Special Offers to Dales Gateways by Metro Train
Metro and Northern Rail have teamed up to take West Yorkshire MetroCard and Concessionary Permit holders across the boundary by train for summer. The offers are available to all valid MetroCard holders (annual, quarterly, monthly, weekly – bus only or bus and train), Student Plus, School Plus with a Scholar’s PhotoCard, and all Concessionary Permit holders.
Now, you can go to
Harrogate, Knaresborough or Skipton by train for almost half the normal price.
Spend the day in Harrogate or Knaresborough for only £3 return fare, or take a
trip to Skipton for only £2 return.
These special offers are available on Mondays to Fridays until Friday 25 August
2006.
Money-saving vouchers to use in each town are available in the special offer leaflets, available from Metro Travel Centres, staffed rail stations and Tourist Information Centres.
Catch the train after 9am any weekday from Leeds or Bradford Forster Square train stations or any West Yorkshire stations on the Airedale or Harrogate lines. The special offer day return fares apply from any of these stations. Tickets can be bought with a valid MetroCard or Concessionary Permit from ticket offices at staffed train stations (or on the train if the station is unstaffed or the ticket office is closed). You can break your journey - the ticket is valid to your final destination - and return at any time of day.
Child fares are also available, at half the adult promotional fare, when travelling with an adult holding special day return ticket.
These special offer tickets cannot however be combined with Skipton Dalesbus add-on fares.
Open-Top Bus Link to Bolton Abbey Station
An open-top bus service will run on Sundays in August 2006 between Ilkley railway station and Bolton Abbey station, on the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway. Click here for details.
Music and Ale Trains
Music and ale trains will return again to the Settle-Carlisle line this summer. Taking place on four Saturdays, the trains feature quality ale and great music from live bands.
The dates are:
Saturday 27th May (featuring Skipton based folk band The Hall Brothers and a local jazz band.)
Saturday 17th June
Saturday 24th June
Saturday 5th August 2006
The train starts as the 1919 Leeds to Ribblehead and the music and ale joins at Skipton just before eight o'clock. There is an opportunity for a look around Ribblehead station or a chance to cross the viaduct and then the train returns to Skipton for approximately 2140. Connections are available for stations to Bradford and Leeds.
Tickets are £5 from Skipton to Ribblehead when booked in advance via Northern's Specialist Sales department - 0113 2479659 / specialist.sales@northernrail.org, otherwise normal fares apply.
Wensleydale & Swaledale Bus Services
Bus service 112 from Gayle and Hawes to Garsdale and Sedbergh (Tuesdays and Fridays only) was withdrawn after operation on 28th April 2006, as a result of North Yorkshire County Council's recent bus service review. Service 130 from Hawes to Keld, also operated by Braithwaites Coaches, was also withdrawn after operation on 25th April.
Bus services 30, 30A and 36 in Swaledale are operated by Dales and District from 6th March 2006, following the closure of Arriva's Richmond depot. Timetables remain unchanged, except that the late Friday only journey from Richmond to Gunnerside Bridge at 2240 is now operated as a demand responsive taxibus by Harkers Coaches.
New Rail+Bus Tickets in Wharfedale
New tickets allowing through travel by train and bus into Wharfedale were launched on 2nd January 2006.
The new “Ilkley DalesBus” and “Skipton DalesBus” tickets allow a day return by train to Ilkley or Skipton, then unlimited travel on the Wharfedale area buses, as far north as Buckden. The tickets cost just £3.00 on top of the Cheap Day Return fare to your chosen station.
The new tickets have been masterminded by Northern Rail and North Yorkshire County Council, with assistance from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, and are one of the first initiatives to come out of the Yorkshire Dales Sustainable Travel Partnership.
The tickets are available to either Ilkley or Skipton Rail
Stations from Leeds, Bradford Forster Square and all stations on the Airedale
and Wharfedale lines. An added bonus is that the tickets are available anytime.
(Cheap Day Return tickets are usually only available after 9.30am on Mondays to
Fridays, although there’s no time restriction at weekends.)
