Bus Services - Christmas 2011

The following changes will apply:

Service 21 (York - Bishopthorpe & villages)

No services on Mon. 26th & Tues. 27th Dec.
No services on Monday 2nd January

Service 11 (Bishopthorpe - York & beyond)

Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve - last bus from York (Stonebow) 18-40
                                                                   from Bishopthorpe      19-05

No service on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Tues. 27th Dec.,  New Year's Day and Mon.2nd Jan.

Service 112 (Bishopthorpe - York - Monks Cross)

No service on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day
Normal Sunday timetable on Tuesday 27th Dec. and Monday 2nd January


(Reminder -Services 11 and 21 are normally Mon. - Sat. services and 112 a Sunday only service)

The usual site disclaimer applies to this information. If your journey is important, cross-check with the operator.

Ian

The following routes currently serve Bishopthorpe:

No. 11 (1st York)

Monday - Saturday

Every 30 minutes

From Bishopthorpe
dep. Acaster Lane -08 and -38 from 0708 (Sats. 0738) to 1808
Thereafter 1905, 2035 and 2205

(dep. Main St. -15 and -45 etc.)

From York
dep. The Stonebow -09 and -39 from 0809 (Sats. 0839) until 1809
Thereafter 1840, 2010 and 2140

(dep. York Station -19 and -39 etc.)

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No 21 (Harrogate Coach Travel)
Monday - Saturday
Colton - Appleton Roebuck - Acaster - Bishopthorpe - Askham Bar - South Bank - York

From Bishopthorpe to York
0826 1026 1226 1426 1626

From Bishopthorpe to Colton
0933 1133 1333 1533 1728 1828

From York (Stonebow) to Bishopthorpe & Colton
0905 1105 1305 1505 170
(York Station - +6 mins.)

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No 112(YORK Transdev)
Sundays only
Bishopthorpe - York - Skelton -Clifton Moor - Haxby -Monks Cross

From Acaster Lane
1000 1200 1400 1630 1830

From York (Piccadilly Stop D) to Bishopthorpe
1143 1343 1613 1813

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See separate seasonal entries for Bank Holiday services

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Please read the Site Disclaimer - whilst we do check the accuracy of timetable information, we can take no responsibility for publishing errors or the failure of buses to run at the times indicated.  Check the companies' own timetable leaflets for official info.

All too often, we have problems with bus stops on Acaster Lane.

The latest one concerns the inbound stop opposite the tennis and bowling clubs.

Traditionally, buses stop at that point although there is no stop sign. Recently, however, some 1st York drivers have driven past and left passengers at the roadside. One driver, questioned about this, stated that he would be uninsured if he picked up passengers at a spot with no bus stop sign.

A complaint to 1st York elicited the response that the insurance excuse is a nonsense, that drivers have now been instructed to pick up at that point, and that the company will ask City of York Council to erect a sign.

One irony of this situation is that formerly some drivers refused to pick up passengers on the club side of the road and insisted that they had to wait for the bus to return and stop opposite.

If you have a problem with Acaster Lane stops, please add your comments to this article. Given the poor frequency and time-keeping on the No.11 service, it is a disgrace that people should be left to wait at least 30 minutes for the next bus.


Ian

City of York Council has decided to cut expenditure on subsidised bus services. New contracts have been agreed, and the changes will take effect from Sunday 28th August.

The daytime No. 11 service to Bishopthorpe is a commercial service and thus unaffected.

The Monday - Saturday No. 21 service is subsidised but on a contract expiring in 2013 and is also unaffected.

Evening, Sunday and Bank Holiday No.11 services are subsidised by the City Council, and will be cut. Details are as follows:

The evening service will be reduced to a 90 minute frequency, and the last bus will leave The Stonebow at 2140. This is, of course, useless for anyone attending a concert, the theatre, etc. The only good news is that it will return to town in service, and the daft business of last bus Keble Park passengers being dumped at the end of Acaster Lane (as sometimes happens at present) will not occur.

Instead of the subsidised 1st Bus No.11 on Sundays and Bank Holidays, Veolia/Transdev will operate a commercial, unsubsidised service (No. 112) on a two hour frequency during shopping hours only. The City Council seems to define shopping hours as 10-00 to 19-00, but don't hold your breath! The No. 112 will continue through town to Monks Cross, but by a very circuitous route.

Veolia/Transdev is to operate on a similar frequency on routes between town & Copmanthorpe (No.113) and town and Naburn (No. 124).

Given the council's need to make savings and the very poor passenger loadings on subsidised services to Bishopthorpe, we are lucky to retain a service at all, but in my opinion the evening service timings seem calculated to lose even the few passengers we have.The only way to get improved services is to use the existing ones. We will surely lose what we don't use!

Remember that there will be a Sunday bus timetable on Monday, except for Park & Ride services.

Ian

The Easter bank holiday days loom, as do the bank holidays around the following weekend.

As usual, First York will operate a Sunday timetable on the bank holidays, with the following exceptions:

There will be enhanced Park and Ride Sunday timetables on some days/services;

There will be no service on Easter Sunday on the nos. 11, 12 and 13A routes.

Why?

I know some Bishopthorpe folk (Catholics in particular) use the Sunday buses to attend church. They are especially likely to want to do so on Easter Day. If you know someone who does who is unlikely to read this website, please warn them.

The Moorsbus timetable for 2011 is now available www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/moorsbus

Timetables were not available at York Tourist Info this week, but no doubt will soon appear there.

The pattern is similar to previous years with one main exception. In the summer holiday period when previously buses have operated each day, this year they will only operate at weekends, on bank holidays and on Wednesdays. However, it should be possible (though not necessarily advantageous) during the summer holiday to buy and use Moorsbus tickets within the National Park on other weekdays on scheduled services, e.g. Coastliner Malton - Whitby and EYMS Scarborough-Pickering-Helmsley.


Ian

Harrogate Travel have lost the contract for subsidised bus services between York and Ripon. Subsidised services on that route will be provided by Eddie Brown w.e.f. April 17th.

However, Harrogate Travel (now known as "Connexions")  will still operate some buses (unsubsidised) on the route, so that there will probably be an hourly frequency operated alternately by the two companies!

Connexions will also run an hourly X70 service from Harrogate to Wetherby in competition with Transdev's Harrogate-Leeds service. Some of the Connexions buses will continue from Wetherby to York.

I hope that is all clear!

If you:

1. Receive disability-related benefits, or

2. Are registered deaf or use a hearing aid, or

3. Are registered as visually impaired, or

4. Have epilepsy,

you are eligible to buy a Disabled Person's Railcard.

The Railcard allows you, and a person accompanying you, to a one-third discount on most rail fares in this country.

A Disabled  Person/s Railcard currently costs £20 for one year, or £54 for three years.

Similar discounts can be obtained in other ways by people with qualifying disabilities (e.g. by producing acceptable documentary proof of disability when booking and travelling). Check before travelling.

Most trains have wheelchair access, although space is limited and advance booking is needed.

Disability scooters can only be carried on certain types of train, so advance booking for these is essential.

At main stations such as York, staff can meet and assist people where needed (e.g. with luggage), by prior arrangement.

More information can be obtained from stations, or on www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk

Ian

Please note that First York are operating a Sunday timetable today.