Train and Bus Information
Train Service
The Barton line train service is currently being run by First Group under contract to Northern Rail. There are nine return journeys each weekday and four on summer Sundays between Cleethorpes and Barton. All but the first morning train (see separate heading) call at all stations (at New Clee by request only and restricted to certain daylight hours). The complete single journey takes approximately 50 minutes with Habrough and its connections westward being exactly half way.
The following is a summary of the times (valid until Saturday 8th December 2012 inclusive) or the complete timetable can be viewed here:
Mondays to Saturdays
Cleethorpes depart: 6.00 7.00 8.55* 10.55 12.55 14.55* 16.55 19.00 21.03
(* 5 minutes later on Saturdays).
Barton depart: 6.58 7.58* 9.52 11.52 13.52 15.52* 17.55 19.58 21.58
(* 2 minutes later on Saturdays).
Summer Sundays (20th May to 9th September 2012 inclusive)
Cleethorpes depart: 09.58 12.58 14.58 17.58.
Barton depart: 11.00 14.00 16.15 19.15.
N.B. On Bank Holidays the Barton line trains run to a full weekday timetable whereas the bus services run to a Sunday timetable.
N.B. On Christmas eve and New Year's eve trains stop running around 20:00 and start later than normal on 27th December. No local trains run on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Bus Service
Since the withdrawal of the ferries from New Holland and the opening of the Humber bridge in 1981 the link with Hull has been maintained through an hourly No.350 connecting bus service at Barton known as Humberlink. On 23rd March 2009 the service was rebranded as Humber FastCat and the timetable was totally revamped to run half-hourly throughout most of the day (Mon-Sat). On Sundays and Bank Holidays there are six runs each way. Passengers should note that the connections between the trains and buses at Barton interchange are no longer guaranteed and that an adequate margin should be allowed for transferring between the two.
The service departs from stand 3 at the bus interchange at Hull Paragon station, and all but the last three runs on the outward journey from Hull also serve the Carr Lane stop in the centre of the city (Sundays excepted). After Barton the 350 route continues to Scunthorpe via South Ferriby, Winteringham and Winterton. Approximate journey times are Barton-Hull 30 minutes and Barton-Scunthorpe 45 minutes. The Barton-Hull day return fare is of the order of £6.30. The service is run jointly by Stagecoach and East Yorkshire Motor Services. The complete timetable can be viewed here. 'Plus bus' add-on fares are available on the rail fare for unlimited travel within Hull and Grimsby.
The following bus services also depart (with some regularity, but not on Sundays) from Barton interchange:
250 - to Barrow village, Thornton Curtis, Wootton, Ulceby, South Killingholme, Immingham and Grimsby.
254 - around Barton (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only).
260 Villager - to Barrow village, Goxhill and New Holland.
450 - to South Ferriby, Wold villages, Elsham, Wrawby and Brigg.
Humber Flyer - to Hull and to Humberside airport and Grimsby.
First Morning Train
The 06:00 departure from Cleethorpes and the 06:58 departure from Barton consists of the new Class 185 unit (instead of the usual Class 153 unit) as used on the TransPennine runs to Manchester. Due to the higher step and extra carriages on this train the following restrictions apply:
1) These trains do not call at New Clee, Grimsby Docks, Great Coates (in the Grimsby direction) and Thornton Abbey where the platforms are lower than normal. Passengers wishing to alight at these stations should notify the conductor who will telephone to make alternative arrangements with Northern Rail.
2) At Healing, Ulceby, New Holland, Barrow Haven and Barton where the platforms are now shorter than normal only the central doors of the train are operated.
3) Bicycles and push chairs which do not fold cannot be carried.
Passenger use of the remaining services of each day is not affected.
Rail Fares and Facilities
As from January 2012 the adult fare for the whole line is £6.20 single, £8.30 return. Railcard holders enjoy 1/3 off and NLC and NELC Travel Pass holders enjoy 1/3 off a single fare and 50% off a return fare (NELC passes are not valid before 09:30). Those aged under 16 also travel at half fare whereas bicycles, dogs and children under five (maximum two per adult) are carried free (provided that space is available). Duo tickets entitle the second of two passengers travelling together to half price on journeys from Barton, Barrow Haven, New Holland or Goxhill to Grimsby Town or Cleethorpes.
