Corona Virus updates – 27th March 2020

York Council housing contacts

New First bus service timetables from Sunday

From Sunday 29th March, the following changes will take effect:

First York is moving all services to a Sunday timetable (bolstered by additional buses during peak times) to ensure key workers, including health service and emergency workers, can get to and from their places of work and those without a car can still collect medical prescriptions or do their essential shopping.

Summary below, please visit our timetable page (forthcoming section) for specific journeys.

York City services

1, 4, 5, 5A, 6, 66 – Will operate a revised timetable operating every 30 minutes during the, with early journeys operating Monday – Friday. Services will operate at hourly intervals during the evening, reduction to hourly intervals earlier on a Saturday and Sunday evening than present. Saturday and Sunday morning services have also been thinned out till approx. 9am.

10 – Will operate a Sunday timetable with additional early journey weekdays. Late journeys will continue to operate Monday to Saturday, to be reviewed dependent on usage.

11 – Will operate a special timetable with early journeys weekdays, service will operate every 70 minutes. Late journeys will continue to operate Monday to Saturday, to be reviewed dependent on usage, and whatever decision is made regards tendered services.

12 – Will operate a special timetable with early journeys weekdays, service will operate every 60 minutes, journeys after 1900 will continue to operate subject to patronage review.

200 – Will operate Monday to Saturday, the final journey will operate 10 minutes later.

HSB – Will operate normal schedule.

York Park & Ride

Service 2 – Will operate every 30 minutes as service 2A, observing all stops. Service will commence at 0700 Monday – Friday, and 0930 Saturday and Sunday. Evening service will operate hourly, these evening journeys terminate at Station Avenue. Return journeys will commence at Station Avenue.

Service 7 – Will operate every 30 minutes, Service will commence at 0700 Monday – Friday, and 0930 Saturday and Sunday. Evening service will operate hourly, these evening journeys will terminate at Rougier Street. Return journeys to Designer Outlet will commence from Clifford Street.

Service 9 Will operate every 30 minutes. Service will commence at 0700 Monday – Friday, and 0930 Saturday and Sunday. Last journey from City Centre 1900.

Services not operating (Grimston/Askham/Poppleton Park & Ride – closed)

66A, UB1, 3, 3A, 8, 59, 11S

At First Bus, your safety is our top priority. In the wake of the evolving impacts of coronavirus, we are working with the Government and wider industry to ensure we are following the latest advice to keep you safe on our buses. 

For our general information please see our main Coronavirus information page »

If there any key workers not able to get to work due to the changes, please let us know and we can look to try and make amendments. Contact us at: YorkCommercialTeam@firstgroup.com

“Which” advice on supermarket shopping and more

the “Which” consumer magazine has produced a guide on food shopping on its website https://www.which.co.uk/news/2020/03/supermarkets-ration-essential-items-to-prevent-coronavirus-stockpiling/

Fire and Rescue advice

Community Hubs

The Council, has confirmed that it is establishing neighbourhood “community hubs”. Council staffed they will NOT be open to the public. They are planned to support residents identified as vulnerable or those who have been in touch asking for support, by providing them with essential, non-perishable foods.

What’s App

The UK Government has launched a GOV.​UK Coronavirus Information service on WhatsApp. The new free to use service aims to provide official, trustworthy and timely information and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19), and will further reduce the burden on NHS services.

To use the free GOV.​UK Coronavirus Information Service on WhatsApp, simply add 07860 064422 in your phone contacts and then message the word ‘hi’ in a WhatsApp message to get started.

A set of menu options is then presented which the user can choose from and then be sent relevant guidance from GOV.​UK pages as well as links to GOV.​UK for further information.

For more information, please click here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-launches-coronavirus-information-service-on-whatsapp

Public Toilets

Public toilets in the city centre will be closed until further notice.

Parks and open spaces

All council-run parks in the city will remain open for exercise but we’re asking visitors to ensure they adhere to social distance best practice. From this weekend, Rowntree Park will reopen following the flooding earlier this year.

Play areas will be closed from today and this includes basketball courts, skateparks, caged five a side areas and tennis courts. Notices are being placed in all play areas instructing the public of this decision.

To ensure we follow the government’s guidance on social distancing the York Bar Walls are closed.

City set to ditch electric sightseeing bus trial

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The Council is being recommended to ditch a trial which has seen City Tour buses converted to run on battery power. Apparently, a trial of “retrofitting” buses to run on electricity, started 5 years ago, has been judged a failure due to reliability problems.