The tickets are valid on Pride of the Dales bus services 72 and 72R between
Skipton, Grassington and Hebden, and service 74 between Ilkley, Grassington and
Buckden, on Keighley & District service 67A between Skipton and Grassington
and on Reliance Motor Services/ Arriva Yorkshire services 800 and 805 between
Ilkley, Grassington and Buckden. One slight limitation is that the Skipton and
Ilkley versions of the ticket aren’t interchangeable, so you need to return
home from the same station.
Example Fares:
Note that the DalesBus tickets can only be combined with Cheap
Day Return fares, not any other type of ticket. A half-price child version of
the ticket is available, but the tickets cannot be combined with concessionary
fares for MetroPermit holders.
Car-Free Walks from Richmond
A series of car-free walks has been devised to enable visitors and residents in the Richmond area to explore the countryside of Wensleydale and Swaledale. A series of six walks has been devised, all of which are accessible by local bus services. For details see www.dalesbus.info/richmond . The walks have been created by a partnership involving Westend Guest House, Transport for Leisure Ltd and the Yorkshire Dales Public Transport Users Group.
Bus Services Undergo Review
North Yorkshire County Council has announced how it intends to improve value for money on the County's bus services. On 1st March 2006 the County Council's corporate director for transport, Mike Moore, considered a report recommending changes to the County's subsidised bus services. In consultation with County Councillor Clare Wood, North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for public transport, the decision was made to approve the recommendations.
The report was produced after wide public consultation and a detailed analysis by County Council officers of the County’s large number of contracts with bus service operators.
In reaching the decision, Mr Moore took into account the need to reduce very high levels of subsidy for poorly used buses, the need to secure best value for North Yorkshire’s bus users and the need to safeguard essential transport for rural areas.
North Yorkshire County Council has committed to spend over £5m on buses next year.
Councillor Clare Wood said: “I have very much appreciated the high level of interest the people of North Yorkshire have shown. I have listened very carefully and believe that the decision taken today reflects a real balance in offering subsidised bus services in rural areas and value for money for our residents.”
A small number of bus services will be withdrawn or adjusted as a result of the review. Details of any changes to services in the Dales will be posted here when available, however we are pleased to report that the possibility of major cuts to Dales bus services has now been averted.
Dales Travel Project Wins European Award
A project to encourage sustainable travel and tourism in the Yorkshire Dales has won a major European award for its work.
It was voted number one in the “promoting ecologically-sound travel and tourism” category of a contest run by the Austrian government, which has just taken up presidency of the EU. The competition aimed to find best practices in Europe and was run before the start of a major conference in Vienna organised by three Austrian ministries.
The Travel Awareness Regions Group for Environmental Transport
(TARGET) Project, which ended last June, was led overall by METRO and was a
partnership that also included the YDNPA, Leeds City Council, Bradford Metropolitan
District Council, North Yorkshire Council and the Yorkshire Dales Public
Transport Users Group. The TARGET project received European INTERREG funding.
The Yorkshire Dales element of the TARGET project, led by the
Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA), aimed to promote travel to and
within the Yorkshire Dales National Park by alternative methods of transport to
the car and included promoting social inclusion, supporting the rural economy
and the health benefits of countryside visits. Among other things, it also
devised a programme of marketing campaigns aimed at car users, young people and
socially excluded groups.
Andy Ryland, YDNPA’s Transport and Visitor Management
Officer, said: “I am absolutely delighted that the Austrian Government has
recognised the work of the TARGET Project as being of European significance. The
award highlights the need for integrating transport, tourism and sustainability,
which was exactly what the partners of the TARGET project were trying to do. The
opportunity to take part in the conference will not only enable us to share what
we have learnt but will also enable us to learn a great deal from delegates from
other regions who are facing similar problems with regard to sustainability and
climate change which, after all, is the biggest threat to the environment and
prosperity of the Yorkshire Dales.”
Some of the work started by the Yorkshire Dales part of the TARGET project – such as looking at cross-boundary ticketing to enable travellers to use buses and trains on one ticket – is now being taken forward by the Yorkshire Dales Sustainable Travel Partnership.
Wensleydale Bus Timetable Changes
Timetable changes to bus routes 55, 73, 144, 156, 157 and 159 operated by Dales & District were made from 30th January 2006, including:
- Service 156/157 (Bedale - Leyburn - Hawes - Gayle) Revised timetable and withdrawal of some journeys.
- Service 144 (Bedale - Masham) Revised timetable, including withdrawal of 7am and some evening journeys.
