Cottingham Road and Beverley Road. In Hull City Centre both services shall now operate via Ferensway, Castle Street, Lowgate and Alfred Gelder Street before rejoining their current routes on George Street; currently they operate direct via Prospect Street between Ferensway and George Street. The N43 also increases from 3 to 4 journeys.

Finally something that may or may not be new, a Wednesday night N15 from Hull University Asylum to Lowgate in the City Centre. This operates via Princes Avenue (daytime 15 route) rather than Beverley Road (Saturday N15 route).

K1 Changes

Since yesterday (Monday 5th September), Hull City Council funded and Stagecoach operated service K1 has been revised to reflect changes to the Stagecoach network.

Following changes to service 52, the Kestrel Avenue loop is now shorter, omitting most of Howdale Road as well as Church Street in Sutton. The Dorchester Road section of the service remains, but between North Point and Kingswood the K1 is revised to operate directly via Bude Road, omitting Noddle Hill Way, which now has the 31 to Kingswood, and Bodmin Road. The K1 is then extended from Kingswood to North Bransholme, replacing a link offered by the now axed service 20.

Greatfield, Bilton Grange, Ings Circular Changes

From Monday 5th September, Stagecoach in Hull will revise their 'circular' 43 and 54 services that operate from Hull City Centre to Greatfield and Bilton Grange. Currently both the 43 and 54 operate every 10 minutes on weekday daytimes and peaktimes, but the 54 shall reduce to operate every 15 minutes, meaning 2 service 43's each hour shall not interwork with the 54 but instead operate as 'standalone' service 43B. Early morning 43's on weekdays shall now also start at Diadem Grove in Bilton Grange.

However Bilton Grange still retains 6 buses an hour into Hull City Centre with route changes to service 52, part of the Ings Circular, that links Salthouse Road into central Hull. This currently serves the southern part Staveley Road in Bilton Grange, but from Monday will serve the northern part of Staveley Road and Barham Road instead.

The other part of the Ings Circular, interworked service 53 also sees it's own route revision, now serving Dunvegan Road, duplicating the 51, and the eastern part of Howdale Road, currently only served by the weekday daytime K1, though the K1 will be re-routed away from Monday.

Goodbye 38, Hello 31

From Monday 4th September, Stagecoach are replacing service 38 with a new service 31. Currently the 38 operates hourly Monday to Saturday between Hull City Centre and Bransholme North Point Shopping Centre via Garden Village and Leads Road, with peak time extensions to Kingsbury Way and Kesteven Way as service 38A.

The new 31 will operate via the current 38 route as far as Barnstaple Road, close to North Point. From there is will operate via Wawne Road, Noddle Hill Way (also served by the 32) and Bude Road to Kingswood Retail Park. Services will operate half hourly Monday to Saturday, with peak variations 31A also serving Kingsbury Way and Kesteven Way. The Noddle Hill Way to Kingswood link is currently provided by the hourly weekday daytime K1, which will be re-routed away from most of Noodle Hill Way.

I'm slightly surprised to see North Point omitted from the route, though I think Barnstaple Road is within walking distance for the able-bodied at least. Other than that a significant frequency improvement for those currently served by the 38 and the K1, and some useful new links to Kingswood from Garden Village.

Replacing the 20/20W

From Monday 5th September Stagecoach in Hull are making major changes to some of their routes serving Kingswood, Bransholme, North Bransholme and Wawne with the cancellation of the struggling 20/20W which operates between Hull and Wawne via Beverley Road, Kingswood and Kingsbury Way/Kesteven Way.

The first 'unique' section of route served by the 20/20W is the Runnymede Way area of Kingswood. Stagecoach have decided to divert service 15 as a replacement, giving a significant frequency increase, from every half hour Monday to Saturday daytimes on the 20/20W to every 10 minutes on the 15, albeit via a longer, less direct route into Hull. But you can't have everything!

The 15 frequency is also dropping from every 7-10 minutes weekday daytimes to every 10 minutes. Nothing major, and hopefully it may lead to the end of two 15's following each other which does often happen on what is a very busy route that has to navigate some very congested areas.