A grant to convert some of the 6 open-top buses used on York’s City Sightseeing tour service from diesel engines to be fully electric was approved in 2013. The buses had been criticised during the last decade  for affecting air quality standards on some of the City’s narrower streets.

A report to a meeting next week says that in York , and other open top tour city’s, the conversion has not achieved high reliability standards. Only 4 buses were converted and many of the services provided by them had to be run by substitute diesel powered buses.

A “Clean Air Zone” has been introduced in the City centre. This means that those buses regularly accessing the City centre must either be electric or must meet the more stringent Euro VI diesel emission standards.

It is understood that the operators of the services have tried to obtain open topped low emission vehicles but currently none are available either as electrics or with Euro VI standard engines at affordable prices..

It looks like the open top service will cease later this year with conventional layout buses being substituted.

NB. There has been extensive investment in electric buses in the City. York will have one of the UK’s highest proportion of mileage operated by electric buses once the new park and ride electric fleet arrives over the next 3 months

Changes to bus services from 1st December

Includes further refinement of number 12 service

Changes affect following services. Click for detailed timetable

Chapelfields – Wigginton service 1

Clifton Moor – York Uni service 6

Bishopthorpe – Heworth service 11

Foxwood – Woodthorpe – Monks Cross service 12

Chapelfields bus fare reduced

First has reversed its plan to charge £2 for the trip from Front Street to Chapelfields. The price hike from £1 was widely criticised. Although a short distance, the service is well used by those with heavy shopping to carry. The gradient can be a problem for some.

The new fare will be £1-20p

A similar situation exists in other parts of the CVity including Foxwood, although there, the short hop fare to Acomb has yet to be revised.

We have generally been supportive of the improvements that First have made to their services over recent years.

However, changes to short journey fares seem to be have been driven more by administrative convenience than passenger needs.

NB. Over 50% of bus journeys are made by pensioners using their free passes.

Changes to tendered bus services in York

Bellhouse Way will lose its early evening service

The York Council has finally caught up with social media and confirmed which bus operators will provide which subsidised services from next week.

The Council says, “following a decision made by City of York Council’s Executive last month, arrangements have now been made for the continued operation of tendered bus services when the current contracts expire next Saturday 31 August”.

“Commercial interest from bus operators First York and Reliance means that some of the routes that previously required financial support from the council now need a reduced level of support or, in some cases, none at all”.

Timetables will be available at www.itravelyork.info from early next week, and the new service arrangements are as follows:

Service 10: First York will operate the evening service commercially (with no financial support from the council) from Monday 2 September. Journey times will be very similar to those currently provided by Transdev.

Service 11: First York will continue to operate the evening service, with financial support from the council.

Service 12: First York will operate the daytime service commercially from Monday 2 September. First York will also operate a commercial evening service between Acomb Park, Moor Lane and the city centre until approximately 9.30pm from Monday to Saturday.

Service 14: Transdev will operate an evening service, with financial support from the council, from Monday 2 September. This will include hourly journeys between Haxby (West Nooks) and the city centre all evening, extending to Woodthorpe and Foxwood after First York’s commercial service finishes at around 9.30pm. This means that the bus service along Alness Drive, Acomb Wood Drive and Bellhouse Way will not operate until late evening.

Service 19: Reliance will operate the weekday service commercially from Monday 2 September, with the exception of one morning peak-time journey, which will require support from the council. Transdev will operate the Saturday service, with financial support from the council. Journey times will be similar to those provided currently.

Service 20: Transdev will continue to operate the service, with financial support from the council.

Service 21: York Pullman will operate this service with financial support from the council, starting from Saturday 31 August. Journey times will be very similar to those provided currently by the Connexionsbuses service but, to improve reliability, all trips will terminate and start in the city centre, rather than at the Morrisons store off Foss Island Road.

Services 24, 25 and 26 will all be operated by Transdev, with financial support from the council, from Saturday 31 August. Journey times will be very similar to those currently offered by Arriva. Transdev will also operate the Friday and Saturday late evening service 26.

Subsidised bus services in York set to continue

The Council is being recommended to continue to subsidise several bus services in York. The services serve either remote areas or provide services at times of the day when commercial services don’t run.

Tenders to continue services were sought earlier in the year.