- Service 159 (Ripon - Leyburn - Richmond) Revised timetable, including withdrawal of some journeys.
- Service 55 (Richmond - Northallerton) Withdrawal of 8pm journey from Northallerton.
- Service 73 (Bedale - Northallerton) Revised timetable.
From the same date Arriva service X59 was extended to Hawes, running to Leyburn, Richmond and Darlington from Hawes at 0657 on Mondays to Fridays, returning from Darlington at 1710.
Nidderdale Bus Changes
The Sunday bus service between Harrogate and Pateley Bridge now operates all-year round. This service is now operated by Harrogate & District Travel, with four return journeys operating every Sunday throughout the Winter months.
From 31st October 2005 minor improvements were also made to the mainly hourly weekday service between Harrogate and Pateley Bridge.
Wharfedale Bus Service Changes
Some changes were made to Pride of the Dales' Wharfedale bus services with effect from 5th September 2005. The journeys listed below no longer operate:
Service 74
0650 Grassington to Ilkley Mon - Sat
0735 Ilkley to Grassington Mon - Sat
Service 72
1900 Grassington to Skipton & 1930 return Mon - Sat
2000 Grassington to Skipton & 2030 return Mon - Sat
2250 Grassington to Skipton & 2315 return Friday only.
Winter Rail Offers from Metro
Once again holders of Metrocards and West Yorkshire Concessionary Passes are able to travel on the Settle-Carlisle railway line and between Leeds and Morecambe for a flat fare of £5. Metro and Northern Rail are repeating this popular winter offer again, this time running between Monday 14th November 2005 and Sunday 19th February 2006 (inclusive).
This is a great opportunity to enjoy a dramatic and inspiring journey through the rugged Dales landscape and reach many interesting places easily and cheaply. The winter months can be spent exploring the area and all the wonderful places these two railway lines can take you to.
Metrocard Holders can travel on the Settle-Carlisle and Leeds to Morecambe routes for a flat fare of £5. Customers need to produce their valid Metrocard and a coupon available from the Metrocard offer leaflet. The journey must originate in the Metro West Yorkshire area and the offer is valid all week.
Metro concessionary pass holders are entitled to the £5 flat fare on both routes between Mondays and Thursdays and again will be required to produce their valid Metro Pass and a coupon available from the Metro leaflet.
Full details of the terms and conditions of both offers are contained in a leaflet which is available from staffed bus and rail stations in West Yorkshire. You can also request a leaflet from Metroline on 0113 245 7676, or download one from the Metro website at www.wymetro.com
A discounted offer is also available to Dales Railcard holders during the same period.
X84 Return Ticket Offer
A return ticket has been introduced on route X84 to Skipton from Sunday 30 October until Saturday 24 December 2005 as a trial period.
The ticket is priced at £3.20 and is available for a day return journey to or from Skipton. The ticket offers savings over two single point to point tickets purchased, whether its purchased at Leeds, Otley or Ilkley a saving will be made regardless.
There are no discounts for Concessionary (WY or NY), disabled, Young Persons or Scholars passes during this trial period - all return tickets will be at the stated price.
Innovation on Wensleydale Railway
A new chapter was added to railway history during September 2005 when,
for the first time in half a century, regular passenger rail services operated
on the Leeming Bar to Northallerton section of the Wensleydale Railway (WR).
Working in partnership, innovative rail vehicle supplier Parry People Movers Ltd
(PPM) and the WR arranged and obtained approval for the public service in a
matter of weeks.
The operation, using a PPM 50 Light Railcar on six miles of route normally only
used by freight trains together with an integrated bus link, promoted two
projects: the extension of WR tracks and services to Northallerton main line
station, and the joint development of a new type of larger
environmentally-friendly non-electric light rail vehicle for community railways.
Over 700 journeys were made by fare-paying passengers during the demonstration
period with many passengers using the service to get to local shops and
services.
"The response of passengers to this new service was, above all, to travel
on it for journeys they would otherwise have made by road or not at all,"
said Ruth Annison, Chairman of Wensleydale Railway plc. "On the very first
day, people were making journeys for appointments at Northallerton’s Friarage
hospital and to catch trains on the East Coast main line. It was especially
pleasing that throughout the demonstration people were using the rail shuttle
service to go shopping and have a day out in Northallerton, thus helping the
market town economy."