The other notable change to the 15 is that it will now only serve Kingswood Leisure Park on evenings and Sundays meaning the leisure park is now unserved Monday to Saturday daytimes. Can see why certainly on schooldays, but surprised it will be unserved on Saturday daytimes at least.

The 20/20W also provided the main service to Kingsbury Way/Kesteven Way; this function has now passed to a revised service 28. Currently the 28 operates between Hull, Beverley Road, Sutton Park and Bransholme every 12 minutes on weekday daytimes (every 10 minutes at peak times) and every 15 minutes on Saturdays. Monday to Saturday evening and Sunday daytime services operate half hourly, and hourly services run on Sunday evenings.

Under the 28's revised timetable, services will be reduced to operate every 15 minutes during weekday daytimes as well as on Saturdays; peak services on weekdays remain operating every 10 minutes. Stagecoach say larger low floor buses will be used which should replace the capacity lost by the frequency reduction.

Almost all services will now extend beyond Bransholme, generally alternately to Kingsbury Way/Kesteven Way, and to Kingswood Retail Park via Bodmin Road; Kingswood Retail Park services being numbered 28A. This shall increase journey times slightly between Kingsbury Way and Hull City Centre compared to the 20, but shall provide all day links to the North Point Shopping Centre from Kingsbury Way. Furthermore the 28A creates a new Sutton Park-Kingswood link and retains the Kingswood to Beverley Road link currently provided by the 20/20W.

On Monday to Saturday daytimes both Kingsbury Way and Kingswood get half hourly extensions. In the evenings, and on Sundays, when the main Hull to Bransholme service is half hourly, each extension shall operate hourly. For Kingsbury Way this is an increase on the irregular frequency Friday and Saturday evening/Sunday daytime service provided by the 20. On Sunday evenings just an hourly Hull-Kingsbury Way service shall operate, providing a new Sunday evening service to Kingsbury Way.

Hopefully by attaching Kingsbury Way services to the established 28 it shall be a more viable way of serving the area.

The other major destination served by the 20W is the East Riding Village of Wawne. Again Stagecoach have decided to serve Wawne by an extension of an established service, the 30 between Hull, Bransholme and North Bransholme. Not the first time this has happenned. Wawne will see 30W extensions hourly during the day, 7 days a week, and half hourly during weekday peak times. Monday to Saturday this is broadly in line with the current 20W, but the restoration of an hourly Sunday daytime service, probably commercially, is an improvement on the current limited Sunday service of one bus in each direction. Additionally the daily 2240 and 2320 departures from Hull will extend through to Wawne. The reintroduction of the 30W also restores the Wawne-North Point link while removing the Wawne-Kingswood link provided by the 20W - again though, can't have everything!

The 30 also sees other changes, with the North Bransholme loop dropped and services operating the same route in and outbound on the estate instead. There is also a new 0555 Hull-Bransholme 30X via Sutton Fields Industrial Estate on weekdays. In the weekday afternoon peak services between Branhsolme and Hull are increased to operate every 7-8 minutes.

Finally the K1 will be revised to maintain the 20W's current link between North Branhsolme and Kingswood, but I will cover that in another post.

14's Loss is 13's Gain

Stagecoach Hull are making changes to services 13 and 14 to Orchard Park from Monday 5th September. Currently these services both operate every 10 minutes on weekdays and every 15 minutes on Saturdays.

From next week however the 13 will operate every 10 minutes on Saturdays as well as weekdays (not that Stagecoach promote this enhancement). Two journeys per hour on the 13 Monday to Saturday daytime will extend to Orchard Park Tesco, following the route taken by evening and Sunday services. Seems like a useful new shopping link for very little extra mileage.

However the 13's gain appears to come from the 14's loss. The weekday service 14 frequency drops to the Saturday frequency of every 15 minutes. I am 99% certain the 13 and 14 interwork at Orchard Park 'Pint & Pot', and therefore with only 4 14's an hour but 6 13's, I guess the opportunity was taken to run 2 13's an hour 'independently' and extend them to Tesco.

The cutback to the 14 is not a major loss - it's still frequent, and Beverley Road also has the Stagecoach 28 plus EYMS services.

Stagecoach in Hull Service 51 Changes

From Monday 5th September Stagecoach in Hull will be altering service 51 which links Hull City Centre to Kingswood via Holderness Road and Bransholme.

