No Dales Bus Services from Lancaster in 2023

 

The Northern Dalesman at Reeth

The Bus Users' Group has learned that there will be no Dales Bus services operating from Lancaster this year.

In previous years there have been two routes linking the Lancaster district with the Yorkshire Dales, operating on Sundays and Public Holidays between May and September. However, this year a combination of factors means that Dales Bus is unable to run them.

Last year's operation on Service 881 (Malham Shuttle), linking Lancaster with Malham Tarn and Malham village, which was always the weaker of the two routes, was poorly patronised to such an extent that Dales Bus feels its operation cannot be justified in 2023.

Service 830 (The Northern Dalesman) that ran to Hawes, Swaledale and Richmond has always relied on a healthy contingent of passengers joining from the train at Ribblehead to make it viable. This summer, the train that provides the return connection for passengers travelling from West Yorkshire is not operating and Northern Railway has not agreed to any of the suggested alternatives made by Dales Bus to provide the link.  Dales Bus receives no funding from Lancashire or North Yorkshire Councils and much of the external funding it did receive for the Northern Dalesman was predicated on the train connection at Ribblehead. Without this funding and without the fares income from the train passengers service 830 is simply unaffordable.

Regular passengers from Lancaster, including a number of Bus Users' Group members, will be sorely disappointed, but Dales Bus is hopeful that the rail connection and the funding can be restored next year and the service will run again.

New Buses Arrive on the 555

One of the new buses in Grasmere at the launch event.

 Passengers travelling on Stagecoach service 555 between Lancaster, Kendal and Keswick, will have noticed some new buses that started entering service on the route this weekend.

The fleet of nine new buses that Stagecoach says represents an investment of £3m, were built by British bus builder Alexander Dennis, which has factories in Falkirk and Scarborough. They are powered by the latest low-emission diesel engines meeting the European Union "Euro VI" standards for pollution control.

Passenger comfort is enhanced by superior coach-style seating, with a small number of bays of four around a table on the top deck.

The top deck, showing the comfy seats and a corner of a table!

USB Charging points are fitted throughout the bus, whilst the tables incorporate wireless charging points for mobile phones. 

As is expected to be the case with all new buses from now on, a "Next Stop" audio and visual announcement system is fitted. Unlike the basic system fitted to the existing 555 buses, this shows the stop names on a display as well as announcing them. 

The destination and the name of the next stop is displayed on both decks.

A similar system has been fitted to the buses introduced on services 2X and 100 in Lancaster a few years ago, although this seems to have fallen into disuse in recent times. With the requirement that all new buses be fitted with such systems from now on it is hoped that the new 555 system will be properly maintained and that the system on the 2X and 100 can be reactivated.

Externally, the vehicles are painted in the familiar "Lakes Connection" blue and green livery and carry the names of the most important places served by the 555. Although this is merely a continuation of the existing colour scheme it actually represents a significant victory for local management as Stagecoach Group now requires all other buses used on "long distance" services to be painted in a dreadful dirty yellow livery.

New Stagecoach Standard

Our local version!

Which do you prefer?

Launch at Low Wood

 

Free Gingerbread all round!

The new fleet was launched at an event held at the   prestigious Low Wood Bay hotel, where following   an  introduction by Rob Jones, Stagecoach   Cumbria  & North Lancs Managing Director, guests   were treated to a ride on one of the new buses   to  Grasmere, where they were presented with   souvenir tins of the famous Grasmere Gingerbread,   before returning to Low Wood for a buffet lunch.

The guests included local politicians (including Tim   Farron MP)  and businesspeople and real bus   passengers weren't forgotten, being represented   by  the Bus Users' Group in the form of our Chair, Jim  and Treasurer, Steve.

It was good to see our local bus company making an effort to promote the new fleet and, of course, the 555 service itself. The service is renowned for being one of the most scenic bus rides in the country and until 30 June can be enjoyed for just £2 a ticket. We can't promise you gingerbread, but we are sure you'll be able to enjoy the ride.