"It has been a joy to work with the Wensleydale Railway," said John
Parry, Chairman of PPM. "Our two organisations have much the same culture -
we get on with the job and solve the problems. The important thing is not to
call for endless reports or argue about what the perfect solution would be if
only limitless funds were available, but to do everything that is possible with
the money to hand. This is how we'll work together to develop the larger
railcars and extend the line."
The demonstration service caught the attention of the media, with reports
appearing in the regional, national and railway industry press. The operation
was also featured on BBC and ITV television and both independent and BBC radio
(local and national).
New Generation Railcar Visits Wensleydale Railway
A new generation light railcar from Parry People Movers (PPM) will provide the first passenger service for half a century between Leeming Bar and Northallerton from September 15th to 23rd 2005, with an integrated bus link to town centre and main line station.
Parry People Movers Ltd (PPM) - the supplier of energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly light rail vehicles for community railways and tramways - has joined forces with Wensleydale Railway plc - operators of the re-opened 17-mile route in North Yorkshire - to provide a rail service to the east of the current WR terminus at Leeming Bar.
From Thursday September 15th until Friday September 23rd (excluding Sunday September 18), a PPM 50 Light Railcar will operate a regular service along six miles of line normally only used by freight trains. As the final half-mile section of track which took passenger trains into the county town of Northallerton is long gone, an interchange point has been constructed and a dedicated bus will transport passengers to and from the town centre and the main line railway station, served by Trans Pennine Express and GNER trains.
For further information and timetable click here.
First Loco-hauled Trains on First Community Rail Day - May 14th
The Wensleydale Railway has announced that it will run its first locomotive-hauled passenger trains since the railway re-opened in July 2003, to mark the first-ever national Community Rail Day on Saturday May 14, 2005.
Class 31 and Class 37 diesel locomotives will haul a set of newly-painted red Mark 2a coaches on two "specials" after the end of the day's regular train services.
The special trains will depart from Leeming Bar station, half a mile from the A1 near Bedale. Saturday's 4.45pm departure for Redmire - on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park - will be repeated the next day, Sunday May 15 and the fare will be £20 return. The round trip will take about two hours and all seats can be booked in advance.
An additional loco-hauled train will run on the Saturday evening (May 14) departing from Leeming Bar at 8pm to the market town of Leyburn for a return fare of £15. Ticket prices for passengers who book for more than one of these special trains are £30 for any two journeys and £50 for all three journeys. A Weekend Rover Plus (May 14/15 only) at £60 is valid for all three loco-hauled specials and also all the Wensleydale Railway's regular DMU (diesel multiple unit) services on both days. Children aged 5-15 travel for half price; under 5s are free.
"The journey by train through Wensleydale is lovely at this time of year," says WR's marketing director, Mrs. Ruth Annison. "Spring flowers beside the line, and lambs skipping in nearby fields, will make it a memorable journey when seen from the comfort of our first loco-hauled passenger trains. We are also encouraging passengers on these evening trains to bring a picnic meal to enjoy as they travel up the dale."
"The launch of these special services is a tribute to everyone who has worked so hard to restore the Class 31 and Class 37 locomotives and bring them back into use. We are very pleased to be able to do this on the same date as the first Community Rail Day."
Wensleydale Railway runs regular DMU (diesel multiple unit) trains between Leeming Bar and Redmire 7 days a week. For routine timetable information see www.wensleydalerailway.com or phone 01969 623069; to book for the loco-hauled specials on May 14 and 15, telephone 08454 50 54 74.
Winter Bus Services
Winter Sunday service 805 to Hawes from York, via Leeds, Ilkley and Grassington will continue until 20th March 2005. The summer service, starting in Wakefield, begins on 27th March.
The through journey to Skipton and Malham from Leeds, Bradford and Keighley on bus route 804 on Saturdays was replaced from the 18th December 2004 by a new service running on Saturdays from Preston, Blackburn and Burnley to Skipton and Malham. Times between Skipton and Malham are unchanged. - see timetable page for details.
Unfortunately, there will be no Sunday service on route 24 from Harrogate to Pateley Bridge during the Winter months this year. The Sunday service will resume at May Day weekend in 2005.