Alternate late afternoon journeys on weekdays from Hull will terminate at Bransholme North Point, operating as service 51B. This retains a 10 minute Hull-Bransholme frequency while reducing Kingswood extensions to every 20 minutes.

On Saturdays the daytime frequency will be reduced from every 10 minutes to every 15 minutes

677 extra journey

Not that Stagecoach have mentioned it in their September service changes list, but weekday Stagecoach in Hull service 677 will gain an extra 1800 Hull-Cranswick Foods Preston service and 1845 return, extending to Beverley Road/Clough Road, from Monday 5th September.

New timetable

When an "improved early evening timetable" isn't totally improved

Stagecoach in Hull say that 1/2 to Boothferry Estate will have an "improved early evening timetable Monday to Saturday" from 5th September. Is that true - Yes in part, but mostly No.

Taking service 1, departures currently leave Hull Interchange at 1800, then every 15 minutes until 1900, then every half hour Mon-Thu, and every 15 minutes Fri/Sat. Yet from September that becomes every 20 minutes between 1800 and 2100 then every half hour. So thats a worse services between 1800 and 1900 (1 less bus per hour), and from 1900 onwards on Friday and Saturday (1 less bus per hour). The only benefit is between 1900 and 2100 Monday to Thursday (1 extra bus per hour). The same cutbacks also affect service 2, and journeys from Boothferry Estate back into Hull are similarly affected.

If cuts need to be made, fine, but surely better to be totally honest about them. Whats wrong with saying "a early evening revised timetable including extra journeys Monday to Thursday after 1900". Don't have to admit directly to cuts, but equally not misleading anyone.

Stagecoach in Hull cut Service 32 weekday frequency

From Monday 5th September, the weekday frequency of Stagecoach in Hull's service 32 to Bransholme will be cut from every 12 minutes to every 15 minutes, matching the Saturday frequency. Weekday peak times continue to see buses operating every 10 minutes.

Chnages to the N32 nightbus will be covered in a separate post.

350 Humber Fastcat thoughts

Just a few little things:

1. Stagecoach now call the Barton Interchange, Barton Rail Station, in their timetable, but continue to use Interchange in the journey codes section. Not that it makes much difference, but I wonder why the change?

2. Stagecoach's new timetable has the incorrect timings for EYMS's 2110 Scunthorpe-Hull, which since May has run 3 minutes later between Barton and Hull to maintain a train connection. Again not the most important thing in the world, but the timetable is slightly incorrect. EYMS and Stagecoach not talking? Though to be fair EYMS still have the wrong timings on their website too.

3. EYMS have not noted Stagecoach's new evening journeys on the 350 on their website. Not surprising I suppose as they do compete with EYMS, but an example of the joint operation not being displayed in public. EYMS don't actually display times for any Stagecoach 350 services on their website, having withdrawn the link to the Stagecoach pdf timetable. Use their website and the 350 only runs every 3 hours!

Is the Hull City Circular service viable?

Another set of service changes in Hull, and once again the City Circular service 10 is included. Over the past few years since Stagecoach took the service on commercially it has seen regular changes as Stagecoach try to cut costs and/or increase usage. For a time in late 2008/early 2009 the city circular was half hourly on weekdays, with a service 11 variant, and hourly on Saturdays. Since then Bricknell Avenue Estate has been added to the route, Kingswood removed to speed up journey times and peak time services via the University of Hull trialled. Earlier this year the Saturday service was withdrawn and now further cutbacks to an already basic weekday service are planned from Monday 5th September.

The 1325 clockwise service from Hull Interchange will terminate at Greatfield, the 1425 will cease to run and the 1525 will now start from Bransholme North Point at 1610. Anti-clockwise the 0745 from Hull Interchange now departs at 0730, the 1410 terminates at North Point rather than running full route and the 1510 short to Bilton Grange is withdrawn.

It's clear Stagecoach have been trying with the service, but the regular changes, cutbacks, and seemingly failed initiatives to increase usage lead me to wonder, does the Hull City Circular have a viable future? It's the sort of service which is 'sensitive', providing cross city links, and therefore not easy to withdraw, but it appears to be struggling. It is worth mentioning that I'm not familiar with usage of the service, but if it didn't exist would the City Circular be missed?

