More changes to the Withernsea to Hull bus services

EYMS LTD have now issued a new timetable to commence from Sunday 30th October 2011 for the Hull to Withernsea bus services following, what they describe as passengers being "unhappy" with the recently changed service. The details of the changes have been published by the bus company in its newsletter:

"We understand many of you have been unhappy with recent changes to our Withernsea buses, so we have listened to your views and from Sunday 30 October Service 76 will return, Service 74 is replaced by Service 77 (meaning more buses for villages between Keyingham and Withernsea during the day), there will be an extra Service 77 journey from Hull at 9.45am during the week, and an extra Service 77 journey from Hedon on Saturdays, and there will be minor changes to times on all journeys, including some Service 277 journeys. Service 71 will also be retimed slightly so that it can continue to connect with buses to Hull. Download the new Withernsea timetables now."

It is certainly good news that EYMS have been able to act to change services in response to 'passenger power' in this way. But it remains to be seen how long the company will be able to act in such a beneficial manner.

The company faces increasing pressure on its services due to: cuts in national Government funding available to subsidise services; increasing fuel prices; and the need to replace its fleet of buses by 2017 to ensure that they all meet the requirements of the Disabled Discrimination Act.

Tough times ahead for the company - and indeed for passengers who perhaps now need to embrace passenger power and community activism as something that can help preserve services and even improve them.

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Hull to Withernsea 76 bus withdrawn to be replaced by "improved services" says EYMS

EYMS PUBLISHED ITS NEW HULL - WITHERNSEA bus timetables this week. East Yorkshire Motor Services has withdrawn the No. 76 service and replaced it with "improved Services 75 and 77" says the bus company.

The proposed changes caused controversy last month when it was revealed that services between Withernsea and Keyingham would be reduced at off-peak times and that the altered services will no longer pick up and drop passengers off at Ryehill or Bridge Bungalows bus stops.

The new services operate from Sunday 15th May.

A special Bus Surgery will be held outside St Stephen's Shopping Centre in Hull on Friday morning 20 May from 6:00am - 9:00am. This is the chance to make comments and suggestions on bus services in and around the Hull area. You'll be able to speak to representatives from bus operators (including EYMS) as well as impartial public transport experts.

Radio Humberside will also be broadcasting their entire breakfast programme from the surgery. Look out for the 'Bus It' bus, which will be parked at the front of St Stephens, near the entrance to the Interchange. No appointment is needed, just drop in.
Eyms Service 75-77 Timetable

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Local bus service to be reduced - Withernsea to Keyingham route

EYMS PLANNING DEPARTMENT (East Yorkshire Motor Services) have confirmed that bus services on the Withernsea to Keyingham route are to be reduced at off-peak times from 15th May 2011.

This comes after a rise in bus fares in January this year followed by strong criticism by Peter Shipp, EYMS Chaiman, of successive governments "for forcing the issue by increasing fuel taxes and cutting payments to bus operators for the concessionary travel scheme."

The details of the actual changes have not been published yet but Bus Call has advised customers to keep checking the EYMS Website at www.eyms.co.uk for updates.

The company is also promoting its Discount Cards and states that 10% can be saved on all single and return fares. The card itself is free and they're available to everyone - you can apply online at the EYMS Website.

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Bus fare rises: Hedon to Hull single fare will cost £2.00

EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES announced last week that most of its bus fares will rise from Saturday 22 January.

EYMS Chairman, Peter Shipp, has strongly criticised successive governments for forcing the issue by increasing fuel taxes and cutting payments to bus operators for the concessionary travel scheme, with another big cut planned for April.

Peter Shipp said "We really do regret having to increase fares now but we are left with no choice mainly because the cost of the fuel we use has gone up so much in the last few months and the governments' fuel duty increases have simply added to the burden. East Yorkshire buses use over 6 million litres of fuel a year so every penny rise in the price adds over £1,000 each week to our costs. Since last January the price has risen by 14p a litre, including the latest duty increase, so we are now faced with more than £14,000 extra costs every week."

The cost of a single fare from Hedon to Hull will rise by 15p to £2.00 and a return fare will rise by 30p to £3.60.

The company is also promoting its Discount Cards and states that 10% can be saved on all single and return fares. The card itself is free and they're available to everyone - you can apply online at the EYMS Website.

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Hull Bus Surgery

HOT ON THE HEELS of their announcement of intended rises in bus fares and cuts in services, then EYMS is open for public comment about this.

The company will be present at the Hull Bus Surgery on board the Bus-It bus in Queen Victoria Square, City Centre, Hull on Wednesday 3 November, from 10am-3pm.