Hawes Village Bus
New bus services linking Hawes with Garsdale Station and surrounding villages started on 29th November 2004, under the Hawes Village Bus banner. All the routes run on Mondays to Saturdays. The routes are as follows:
113 Hawes - Garsdale Station
114 Hawes - Hardraw - Sedbusk - Hawes
114 Hawes - Burtersett (pre-booking required)
Bedale and Redmire Stations Reopen
The Wensleydale Railway is now operating a daily service (until 31st October) from Leeming Bar to Bedale, Leyburn and Redmire. There are five return journeys between Leeming Bar, Bedale and Leyburn, with three journeys continuing through to Redmire. Click here for the full timetable, and details of bus links from Northallerton Station.
High Tech Commentary on Malham Shuttle Bus
The Malham Tarn Shuttle Bus is now using satellite navigation technology to give passengers an historical insight into one of the National Park's most glorious locations.
As passengers travel on the circular route from Malham National Park Centre towards Malham Tarn and then back again, an onboard Global Positioning System (GPS) tracks the vehicle's exact location. When certain points are reached the soothing voice of National Park Authority Interpretation Officer Kate Geddes relays relevant and interesting information to passengers.
The innovative system means visitors who give their cars a break and travel on the 804T service will not only get superior views of the countryside over the high drystone walls; they will also learn more about natural wonders like Malham Cove, the famous limestone pavement and Malham Tarn. The innovative commentary system installed on the shuttle bus by the National Trust is funded by the Travel Awareness Regions Group for Environmental Transport (TARGET) project.
Summer 2004 Dalesbus Changes
Despite some improvements with the introduction of the Malham Tarn
Shuttle service and a new peak season link from Darlington to Hawes, a number
of cuts have been made to the network of summer weekend leisure bus
services to the Dales. This is despite the increased visitor numbers expected as a
result of the promotion of the National Park's 50th anniversary and the
popular Calendar Girls film.
North Yorkshire County Council's leisure bus service budget remains frozen,
with no allowance being made for the rising cost of bus operation. The
Yorkshire Dales National Park's contribution to the services in 2004 is
planned to be just £20,000; which is actually a reduction over 2003 following
the ending of Countryside Agency "Wider Welcome" grants. This means,
simply, that insufficient public money has so far been made available to
support the level of service that operated last year. The result of this is
that:
no funding has been allocated for service 803 from West Yorkshire to Hawes, via Swaledale, therefore it was intended to withdraw this service completely. However, the Yorkshire Dales Public Transport Users Group have stepped in to fund a service on selected dates - click here for details.
no funding has been allocated for service 806 from Bradford to Bolton Abbey and Grassington, therefore this service has been withdrawn.
service 805 from West Yorkshire to Hawes will be merged with Bike Bus service 810, and operated by a single vehicle. Combined with the loss of the 806 this will result in a worse Summer Sunday service in Wharfedale.
services 26 and 812 from York to Fountains Abbey, Pateley Bridge and Grassington have been merged into a single service, operated by one bus.
no funding has been allocated for Summer Saturday service 801 from West Yorkshire to Hawes, via Wharfedale, therefore this service has been withdrawn..
no funding has been allocated for Summer Saturday and Sunday service 808 from West Yorkshire to the Western Dales and Lake District, therefore this service has been withdrawn.
there are various other changes to routes and operators.
Whilst the User Group welcomes the modest improvements, it is very disappointed by cuts to established services, and that the National Park's fine words on sustainable tourism are being directly contradicted by their actions on reducing investment in bus services for visitors.
Dales Rover Tickets
Dales Rover tickets are available on the weekend Dales Connections Network until the end of October 2004. For the Autumn months this comprises the following Sunday/Bank Holiday services: 67A, 159, 800, 804, 804T, 805 and 807; also the following Saturday services: 804, 804T.
There are basically four zones:
Zone A - Dewsbury, Wakefield
Zone B - Keighley, Ilkley, Guiseley, Shipley, Otley, Leeds, York
Zone C - Ribblehead, Settle, Malham, Skipton, Bolton Abbey, Grassington, Buckden, Middlesmoor, Pateley Bridge, Harrogate, Knaresborough, Bedale
Zone D - Hawes, Aysgarth, Swaledale, Leyburn, Richmond, Masham, Lightwater Valley, Ripon
Dales Rover tickets are only valid on the day purchased.