Looking at the route in detail, clockwise from the city centre, it duplicates the 13 between Hull and Orchard Park, except for the diversion into the Bricknell Avenue Estate. This part of Hull is only a recent addition to the City Circular, and it too does not appear to be good bus territory. It's services have been chopped and changed over the past few years too, and I guess was added to the City Circular to try and get one good service out of two bad services. The Estate currently has the hourly weekday 10, and the hourly Monday to Saturday 110 between Hull and Cottingham, of which the diversion into the Estate receives council funding.

If the 10 didn't exist, would the 110 be enough - it's certainly deemed enough on a Saturday. And even if it was not deemed enough it does not need the 10 to give the Bricknell Avenue Estate a half hourly service into Hull. Extra short journeys on the 110 or a half hourly 110 along the whole route could do that.

However it should be noted that the Bricknell Avenue Estate is home to Wyke College. I am not at all familiar with travel patterns to/from the college, but suspect this may generate some traffic to Orchard Park and Bransholme. Even still these passengers could change in the City Centre, or extra college buses be provided, including a limited daytime service for those with part days at college; the 10 would appear to currently need either 3 or 4 vehicles, such a service to the college would only need 1.

The next major link the City Circular provides is Orchard Park to Bransholme via the Sutton Park Estate. Without the City Circular such links could be made by changing at Kingswood or on Beverley Road. Or possibly the newly extended Orchard Park Tesco journeys on the 13, or the newly extended 28A journeys to Kingswood could be further extended to maintain Orchard Park-Bransholme links.

The 10 is the only service along a small part of Cheltenham Avenue in Sutton Park, but if this road requires a service then possibly the K1 could be diverted to service it.

Links between Bransholme and Midmere Avenue/Sutton provided by the 10 are duplicated by the 51 and 32 respectively; the next major destination served by the 10 is Salthouse Road, also home to Wilberforce College. Salthouse Road to Bransholme passengers could change from the 53 to the 52 to complete their journey, and there is also the college day lunchtime 123 between Beverley, Bransholme and Wilberforce College. Essentially other options exist.

The City Circular then serves Bilton Grange, Greatfield and Preston Road. Passengers from these areas wishing to reach Bransholme could either change in Hull City Centre, or on Holderness Road. The 10 does provide access from these areas to Wilberforce College, but again other options exist. Bilton Grange has the 52 to Wilberforce College, and Greatfield/Preston Road passengers can connect onto the 52 on either Holderness Road or at Bilton Grange (using the 43/54).

Finally the 10 does have a role for some local journeys within Bilton Grange, Greatfield and Preston Road. It is the only service along part off Hopewell Road, but if that needs a service the 50 could be extended. The 10 also links Falkland Road and Preston Road Medical Centre, but some 46 journeys could be diverted from Marfleet to serve Falkland Road instead.

Changing isn't ideal, but that combined with alterations to some other services lead me to believe, as an outsider, that if the City Circular didn't exist it would not cause any major hardship. Withdrawing services is not easy, and I've witnessed the anger of Greatfield residents at a Hull Bus Forum in the past, but if Stagecoach ever concluded the 10 was no longer viable, I think Hull could live without it.

Any comments welcome.

Stagecoach in Hull September Service Changes

Stagecoach in Hull have released details of their September service changes on their website. Not had time yet to review the changes in detail, but some very major network revisions, especially in the Bransholme and Kingswood areas.

360 truncated to Barton

The Traveline East Midlands website shows that from September Stagecoach's college day service 360 to Scunthorpe will no longer serve East Halton, Goxhill or Barrow. Instead all services will start from Barton. While Barrow passengers can connect onto the 360 at Barton using service 250, this option is not available from East Halton, while Goxhill passengers would need to use the train to Barton and face some very long connection times.

Humber Fastcat Gets Hourly Evening Service

Traveline East Midlands shows that from Monday 5th September, Stagecoach are adding one extra journey in each direction Monday to Saturday between Hull, Barton and Scunthorpe on the 350 Humber Fastcat, giving an hourly evening service. There will be a new 2010 service from Scunthorpe and a new 2025 from Hull. A very welcome, if slightly surprising enhancement, and one that may be off use to myself.