Representatives of EYMS will be present to answer any questions you may have about bus travel.

All welcome.

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Details awaited on EYMS fare increases and cuts

EAST YORKSHIRE MOTOR SERVICES have announced to the Hull Daily Mail that they expect to raise bus fares by between 5% and 10% and implement cuts in services as part of the "biggest challenge" the company has faced.

The EYMS measures are planned in response to Government cuts in the subsidies paid to bus operators to cover for concessionary fares for pensioners.

For local travellers to Hull, it might mean that a return ticket could cost over £3.60. 

Peter Shipp, the Chief Executive of EYMS Ltd, has urged those concerned by the cuts to "write to their local MPs, as we are doing, and make their voices heard."

Links:

• Hull Daily Mail article
• EYMS Ltd
• Graham Stuart MP

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Green Bus Fund

East Yorkshire Motor Services Ltd have been awarded £794,400 from the Government's Green Bus Fund. The funding will enable EYMS to buy up to eight new low carbon buses 

Low carbon buses use at least 30 per cent less fuel and emit nearly a third less carbon than a conventional bus, yet they currently make up just a very small percentage of buses on the road. EYMS is one of 14 bus operators to receive funding from the current round of the Green Bus Fund.

Source: Government News Distribution Service

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EYMS respond to Bus Service criticism

Following criticism of the bus service on the 75/76/77 route during the Freedom Festival 2010, EYMS Ltd Commercial Manager Bob Rackley has responded:

Thank you for the feedback and I was concerned to read of the problems faced by Hedon area travellers.

We operated 11 additional journeys during the evening including 3 to Withernsea. This was the largest number we could operate with the drivers available. We faced significant difficulties preplanning the service level due to the very late confirmation from the organisers of the details and timings of events. The issues for public transport were further exacerbated by the decision to hold the fireworks at 10.30pm leaving a peak loading pressure on the last buses.

If the event is repeated in the future we will ask the organisers to reconsider the timings given the impact on public transport and on street disorder. We will also review the way information is passed to customers in the interchange. Please pass our apologies to any customers who were inconvenienced, and thank you for drawing the issues to our attention.

Regards

Bob Rackley
Commercial Manager
East Yorkshire Motor Services Limited

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Freedom Festival bus service criticism

EYMS Ltd has come under criticism for its decision not to schedule extra bus services on the 75/76/77 routes on the day of the Freedom Festival and the Hull KR/Hull FC rugby derby on Saturday 11th September 2010.

Buses into Hull City Centre from Hedon and Withernsea on the afternoon of the festival were already experiencing massive demand. Buses caught in Hedon were already full of festival revellers and other travellers. Buses were full and, at least on one occasion, suspected of being overloaded with people sitting right up the stairway while those standing were squashed up right to the back of the lower saloon.

This early evidence should surely have alerted EYMS that the crowds heading into Hull from Holderness were unusual and that additional services were needed to successfully manage the extra demand?

Journeys home also experienced difficult conditions. This will have been exacerbated by the fact that EYMS does not run a 10:15pm service 75, leaving travellers with the choice of catching the earlier 9:15pm bus or waiting for the last one at 11pm. Mrs Karen Russell commented on the Hedon Blog:

"I think the decision not to put on any extra buses for Hedon – Withernsea was abysmal and resulted in us having to leave early to be sure of getting a bus home which when it arrived was clearly fuller than it should have been with people sat all the way up the stairs. I am sure a lot of people would have been stranded thinking they could get the last bus home, particularly teenagers. Needs to be better thought out next year."

The situation in the Hull bus station at 10:45pm at the 75 bus bay was already quite tense, and made worse, as more people arrived after seeing the Freedom Festival fireworks finale. There was obviously more people than a single bus could transport.

Staff from EYMS were present but there was no announcement that any extra buses were to be provided. People in the disorderly 'queue' were getting agitated. Some left to get taxis, other younger people began to push their way towards the centre and front of the queue. The police were in attendance and pulled at least one young person from the crowd.

One 75 bus arrived and pulled into the adjacent bay - not the scheduled bay - and there was a surge of people towards the new bay. At this point the bus pulled back away without taking on any passengers. This just added to the general confusion of the situation.

Another bus arrived just after 11pm and an announcement was made that an extra bus would be arriving and everybody would get home. The first bus pulled away and a second arrived just after 11:10pm.

Unfortunately, this experience in Hull bus station will have spoilt what was overwise a very enjoyable Freedom Festival. It could also have been easily avoided by a much earlier announcement that EYMS would provide additional services during the day and particularly during the evening.

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