Number 4 bus returning to old route from Sunday

First York buses have announced a raft of changes to their services which will be implemented on Sunday.

The changes will see the popular number 4 service revert to its old one way “loop” using Gale Lane, Front Street, Green Lane and Tudor Road.

The lack of a two way service on Green Lane and Tudor Road will disappoint some elderly residents who appreciated being able to travel easily to the village for shopping and other purposes.

Local Councillors promised to consult on the option of retaining the longer 2 way route via Acomb Green & Ridgeway which was introduced to accommodate the use of articulated buses. These former park and ride buses, are now being redeployed elsewhere.

We have heard nothing about the results of any consultation with passengers.

Future of number 4 bus service

UPDATE: WE HAVE HEARD FROM FIRST THAT THEY INTEND TO REVIEW THE WORKING OF THE NEW ROUTE IN SEPTEMBER.

Everyone knows that usage of bus services has reduced since the start of the pandemic. Some services are recovering passenger numbers more quickly than others.

Earlier in the week the York Council decided to continue its subsidy payments for concessionary travel (elderly and disabled passes) at historic levels despite the drop off in use.

That is the right decision if public transport is ever to become the first choice travel option for York residents

First York need to make their strategic intensions clear.

About 2 months ago they changed the route of the number 4 service on the Acomb village loop. For some time the service had used Gale Lane , Front Street, Green Lane and Tudor Road on a one way basis.

This is the route still currently shown on the First York web site timetable map (click)

The alternative loop involves providing a two way service on Tudor Road/Green Lane. This is what is still in operation today. This route misses out the top section of Gale Lane.

However the flags at the bus stops in Tudor Road (east bound) do not show the number 4 stopping there. We think that is just an omission,.

Generally the return of a two way service in the Tudor Road area has been welcomed by local residents.

First should now confirm that the change will be permanent and that timetables, maps and bus stop signage will be amended accordingly.

First York announce more frequent bus services

Westfield services affected

From Sunday 28th June, the following changes will take place to help with safe, socially-distanced travel for essential journeys.

Full details of the changes and timetables can be found in the ‘Forthcoming’ section of the timetables page.

The changes are being made to help manage continued capacity restrictions on buses due to social distancing as further lockdown measures are eased.

City Services

Service 1 – Frequency of buses increased to every 10 minutes during the day Monday – Friday and every 12 minutes Saturday, changes to times to reduce waiting at bus stops due to reduced traffic levels.

Service 4 – Frequency of buses increased to every 8/9 minutes during the day Monday – Friday and every 12 minutes Saturday, changes to times to reduce waiting at bus stops due to reduced traffic levels.

Service 5/5A – Frequency of buses increased to every 15 minutes during the day Saturday and every 30 minutes Sunday, changes to times to reduce waiting at bus stops due to reduced traffic levels.

Service 6 – Frequency of buses increased to every 10 minutes during the day Monday – Friday and every 12 minutes Saturday, changes to times to reduce waiting at bus stops due to reduced traffic levels.

Service 10/10A – Changes to times to reduce waiting at bus stops due to reduced traffic levels.

Service 11 – Buses will run every 30 minutes for the majority of the day.

Service 11S – will not operate.

Service 12 – Buses will run every 30 minutes for the majority of the day.

Service 200 – will continue to operate 3 early morning services.

University Services

Service 66 – Changes to times to reduce waiting at bus stops due to reduced traffic levels.

66A, 66X – will not operate. Alternative journeys will be provided by Service 10, 10A and 66.

Service N66 – will not operate.

Park and Ride Services

Service 2A – will operate every 10 minutes Mon– Fri at peak hours, and run every 15 minutes during off-peak and Saturdays. A Sunday service will operate every 30 minutes. All stops will be served between Rawcliffe Bar and City Centre.

Service 3 – will not operate. Alternative journeys will be provided by service 12 between Askham Bar Tesco and York.

Service 7 – will operate every 10 minutes Mon– Fri at peak hours, and run every 15 minutes during off-peak and Saturdays. A Sunday service will operate every 30 minutes.

Service 8, 66A, 66X – will not operate. Alternative journeys will be provided by Service 10, 10A, 66.

Service 9 – will operate every 10 minutes Mon– Fri at peak hours, and run every 15 minutes during off-peak and Saturdays. A Sunday service will operate every 30 minutes.

Service 59 – will not operate.

Please only travel if your journey is essential.

Number 4 bus service diversion from 13th June

The closure of Tudor Road for 2/3 weeks means that the number 4 bus service will be further diverted (it recently was rerouted via Ridgeway) .

We understand that the diversion will be

Sat 13th – Sun 28th Jun

Tudor Rd closed at Gale Lane end during sewer connection works for new housing development.