Based on the timetables it would appear that Scunthorpe depot will operate the extra journeys, and the current 1 hour layover of a Scunthorpe vehicle in Hull during the evening will cease.

If this is successful, hopefully Stagecoach and EYMS will look at the uneven Sunday timetable, designed to connect to a train service that runs 4 months of the year. Some later evening services, at least on Fridays and Saturdays would also be nice. But lets see how the new mid-evening journeys do first!

16 now on Fridays too!

Hornsby Travel Scunthorpe Town Service 16 is now operating on Fridays as well as Tuesdays and Thursdays, since the start of the month.

Service 16 timetable

Hornsby won the North Lincolnshire Council contract for the service from Stagecoach almost a year ago.

EYMS September Service Changes

EYMS are making various relatively small changes to services from Sunday 4th September.

Service 246 gains an extra Sunday journey in each direction between Hornsea and Beverley. Other journeys will also be retimed.

Retimings also include the X46 between Hull and York, as well as the 746 between Market Weighton, Pocklington and York. Some under used 746 journeys are withdrawn.

Service 743 between Pocklington and Driffield will now serve George Street in Driffield, and some journeys will also serve Kirkburn and Tibthorpe.

Meanwhile the Monday to Friday 0645 Pocklington-York and 1715 Pocklington-York services on route 195 are withdrawn. These are currently commercially operated but relied on interworking with lost East Riding of Yorkshire Council contracts to be commercially viable. I have noticed the loss of some Woldgate College work to Transdev York on the VOSA website - is it this which has caused the withdrawal of these journeys? An oddity is that the weekday 0900 York-Pocklington 195 remains, despite the lack of a return journey on Mondays and Thursdays. Also the commercial Saturday peak time journeys remain.

Stagecoach Scunthorpe Town Service Changes

Monday and Wednesday service 17 in Scunthorpe, that operated to the Hilton Avenue area, has been withdrawn. Instead service 37 will divert via Hilton Avenue from Monday, providing a much improved hourly daytime service Monday to Saturday.

New 37 Timetable

Stagecoach Grimsby Cleethorpes September Changes

Stagecoach Grimsby Cleethorpes are planning some service changes in September. Note the cancellation of the 2 and 20 registrations, though of course they could always be re-registered.

VOSA - Bus Registration Search Results: "PB0000163/44 - GRIMSBY CLEETHORPES TRANSPORT CO LTD T/A STAGECOACH GRIMSBY CLEETHORPES, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Grimsby Bus Station and Europarc given service number 20/2 effective from 05-Sep-2011.

PB0000163/49 - GRIMSBY CLEETHORPES TRANSPORT CO LTD T/A STAGECOACH GRIMSBY CLEETHORPES, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB
Variation Accepted: Operating between Grimsby Bus Station and Louth Bus Station given service number 51/51C effective from 05-Sep-2011. To amend Timetable.

PB0000163/59 - GRIMSBY CLEETHORPES TRANSPORT CO LTD T/A STAGECOACH GRIMSBY CLEETHORPES, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB
Variation Accepted: Operating between Grimsby Bus Station and Grimsby to Market Rasen given service number 3/3A/3B effective from 05-Sep-2011. To amend Timetable."

Stagecoach Hull September Service Changes

Stagecoach in Hull have registered various service changes with VOSA from early September, covering the following registrations:

• 1/2/N2 - Boothferry Estate


• 10/10B - City Circular


• 13/14 and associated variations - Orchard Park


• 15/N15 - Orchard Park/Kingswood


• 28 and associated variations - Sutton Park/Bransholme


• 30 and associated variations - Bransholme/North Bransholme


• 31/31A - Interesting, the 31 hasn't operated for a few years now, but a variation to it has been accepted by VOSA. The 31 had in the past been a variation of service 30, operating via Leads Road


• 32 and associated variations - Bransholme


• 43 and associated variations - Greatfield


• 51 and associated variations - East Hull/Bransholme


• 52/52A/53/53A - East Hull


• 54 and associated variations - Bilton GrangE


• 70/677 - Ferry Port/Cranswick FoodS


• Humber Flyer

Meanwhile the 20/20W to Kingswood and Wawne is cancelled, but as ever there is always a chance it could be re-registered or amalgamated into other services. Also cancelled are the W1/2 college buses to Wilberforce College, which are passing to EYMS.