The full price return tickets on the Barton line entitle you to break your journey as often as you like on the return leg provided that you continue in the same direction of travel. Unfortunately a rover ticket (giving total flexibility) is not currently available for the line. If you are travelling on the Barton branch (Barton - Ulceby inclusive) to or from the west via Doncaster, Leeds or York and your ticket is valid for "Any Permitted (AP) route" then you may travel via Hull or Habrough, whichever is the most convenient, although the Humber FastCat bus fare must be bought separately.
When boarding at an unmanned station (all except for Grimsby Town and Cleethorpes) payment is made to the guard on the train (who can sell tickets to almost any destination in the country) using cash, Debit card, Mastercard or Visa.
The local trains have toilet facilities, and there is space for bicycles, push chairs and folding wheel chairs on all except the first train of each day. It is advisable to contact Northern Rail in advance (see below) if you intend travelling with any of the above items during busy times, and do remember that there are restrictions on certain types of wheel chair.
The nearest rail travel agent is at Hull Paragon station where most advance bookings and reservations (but not Eurostar - tel: 0990 186 186) can be made.
Visitors from further afield can easily access the Barton Line and its many attractions by rail to either Hull (with its bus connections to Barton) or Habrough, or by bus to Grimsby. Hull is served by direct trains from London, Manchester, York and Scarborough; Habrough and Grimsby Town are served by direct trains from Manchester and Newark North Gate; Grimsby is served by direct buses from Louth. For visitors coming from the continent the overnight P&O ferries from Rotterdam and Zeebrugge are met at the dock by buses to Hull transport interchange, and the convenient KLM air services from Amsterdam Schipol to Humberside airport enjoy hourly buses (except on Sundays) to Grimsby, Barton and Hull.
Obtaining Further Information
Free pocket train (and some bus) timetables are available in Barton from the public library, the NLC Local Link office, the Town Council office, Baysgarth museum, and the convenience shop opposite the interchange. They are also available from all local staffed stations (Cleethorpes, Grimsby Town, Scunthorpe and Hull), from Barrow Haven inn and from the Post Offices at New Holland, Goxhill, Ulceby, Stallingborough and Healing. Public transport information, including maps, can also be obtained from the HullCC, NELC and NLC web sites, the Local Link offices, the Tourist Information Centres or by telephoning Traveline (see below). Many local timetables, maps, leaflets and a guide to the line can also be obtained by post from us in return for two 2nd class stamps.
Train telephone enquiries and sales can be made at any time through National Rail on 08457 48 49 50.
Train Tracker supplies up-to-the-minute train times (e.g. when enquiring about possible delays) using voice recognition prompts on 0871 200 49 50. You can also text your station name to 84950 (but you will be charged for the return message as well as your own).
The Northern Rail Helpline number is 0845 00 00 125 (not for timetable information).
If you wish to contact British Transport Police or enquire about train delays you can press **1 or **2 respectively at certain station shelter telephones (free of charge). The British Transport Police control centre at Leeds can also be contacted on any telephone by dialling 0800 40 50 40.
In the event of complaints unresolved with the train operating company concerned you can take the matter further by writing to Passenger Focus at PO Box 4257, Manchester, M60 3AR (tel: 08453 022 022; fax: 0845 850 1392; textphone: 0845 850 1354).
For taxi information visit Traintaxi.
Other useful telephone contacts:
Brigg Tourist Information Centre
01652 657053
Cleethorpes Tourist Information Centre
01472 323111
Hull Tourist Information Centre
01482 223559
Traveline (calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras)
0871 200 22 33
TransPennine Express
0845 600 1671
East Midlands Trains
08457 125 678
First Hull Trains
08450 710 222
East Coast
08457 225 225
Network Rail Helpline
08457 11 41 41
Crimestoppers
0800 555 111
Hull Bus Call
01482 222222
East Yorkshire Bus Company
01482 327142
Stagecoach
0845 605 0 605
Finally a wealth of further information can be found on our Useful Links page.