Suggested diversion for service 4 Gale Lane, Front Street, Green Lane both ways then to Acomb Green terminus. Inbound Ridgeway, Askham Lane, right into Gale Lane then right into Cornlands Road

Gale Lane – partial closure this week. Number 4 bus service affected

Monday 18th – Friday 22nd November

Gale Lane (St Stephens Road to Cornlands Road) closed between the hours of 09:15 – 17:00 for carriageway maintenance works.

Service 4 – The service will operate to southern end of Green Lane, turn around roundabout and return through Acomb via Green Lane, Front Street, Gale Lane, resuming normal route at Cornlands Road.

Stops not served: both stops on Tudor Road.

The number 24 bus service will also be re-routed.

St Helen’s Road closed from 9th Sept.

Abandoned bus shelters – future uncertain

The future of the bus shelters on Tudor Road, which have not had a service for over 2 years, remains uncertain.

Not surprisingly the shelters are in good condition.

Bus sign does not say the stop is unused.
Litter was cleared from near the shelter ealier in the week

There is a site, at the Gale Lane end, which could accommodate a shelter, and which does lie on the now clockwise route taken by the number 4 service.

There are no notices in the shelters (or on the bus stop signs) indicating that the bus service only serves the opposite side of the road.

Even then the alternative bus stops are a testing sprint away.

Anyone texting the bus stop identification code to the information service gets a text back saying that no service is expected within the next 4 hours.

4 years more likely.

If you text for information it will cost you 12p

The stop reference (e.g. 32900872) produces no useful information when keyed into the “Bus York” mobile phone app. See https://www.itravelyork.info/journey-planning/free-bus-apps/

Many people living in the Tudor Road area would prefer to see a 2-way service reintroduced.

If such a change is not imminent, the Council and bus service providers need to initiate a review of the quality of bus stop information, and shelter arrangements, that they provide in the area.

Abandoned bus shelters can be a magnet for anti-social behaviour, so some prompt action is required.

York city centre bus stops set to reopen on Monday

On Monday, 5 March, bus services will return to their normal bus stops at Stonebow following relocation during the refurbishment of Stonebow House.

The temporary stops outside Marks and Spencer, and further down Stonebow will close.

The stops will reopen with wider pavements and better lighting, significantly improving the environment for passengers. Seating will also be improved later in the year.

At the same time, three bus stops at Rougier Street, for buses heading in the direction of York Station, will close to allow a new bus shelter to be to be put in place following the refurbishment of Roman House.

The Rougier Street stops will reopen towards the end of April after the new shelter has been completed. The new shelter will be a substantial improvement with better lighting, improved seating and in-shelter CCTV.

All stops in the city centre have also been fitted with real time information displays, and all stops have received new, easy to read, timetables.

NB. The number 4 bus service returned to its original route past the railway station yesterday.

For more information about traveling in and around York visit www.itravelyork.info

St Helens Road Closure Friday – Number 4 bus service affected

Location:	Bus 4 St Helen’s Road
Cause:	Roadworks
Responsibility:
Dates:	20 Nov 2015

St. Helen’s Road Closure Friday 20th November closed 0900-1600

during CYC highways works on the above date.

Service 4 will divert via Chaloner’s Rd, Moor Lane, and Tadcaster Road in both directions.

Stops not served;

all stops on Eason view, St Helens Road

Additional stops served;

all stops on diversion route.

First York announce bus service changes

Number 4 to loop through Skeldergate – direct link between Acomb and York University broken

First buses have responded to complaints about unreliability and lack of capacity on some bus services.

click to enlarge

A major change to the number 4 – the best used bus service in the City – means that it will no longer travel to the University. Instead it will loop through Skeldergate and over Skeldergate Bridge to reach its new terminus on Clifford Street. There are frequent buses from there to the University.

The last change to the route of the number 4 -which took the service on a meandering journey through Tang Hall before reaching Heslington – was heavily criticised by passengers. On occasions 3 or 4 buses would arrive in Acomb in convoy. We hope that the new service – which retains a 10 minute frequency during the day – will prove to more reliable when it is introduced on 22^nd November. The Sunday frequency will be 20 minutes while buses will continue to run every 30 minutes in the evening.

Some minor timetable changes are promised on the number 1 service which links Chapelfields to Wigginton. A twelve minute frequency is promised at peak times between Monday and Friday.

Other changes affect service 6 (which gets a direct link to York University) and service 10 which will run via Battlefields Way, while an additional morning service will be provided between Dunnington and York College on Tadcaster Road, with an early morning service between Bishopthorpe and the railway station also being introduced.