Finally a new (restarted?) 93M will operated daily at 2140 from Mecca Bingo on Clough Road to Orchard Park Hall Road.

Service 124, Pheonix Travel and Phoenix Buses

EYMS have cancelled and Pheonix Travel have registered the 3 day a week 124 service between Bridlington and Driffield from September.

VOSA - Bus Registration Search Results: "PB1054108/6 - VICTORIA ELLEN WEBSTER T/A PHEONIX TRAVEL, 2 ORCHARD COTTAGES, MAIN ST, NORTH FRODINGHAM, DRIFFIELD, YO25 8LJ
Registration Accepted
Starting Point: Driffield
Finish Point: Bridlington
Via: Ruston parva, Kilham, Thwing, Wold newton, Burton Fleming, Rudston, Boynton
Service Number: 124
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 07-SEP-2011
Other Details: Wednesday Thursday Saturday"

Two things of note here. First the spelling of Pheonix - mistake?

Secondly what, if any, connection is there between Pheonix Travel and Busking/Phoenix Buses? Both are registered in North Frodingham, but at different addresses. Phoenix Buses/Busking at 52 Main Street and Pheonix Travel at 2 Main Street. Any clarity on this would be appreciated.

Current 124 timetable

Wilberforce College Bus Services

EYMS have today registered Wilberforce College services WC1 and WC2.

VOSA - Bus Registration Search Results: "PB0000328/376 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS
Registration Accepted
Starting Point: Hornsea
Finish Point: Wilberforce Collge
Via:
Service Number: WC2
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 02-SEP-2011
Other Details: College days
PB0000328/377 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS
Registration Accepted
Starting Point: Withernsea
Finish Point: Wilberforce College
Via:
Service Number: WC1
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 02-SEP-2011
Other Details: College days."

I believe these are currently operated by Stagecoach in Hull. Certainly they were in September 2009, as I have a Stagecoach timetable leaflet for them dated 7th September 2009. This also included the W3 from Beverley and W4 from Hedon. Are these still operating? Will they be passing to EYMS? Or are they staying with Stagecoach?

350 and/or 360 changes

Could be something very minor, but changes planned to either the Stagecoach element of the 350 Humber Fastcat and/or the college day service 360 from September.

VOSA - Bus Registration Search Results: "PB0001484/3 - LINCOLNSHIRE ROAD CAR CO LTD, PO BOX 15, DEACON ROAD, LINCOLN, LN2 4JB
Variation Accepted: Operating between Scunthorpe and Hull given service number 350/360 effective from 05-Sep-2011. To amend Timetable."

0605 Humber Flyer not being withdrawn

Confirmation from North East Lincolnshire Council that the 0605 Grimsby-Barton Humber Flyer service is not being withdrawn.

0605 Grimsby-Barton Humber Flyer withdrawn?

A comment left by hardy202 last night

Humber Transport: Bridge Tolls and Bus Services: "Humber Flyer that leaves Grimsby at 6:05 to Barton only is stopping as of 2nd july 2011 because hardly anyone used it so they have lost it"

Nothing yet on the Stagecoach website. The journey being referred to was introduced in April as a partial replacement for the 0620 Grimsby-Hull, the withdrawal of which caused a lot of bad PR, and potential hardship for a small number of users, earlier in the year.

Many 77's become 74's

From Sunday 17th July, most EYMS service 77 journeys between Hull, Hedon, Keyingham, and at peak times, Withernsea shall become service 74 journeys operating via Ryehill rather than Burtswick, which retains the hourly 75.

Hull-Withernsea services were revised in May.

Bridge Tolls and Bus Services

Today in has been announced that Humber Bridge tolls are set to rise. While I don't intend to use this post to discuss the pros and cons of this, the inspector's report contains detail of some of the evidence provided in relation to bus services.