Travel within a single zone costs £3.50, for travel between zones see the table below:
|
Zone A |
|||
|
4.50 |
Zone B |
||
|
7.00 |
4.50 |
Zone C |
|
|
8.00 |
7.00 |
4.50 |
Zone D |
Price shown is for one adult boarding in the zone shown to enable travel within other zones
Child tickets are available for half the adult fare.
Senior citizen tickets are available for half the adult fare to North Yorkshire pass holders only.
Family tickets (for 2 adults + up to 2 children, or 1 adult + up to 3 children) are available for the price of two adult tickets.
Note that OAP concessions are no longer available on Dales Rover tickets to holders of Metro Permits or any other OAP passes, except those issued by North Yorkshire.
Dales Rovers are not available for journeys wholly between Skipton and Malham on Saturdays.
New Buses to Farnley, Askwith and Leathley
New MetroConnect bus services started on Monday 26th January 2004 on a number of routes in the Otley area.
Service 942 operates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from Otley to Askwith and Moor Lane.
Service 944 operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from Otley to Farnley and Leathley.
A full timetable leaflet can be downloaded from the Metro website at: http://www.wymetro.co.uk/tables/bus/940.pdf
Skipton Area Service Changes
A number of changes were made to bus services in the Skipton area from 4th January 2004:
the Saturday service from Skipton to Malham is now run by Hutchinsons. Times between Skipton and Malham are unchanged, but there are no longer any through journeys from/to Wakefield, Leeds or Bradford. (Through buses from Leeds and Bradford to Malham will however recommence for the summer on Saturdays and Sundays from Easter weekend)
Pride of the Dales services 72 (Skipton to Grassington/Buckden) and service 74 (Ilkley to Grassington/Buckden) are now operated with new low floor fully accessible buses, allowing easy access for wheelchair users and parents with buggies. There are also minor changes to the timetables, including a later weekday bus to and from Kettlewell (1730 from Grassington, returning at 1750 from Kettlewell). The late night service from Grassington to Skipton at 2250, returning from Skipton at 2315 however no longer runs on Saturdays, now running on Fridays only.
minor changes have been made to Keighley & District Travel services between Skipton and Keighley, and Skipton and Lothersdale.
Bowland Transit
Bowland Transit service B10 between Clitheroe, Slaidburn and Settle is now operating seven days a week. On Sundays one journey extends to Ribblehead and Ingleton, leaving Settle at 2.50pm.
New Services in Skipton and Nidderdale Areas - Nov 2002
Two completely new weekday bus routes, and two new Sunday services are now running in the Dales.
The new weekday services, operated by Harrogate & District Travel as part of North Yorkshire County Council's Travelinks project, run on Mondays to Saturdays on the following routes:
60 Otley - Pateley Bridge (continuing to How Stean Gorge on Saturdays)
The two routes connect at Kettlesing, providing additional journey opportunities.
A Sunday bus service is now provided by Harrogate & District Travel on route 24, from Harrogate to Pateley Bridge, with five return journeys operating.
European Mobility Week 2001
A series of events has been organised in Leeds to support European Mobility week. This includes a special "Park & Ride to the Dales" service on Sunday 22nd September. Dales buses 800 and 805 from Leeds to Bolton Abbey, Grassington, Buckden, Aysgarth and Hawes will make a special stop at Woodhouse Moor, where free all-day car parking will be available.
Also on Sunday 22nd September, Harrogate & District Travel are offering a maximum £1 fare on all their buses, including service 36 from Leeds to Ripon. This £1 ticket will give unlimited travel on Harrogate & District buses for the day.
Changes to Bus Services from October 2001
There were a number of changes to services 72 and 74 operated by Pride of the Dales from Grassington to Skipton, Ilkley, Buckden and Hebden from 1st October.
The main changes comprise:
Major changes to times on Ilkley and Buckden routes
Buses no longer serve Cray
Reduced service to Arncliffe (some journeys must now
be pre-booked)
Through buses reintroduced from Buckden to Skipton
Early evening buses between Grassington and Skipton
will run on Mondays to Saturdays
New Friday and Saturday night bus from Grassington to Skipton at 10.50pm, returning at 11.15pm
Service 210 between Malham and Skipton has new times on Saturdays from 6th October, including a through service from Wakefield, Leeds and Bradford running as service 804.