The affected series are

  • 10 Evening Poppleton – City Centre – Dunnington Stamford Bridge
  • 11 Evening Bishopthorpe – South Bank – Stonebow
  • 12 Daytime Stonebow – Heworth – Monks Cross
  • 14 Evening Foxwood – City Centre / New Earswick – Haxby West Nooks
  • 19 Daytime Skelton – Clifton & Rawcliffe – Exhibition Square
  • 20 Daytime Rawcliffe – Clifton Moor & Haxby – Monks Cross / Osbaldwick
  • 21 Daytime Colton – Acaster Malbis & Bishopthorpe – Foss Islands
  • 24 Daytime Ascot Way (Acomb) – Acomb & Holgate – Piccadilly
  • 25 Daytime Derwenthorpe – Foss Islands – Crossfield Crescent (Fulford)
  • 26 Daytime Crossfield Crescent (Fulford) – City Centre – South Bank
  • 26 Fri/Sat eve Piccadilly – Crossfield Crescent (Fulford)

There is a question mark against the evening link (new service 15) between Stonebow and Monks Cross but officials hope to sustain the service in some way.

If approved the cost of subsidising bus services in the City will rise to £3/4 million.

The full report can be read by clicking here

A decision is expected on 18th July.

Subsidised bus services in York

Bus services in York get thumbs up from passengers

Bus users in York hold local bus services in high regard.

The most recent independent survey conducted by “Transport Focus” found that 89% were satisfied with their overall journey experience.

85% thought that the journey time was reasonable while 77% said the buses were punctual.

62% of fare paying passengers said he service was good value for money (down from 79% the previous year)

Most of the respondents used First services. First compared favourably with many other operators across the country.

Bus drivers behaviour was widely praised.

The survey results bear out similar findings from a door to door survey undertaken by local councillors last year.

The detailed results are:

Bus route diversions in York

Many services affected including number 4

Disruption to all traffic, including bus services, is expected during various works in January-March 2018.

Temporary lights will be in place at the Piccadilly/Pavement junction for 4 weeks from Mon 8th Jan during utility works.Monks Cross Park & Ride will move from its temporary stop at Pavement to another temporary stop on Stonebow (beyond the mini-roundbout) during this time.

Work to upgrade all traffic signals and pedestrian crossings at Lendal Arch Gyratory is likely to cause delays to all services from Mon 22nd January for up to 9 weeks. During this time, the following bus diversions will be in place:

  • Services 3 (Askham Bar P&R), 4 and 59 (Poppleton Bar P&R) heading towards York will divert via Nunnery Lane. Passengers for York Rail Station should alight at Blossom Street. All usual pick-up stops in the city centre will be served.
  • Services 45, 46, 196 and 747 will terminate and start at Piccadilly (45/46) or Merchantgate (196/747). Station Rd, Rougier St, Micklegate and Low Ousegate will not be served – please also see diversions for 29th Jan-9th Feb below.
  • Service 9 (Monks Cross P&R) will terminate and start at Clifford Street TG. Rougier Street and Micklegate will not be served.
  • Service 66 heading towards the University will pick up at Rougier Street CA and Rail Station RG (opposite side of the road from usual) then divert via Nunnery Lane and Skeldergate Bridge. Buses will pick up from Merchantgate PC as usual.
  • Service 181 will terminate and start at Stonebow. Station Ave, Rougier St, Micklegate and Low Ousegate will not be served.
  • Cityzap will terminate and start at York Rail Station. Rougier St, Micklegate, Low Ousegate and Stonebow will not be served.

Piccadilly will be closed to all southbound traffic from Monday 29 Jan for 2 weeks during utility works. During this time, the following bus diversions will be in place:

  • Service 8 (Grimston Bar P&R) will divert via Lawrence St, Walmgate and St Denys’ Rd, terminating at Piccadilly PD (outside former Banana Warehouse). Buses to Grimston Bar will depart from Piccadilly PD instead of PB. James Street and Morrison’s will not be served.
  • Services 10, X46 and X47 towards Stamford Bridge/Hull will divert via Clifford Street TG. Piccadilly PA and Walmgate will not be served. Buses towards Poppleton and York Station will follow their normal route.
  • Service 16 and X36 will take a different route between Micklegate and Piccadilly, but will continue to pick up passengers from all the usual stops.
  • Service 24, 25, 26 will stop at Clifford Street TG instead of Piccadilly PA. Buses towards Derwenthorpe, Acomb and South Bank will use their usual stops at Piccadilly PE/PF.
  • Services 45 and 46 will terminate at Piccadilly PF and start at Clifford St TG. Station Road, Rougier Street, Micklegate, Low Ousegate, Piccadilly PA and Walmgate (outbound) will not be served.