Section 3.9 summarises the evidence from Peter Shipp of EYMS and Gary Nolan from Stagecoach East Midlands. They say that a toll increase would require a review of the current 35% discount scheduled local bus and express coach services receive, otherwise "it would be difficult to sustain the existing level of service". It is emphasised how the toll rise is one of many cost increases currently being faced, along with fuel prices, employer national insurance and others. Fare increases are rejected as it is believed they would not be able to recoup the extra cost of the tolls and would reduce patronage.

Something to monitor in the coming months.

Robust connection maintained

Today I picked up some new North Lincolnshire Council timetables, and in the small print comes the welcome news that the 350 Humber Fastcat has had a timetable change to maintain a connection from the last evening service rail service between Cleethorpes and Barton, an issue I have covered before.

The 2153 EYMS operated Barton-Hull (starts Scunthorpe 2110) now departs at 2156 operating three minutes later throughout, and giving a very reasonable five minute connection time from the 2151 train arrival. Well done to the person or people who initiated this!

Though very odd that there has been no on-bus posters about this, nor a timetable amendment registered with VOSA. EYMS website timetable hasn't been updated either.

1A re-registered

Looks like the 1A is now not being withdrawn

VOSA - Bus Registration Search Results: "PB0000328/374 - EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES LTD, 252 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, HU3 2RS
Registration Accepted by SN
Starting Point: Hull (interchange)
Finish Point: Sibelius Road
Via: Hull Royal Imfirmary and Boulevard
Service Number: 1A
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 26-JUN-2011
Other Details: Monday to Saturday"

Last month EYMS applied to cancel this tendered service

EYMS 105 evening cutbacks

From Monday 13th June, Monday to Saturday evening services on route 105 between Hull City Centre, the University of Hull and Cottingham shall revert to half hourly. It was increased to operate every 20 minutes in 2009.

EYMS 109 confirmed cancelled

EYMS have now confirmed that service 109 in Cottingham is axed after operating on Saturday 25th June. Cottingham Station excepted, this service offered nothing that the 110 does not, as discussed here.

York Pullman cutback service 10

After tomorrow, Friday 27th May, York Pullman are dropping their commercial journeys on service 10 from Stamford Bridge into York and Poppleton. These operated mainly during the day, including at peak times, usually in competition with First York, the main operator of service 10.

Remaining is a single return trip to Stamford Bridge on Saturday mornings, and a daily late evening service - new timetable It would seem therefore that the Sunday evening service has been saved - earlier in the year it was under threat.

Cleethorpes-Barton-Hull Bus-Rail connections

To update my previous post on bus-rail connections at Barton from 22nd May (next Sunday), the first Summer Sunday train from Cleethorpes will be at 0958, not 1005 as stated in my previous post, based on the new pdf timetable available on the Northern Rail website. So no issue with the bus connection to Hull as feared.

However the last evening train from Cleethorpes Monday to Saturday does have a 2 minute connection at Barton for Hull as expected, arriving at Barton at 2151 for a bus departing at 2153. I did email EYMS, operator of the 2153 bus, a few weeks ago about operating the service slightly later and I got a reply saying it had been passed onto the relevant person. For the sake of a slightly later departure, surely this can be done? A retiming of the bus to say 2155 would give a comfortable 4 minute connection.

One connection I had not picked up on however is out of the 0700 from Cleethorpes Monday to Saturday. This arrives in Barton at 0748. Northern Rail are advertising the bus connection as the 0820 Humber Fastcat. This is actually not new, just something I had not spotted before. There is a 0750 Humber Fastcat from Barton Interchange; while the 2 minute connection time is tight, probably too tight to advertise, in reality the 0750 Fastcat doesn't always leave exactly on time and from my journeys on the 0750, the connection can normally be made. Again though a slight retiming, say a 0752 departure, would resolve the issue, and there is enough waiting time at Hull between journeys to accomodate this.

If this is not possible, then why not advertise the connecting bus as the 0810 Humber Flyer from Barton. A 22 minute wait looks a lot better than the 32 minute wait advertised?

There are a couple of 'quick wins' for integrated transport to be had here. EYMS and Stagecoach - go for the win. It's not like an entire timetable recast is needed.

48 Saved for now

As posted by a commentor earlier in the week, EYMS 48 in West Hull will not now be cancelled after operation today, but will instead continue for at least three months. EYMS are asking pensioners, if they wish, to pay voluntarily, in an attempt to save the service, which has losses of £40,000 a year. Hopefully this will be enough to save the service.