The basic concept of the Wharfedale Bus ‘n’ Boots Project is to use Community Transport mini buses driven by Voluntary Wardens, to offer guided events to visitors arriving in Grassington and will be based at the new transport interchange at the National Park car park.
The project has been devised and developed by
members of the Voluntary Warden service of the Yorkshire Dales National Park,
and will be introduced into their programme of guided
events to be offered in 2001.
Wharfedale Bus’n’Boots Walks - these walks aim to offer guided walks in areas of Wharfedale not easily reached by public transport and are aimed primarily, but not exclusively, at people visiting Wharfedale by bus.
Wharfedale Bus’n’Boots Tours - in the middle of the day the buses will be used to offer guided tours to more senior, or less energetic, visitors, giving them the chance to explore various aspects of Wharfedale with an informative guide. Each tour will involve a little walking over firm and level ground.
The first tour was on 24th June 2001, however the start of the walks programme has had to be delayed to the foot & mouth precautions.
A new Postbus linking the villages of Grewelthorpe, Mickley, Kirkby Malzeard and Galphay with Ripon and Masham started on 26th February 2001. Full timetable details are available here.
A new bus service linking Cowgill, Dent, Sedbergh and Kendal started on 8th November 2000, running on Wednesdays. Full details of this service operated by Woofs of Sedbergh are available here.
The new bus services in the Bedale area planned by WRC have been delayed and will not now start in 2000, for details of services currently operated click here.
In the meantime plans to bring back regular passenger trains to Wensleydale have taken a major step forward with the announcement that Railtrack has agreed in principle to transfer its interest in the Northallerton to Redmire line to the Wensleydale Railway Company. Trains may well be running next summer, see the WRA website for details. WRC has also acquired the station sites at Leeming Bar and Leyburn, the company's shop will be moving to the station in the near future. The shop carries a wide range of stock of interest to the transport enthusiast (all modes catered for) and an excellent range of gifts.
WRC Information Line (Buses) 01969 663350
WRC shop information 01969 625182
As part of a number of bus service changes in the Harrogate area from 11th June 2000, a new bus to Pateley Bridge has been introduced, leaving Harrogate on Friday and Saturday evenings at 2315.
Pride of the Dales revised their services from Ilkley and Skipton to Grassington and Buckden from 16th April. The weekday service from Ilkley is improved, but evening services from Skipton are reduced. Full timetables are now on-line for the Ilkley and Skipton services.
Changes were also made to Sunday buses in the Harrogate area from 16th April, improvements include:
Full details from Harrogate and District Travel on (01423) 566061.
Details are now available of guided walks and other events organised by the Yorkshire Dales National Park for the summer season.
A new telephone enquiry service has been launched by North Yorkshire County Council, providing information on any public transport journey starting or finishing in the county. The number to remember is 0870 608 2 608.
The line is open from 8am to 8pm, and calls cost a maximum of 8p a minute (peak) and 3p a minute (off-peak).
Wensleydale area services operated by Dales & District changed again from 27th September 1999, as follows:
Wensleydale service extended to Northallerton hourly daily
buses now generally leave Gayle at half past the hour, and Northallerton at 25 to the hour
weekday daytime service remains hourly
evening and Sunday service reduced between Bedale and Hawes
Service 159 between Ripon, Leyburn and Richmond also have new times, including an hourly daytime service between Leyburn and Richmond.
Links from Masham are also improved, with service 144 running from Masham to Bedale on Mondays to Saturdays, with some journeys continuing to Northallerton.
For full details of all the above services please contact the operator, Dales & District, on 01677 422371.
A new Saturday bus service between Northallerton, Bedale and Hawes operated by Wensleydale Railway Co also started on 18th September. For full details please telephone 01969 663350.
Service 580 between Kirkby Lonsdale, Ingleton, Settle and Horton in Ribblesdale was improved from August 2nd 1999, with improved connections with services to Skipton, Lancaster and Kendal, and later buses from Ingleton and Settle.
The reinstating of a passenger line between Skipton and Grassington has received the full support of officers and members of the Yorkshire Dales National Park committee.
The line is currently used to transport stone from Swinden Quarry at Cracoe, owned by Tilcon.