Highway improvement works on the A19 at Germany Beck and Crockey Hill will also take place between January and March. The exit of Wheldrake Lane onto the A19 will be closed until Sunday 28th January. Services 18 and 36 heading towards York will divert via Escrick. School buses will not need to divert.

Please allow extra time for your journeys during this period.

Stonebow stops SA, SB and SC are closed until early 2018 due to major refurbishment works at Stonebow House.

  • All services will use the temporary stops at the Peasholme Green end of Stonebow, between the junctions with Garden Place and Hungate.

For more information on bus route diversions and cancellations, please see:

  • Our York Travel twitter feed, which appears on this page;
  • YorkLive.info, which shows a map of current roadworks;
  • Real-time bus information screens at city centre stops (and other key locations);
  • Posters at bus stops and on buses;
  • Bus company websites and Twitter feeds (see below);
Bus company Web Twitter
Arriva Service Updates @arrivayorkshire
ConnexionsBuses News @connexionsbuses
East Yorkshire Motor Services Service Information @EYBuses
First News and service updates @FirstYork
Reliance Reliance Live @reliancebus
Transdev Latest News @yorkbus
Stephenson’s of Easingwold Latest News @stephensonbus

York bus services “some of the best in the region” claim

Figures compiled by the Department for Transport (DfT) show that improvements made to York’s buses helped take 460,000 car trips off the city’s roads last year, the equivalent of a traffic jam from York to Moscow.

The DfT’s annual statistics on public transport use show that the number of people using York’s buses has increased for the fourth year in a row.  Last year there were 16.8 million passengers on York’s buses, compared to15 million in 2012/13.  This is a growth in passengers of 12 percent, which is in contrast with the rest of the Yorkshire and Humber region which has fallen by 4 percent.

Passenger satisfaction information, collected by Transport Focus on behalf of the York Quality Bus Partnership, also suggests that 90 percent of York’s bus passengers are satisfied with the service they receive – a rate above the national average of 87 percent, and above the rates for West and South Yorkshire.

The figures are similar to those found by a Liberal Democrat residents survey undertaken in west York last year

The council and bus operators have worked together to improve York’s bus network over the last few years through the York Quality Bus Partnership.  Innovations in York have included:

  •      Improvements to bus information, including new on-street timetables and more real time displays
  •      Two new park and ride sites at Askham Bar and Poppleton Bar
  •      Fare reductions and new tickets
  •      Improvements to well used bus stops in the city centre including Museum Street and Exhibition Square.
  •      New electric buses on the Poppleton and Monks Cross park and ride services
  •      Introduction of refurbished electric open-top buses on the City Sightseeing tour service
  •      New services, such as the CityZap service between York and Leeds, and new vehicles and higher frequencies on some existing services
  •      Introduction of a multi-operator “AllYork” ticket and a smartcard ticket
  •      The introduction of two “Bus Wardens” and the bus enquiry desk at the Railway Station to help passengers

In the next six months there will be further improvements to the network, particularly opening improved bus interchanges at Stonebow and Rougier Street. New buses will also be introduced on Coastliner and EYMS services.  FirstYork will be introducing new ticket machines across their network which will allow contactless payment.  Over the next 12 months First will be introducing new buses on the Askham Bar, Rawcliffe Bar, Grimston Bar and Designer Outlet park and ride services as the new park and ride operating contract is introduced.
(more…)

Mixed news on new Park and Ride service

Park and Ride network

It seems that the council has finally received a bid to run its park and ride service. When the contract was first advertised no bids were forthcoming.

In the main the service will continue at it is today.

Key changes include

  • a facility to use contactless bank cards to pay for journeys.
  • Motorists will be able to park overnights (for up to three days) at the Askham Bar and Monks Cross sites (involving the provision of barrier access).
  • New Euro VI compliant buses including the replacement of some articulated single deck buses with double deckers
  • 11 single deck fully electric buses will be retained together with 3 fully electric double deckers

New Alexander Dennis Enviro 400MMC buses proposed

However users face a fare hike from £2-90 to £3-10 with a 10 minute frequency.

A number of enhancements including a late night service are on offer but are unlikely to be accepted for cost reasons.

The new contract will reduce the council’s income to an estimated £80,000 a year.

The Council have refused to disclose the name of the proposed operator.

The new contract will start next year.