EYMS 142 Changes

EYMS will be making changes to their journeys on service 142 from 15th May. The 142 is an interesting rural service, and the main operator is Acklams Coaches. In reality it is two separate services. 1 from Middleton into Beverley (though Acklams journeys also serve villages north of Middleton) and 1 from Middleton into Driffield.

Middleton-Beverley

EYMS weekday journeys are cut back with no School Holiday services at all. The 0745 Beverley-Holme and 0808 Holme-Beverley now operates on schooldays only. Meanwhile the 1610 from Beverley to Lund is withdrawn on both schooldays and School Holidays.

The only Saturday change sees the 0921 Beverley-Middleton operate 4 minutes later. The tendered Sunday service is unchanged

Middleton-Driffield

Currently EYMS provide a 0930 and 1320 from Middleton and a 1250 from Driffield on weekdays only. But from next week the weekday service is gone, but the 0930 and 1250 remain, now operating on Saturdays.

So EYMS's 142 service will be in the interesting position of having a weekend service, a schoolday service, but no weekday School Holiday service.

EYMS Withernsea Cutbacks

As already briefly noted, EYMS are to cut back the offpeak Monday to Saturday frequency between Withernsea and Hull from 2 buses an hour to hourly from 15th May.

The current arrangement is an hourly 76 via Holderness Road but not Burstwick, and an hourly 77 via Hedon Road and Burstwick. The 75 operates mainly in the evenings and on Sundays serving both Holderness Road and Burstwick.

From next week the 76 is cancelled while the 75 becomes an all day service. The new service pattern is an hourly 75 between Hull and Withernsea via Holderness Road and Burstwick, and an hourly 77 between Hull and Keyingham via Hedon Road and Burstwick. 77's still extend to/from Withernsea at peak times. The new service pattern also gives Burstwick 2 rather than 1 services an hour into Hull.

New EYMS Sunday 155 timetable

Following the loss of Sunday service 156 to Colins of Goole as off yesterday (Sunday 8th), EYMS service 155 has a new Sunday timetable; 4 journeys each way between Elloughton, Brough and Hull with the first starting from South Cave and the last finishing at South Cave. The new timetable from EYMS indicates the Sunday 155 is a fully commercial operation.

Previously the Sunday 155 and 156 was mostly tendered and comprised 4 journeys a day to each off Hull and Goole. Hopefully the revised Sunday 156 between Elloughton, South Cave, Gilberdyke, Howden and Goole maintains connections to the 155 for passengers between Gilberdyke and North Cave and Hull, for example.

EYMS Bridlington Frequency Cutbacks

EYMS are making changes to Bridlington town services from Sunday 15th May.

The 505/506 to West Hill are reduced from every 20 minutes combined Monday to Saturday to half hourly. The 505 remains hourly with the 506 going from 2 buses an hour to hourly.

Similar changes for the 507/517, reduced from every 20 minutes combined to half hourly, with the 507 seeing the frequency cut to hourly and the 517 remaining hourly.

Meanwhile the 512/3 circulars are reduced from half hourly to both operate every 40 minutes

EYMS cutback 62 to Setting Dyke

EYMS's website says there will be changes to the bus times of services 60/60A/61/62/64 from May 15th. In reality it means a frequency cut.

Currently the Hull-Anlaby Road-Priory Road corridor sees 5 buses an hour, Monday to Saturday daytimes. 1 60 or 60A to Cottingham, 1 64 to Cottingham and Castle Hill Hospital and 3 62's to Setting Dyke, giving a combined 12 minute frequency. From next week the 62's become half hourly and the combined frequency becomes every 15 minutes.

I can't say I'm too surprised. The 62 often only has Mini Pointer Darts and Plaxton Primos on it, and at times that is all it needs. Anlaby Road has enough buses already, while Priory Road still maintains 4 buses an hour, with the gap between services only extended by 3 minutes from every 12 to every 15 minutes. Also the current timetable has 2 24 minute gaps between 62's, so a half hourly service only extends the maximum gap by 6 minutes for users in Setting Dyke.