Sunday excursions were said to be commonplace in the 1950s and more recently occasional passenger trains have operated with the permission of Tilcon and Railtrack but the absence of a platform has meant travellers have not been able to alight. Rail engineers believe the construction of a platform would be a relatively straight-forward operation.
If the proposals go ahead it will mean visitors to the Dales will be able to leave their cars in Skipton - or even further afield - and travel up the line to a terminal near the quarry. A park and ride bus service will then transport the visitors further up the Dales.
With or without a platform, an excursion train has already been booked to coincide with Grassington's Dickensian Festival. Hertfordshire Rail Tours have organised The Christmas Cracoe on Saturday December 18. The train departs from London's King's Cross Station to Skipton and then up to the end of the line at the quarry. The rail tour company hopes a platform will be in place but if it isn't then the train will still travel along the line and return to Skipton where a transfer bus service will be provided.
National Park member Coun Robert Heseltine said the scheme was within a whisker of becoming a reality. "The Dales is a honeypot for visitors. It will be excellent for the economy of the area."
Equally enthusiastic was Dr Jim Burton. "It is a potential boon to local people and tourists alike. Success will bring benefits to the park and all who visit," he declared. He also said other lines within the National Park such the Colne to Skipton could be re-instated in the future.
Transport and visitor management officer Andy Ryland said of the scheme which could cost up to £1 million: "Today's full backing from the authority members has given the green light that could very well see the first passenger trains for many years serving the heart of the Dales. This is a significant milestone in realising the long-term aim of a fully integrated rail and bus network for the Yorkshire Dales National Park."
In the long term there are proposals to reconnect Embsay junction with the Swinden branch at Haw Bank. Members agreed to continue discussions with the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway, Tilcon, rail excursion trains operators and the Office of Rail Passenger Franchising.
Tickets offering discounted travel on the Wharfedale Wanderer service and the Embsay Steam Railway are now available, click here for details.
Bus users now get discounted entry at Fountains Abbey, collect your discount voucher from the Fountains Flyer driver. Adults admitted at child price (£2.10), children at half price (£1.05).
A new service 74 now operates on weekdays from Ilkley to Grassington and Buckden, operated by Pride of the Dales. Evening services between Skipton and Grassington will also be introduced on Fridays and Saturdays. Full details are available here.
Stagecoach Cumberland are now operating a daily service between Ingleton, Kirkby Lonsdale and Kendal. Services 567/568 provide 4 journeys on weekdays, and 3 on Sundays.
The local CAMRA Group have added a webpage to their site entitled "A Yorkshire Dales Pub Crawl". It is a list of the pubs in Wharfedale between Addingham and Cray, with the clear suggestion that people do it using the Wharfedale Wanderer. To visit this site, click the link provided on the Dalesbus Links Page.
West Yorkshire PTE have begun to add Yorkshire Dales bus services to their journey planner website. Coverage is not yet complete, but several services are already shown. Links will be provided from within the Dalesbus website shortly. The West Yorkshire Buses website is a new unofficial website with information on bus services in West Yorkshire.
The following new services have been introduced on an experimental basis, using the Rural Bus Grant. The continuation of these services depends on their usage, so please support them. See the Other Bus Services page for details:
Skipton to Lothersdale (KDT 80) on Monday to Saturday daytimes
Skipton to Malham (Pennine 210) on Saturdays
Appleby to Penrith, via Dufton (Bainbridge) on Saturdays, connecting with train from Leeds
Otley to Harrogate, via North Rigton (HDT R4) on weekday evenings, and all day Sundays
Harrogate to Stutton, via Wetherby, Tadcaster (HDT 78A) on weekday evenings, and all day Sundays
Wetherby to Menston (Utopia 923), via Otley on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays
Skipton to Ilkley and Leeds (First Leeds 784) every evening.
Improved services have also been introduced between Keighley and Skipton (KDT 70/78) and between York and Ripon (HDT 142/X42).
The information above is from our archives, for the latest news please visit the news page.
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All information is provided in good faith, but we cannot be held responsible for any errors or inaccuracies. Please check details before travelling. This site also contains a number of external links the inclusion of which does not signify any endorsement. The YDPTUG is not responsible for the contents of such sites, or any links contained within them.