A new Sunday bus service is now running between Scunthorpe and Goole, connecting communities along the route.
Bus service 361, run by East Yorkshire Buses, crosses the two counties. The new service improvements have been made possible thanks to significant investment by East Riding of Yorkshire Council from its UK government BSIP+ funding that intends to improve local bus services.
The bus travels between Scunthorpe Bus Station and Goole North Street, via Old Goole, Swinefleet, Reedness, Whitgift, Ousefleet, Blacktoft Sands, Adlingfleet, Garthorpe, Luddington, Eastoft, Crowle, Ealand, Althorpe, Gunness and Gallagher Retail Park.
Cllr Tim Mitchell, cabinet member for connectivity at North Lincolnshire Council, said:
“It is brilliant to see improved links between the two counties. It benefits North Lincolnshire residents as it serves Scunthorpe and parts of the Isle of Axholme – especially as rural towns and villages can now access shops and services on a Sunday.”
Cllr Paul West, East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “Bus service 361 provides an important cross-boundary link between Goole and Scunthorpe, serving many small rural communities in both East Riding and North Lincolnshire.
“We’re pleased to be able to enhance the timetable with the new Sunday provision.
“We welcome North Lincolnshire’s support in promoting the use of the service and look forward to working closely with them on its future sustainability and development.”
The government discounted fare scheme – with single fares at £2 until December 2024 will make the service more accessible for people.
North Lincolnshire Council recently launched two new rural community bus services, 96 and 97, along with an additional 399 service between Scunthorpe and Doncaster via the Isle of Axholme.
In the summer, North Lincolnshire Council, Stagecoach, Hornsby Travel and East Yorkshire Buses signed a charter which commits to provide routes to key communities, to fair and transparent ticketing, and people travelling in comfort and safety on reliable services which are accessible to everyone.
The council received more than £1m government cash from the Bus Service Improvement Plan plus funding (BSIP+) for up to 2025 and more recently £965,000
following the government’s announcement of £150m funding to improve bus services for 2024/25 in the Midlands and North of England.
Cllr Mitchell added: “We continue to work closely with our main commercial partners serving North Lincolnshire – Hornsby Travel, Stagecoach East Midlands and East Yorkshire Buses – as part of the partnership to implement the improvement plan.
“More bus service improvements will be implemented over the next few months to enhance connectivity further.
“This is an ambitious plan which will improve reliability and frequency of buses, along with improved passenger information and simpler ticketing to encourage people back onto buses.
“There’s never been a better time to ‘Take The Bus’.”
For more details about rural transport across North Lincolnshire visit the North Lincolnshire Council website.
Pictured (left to right): Cllr Tim Mitchell, Cllr Anne Handley, Leader of East Riding County Council, Nick Fletcher MP for Don Valley.
