Friends of Hunmanby Railway Station Newsletter November 2019
New December Timetable Starting Sunday 15th December 2019:
Like May 2019, it is again improvements for the Yorkshire Wolds Coast railway line. Trains will remain mostly at a regular hourly frequency, but the times past each hour will change this will enable most services to be through trains beyond Hull to Brough, Goole, Doncaster, Meadowhall and Sheffield. Most trains will be 'express services' beyond Bridlington, calling pattern being Driffield, Beverley, Cottingham then Hull. Reducing average journey time to Hull from Hunmanby to 60 minutes.
There will be improved connections into Trans Pennine Services at Seamer and Hull.
Northern Rail aim for most of Hunmanby's train services to be formed of the more modern 3 coach 'Turbo Star' trains, giving a third more seats.
The new Northern Rail Timetable (look up Table 28) https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/travel/timetables
Help required: With the train times changing, Northern Rail have kindly given a grant to the group to fund a leaflet that includes both the new timetable and village events, 3,000 in total, and also cover a similar timetable for Filey, (5,000) which Filey Town Council have kindly offered to deliver door to door. 20 people volunteers helped to deliver door to door in May. If you can please help deliver the leaflets in your local area it would be much appreciated. This work has paid off as it is noticeable how many more journeys are being by train at Hunmanby and raised awareness and support for village organisations.
HOW DID IT HAPPEN?
For these improvement to happen considerable time has been put in by many individuals and organisations from local government who are responsible for public transport - East Riding Council and North Yorkshire County Council, train operators Northern Rail and Trans Pennine Express along with Network Rail whose tracks the trains run on.
Thanks to our local Member of Parliament, Kevin Hollinrake who organised a special meeting in York on 3rd July with Network Rail and Northern Rail Train Planners and Transport for The North.
The Friends of Hunmanby Railway Station have been invited to meetings where the group has been given draft information and asked not to broadcast as it is 'work in progress' Which the Friends group has respected. This has helped as the group could see work being put in to sort out connections and protect existing users of the local railway line to get to work, education and training, and give reassurance that concerns were being addressed. The July meeting gave a welcome opportunity to submit comments. More importantly it was also about learning how busy and complicated the rail network is, now carrying the highest levels of passengers in its history. One example at the York meeting was a £200 million investment at Derby 120 miles away. The biggest rail investment in Derby station for decades and a key part of the Midland Main Line upgrade to improve journeys to and through Derby station by reducing bottlenecks and enabling quicker and more efficient passage of rail traffic. This had speeded up long-distance Cross Country trains, which in turn had made space for the Sheffield to Bridlington train to be extended via Hunmanby to Scarborough. This in turn provides a useful direct train service between South Yorkshire and the whole of the Yorkshire Wolds Coast, and improved connections into Trans Pennine Services at both Hull and Seamer.
JOINT WORKING BETWEEN EAST RIDING, NORTH YORKSHRE & TRAIN OPERATORS:
At Local Government Level, Northern Rail had given a commitment to provide a through service between Bridlington and Sheffield. An 'unintended consequence' of this was that the other service on the line running between Hull and Scarborough, had resulted in poor connections at Seamer and Hull with Trans Pennine Services. East Riding Councillor David Elvidge kindly arranged to meet and listen to the problems with the long connection times at Seamer and Hull for passengers travelling to and from Bempton, Filey and Hunmanby. Bringing the matter forward to East Riding Council Scrutiny meeting on 29th May in Beverley. This was attended by local rail users from the village and Northern Rail. This openness in turn has given East Riding not only a direct hourly train to Sheffield via Hull 7 days a week, but also Monday to Saturday, a new hourly Bridlington to York service via Hull. Which offers a good connection into a new hourly, Hull to Halifax train service via Leeds and Bradford being operated, hourly, Monday to Saturday by Northern Rail. Thus, East Riding has improved train links to South, West Yorkshire and York. The whole Yorkshire Coastline is a winner.
MEETING IN LEEDS 13th JANUARY 2020:
The Friends of Hunmanby Railway Station have been invited to attend, an event with Northern Rail, which will be looking at the May 2020 drafts timetable. It would be useful to have your views, both good and bad on how the new train service has performed between 15th December and this meeting, Has the new December timetable made some of your journeys easier?
'Harrington Hump' Grant Application Form to Department for Transport, Mid-Tier Funding Access for All, £30 million fund:
2 years ago, Friends of Hunmanby Railway Station was set up through Northern Rail their aim being to have a local group of volunteers looking after each station. At the meeting suggestions, were made by people to improve the village station. Each issue raised has been taken up, explored, somethings have happened, tackling anti-social behaviour, installing new road signs to point the way to the Industrial Estate and Village Centre. Others ruled out, with a valid reason given, like a new footpath to the station to improve access or a station car park. This has helped to retain the interest and support of the community. The success stories have gained useful local press coverage, which has helped to stimulate rail travel. One, still ongoing, is to finish off proving level access to the train. There are two platforms, both with level access from the road, one has a 'Harrington Hump' (going to Scarborough) one does not (going towards Hull). The 'Harrington Hump' is named after a station chosen as a trial, in rural Cumbria, where the weather conditions are harsh (on the Irish Sea) and there was a large drop from the train to the platform. The 'hump' raises a short section of the platform where the train door with the wheelchair sign on stops. This gives level access onto the raised section of platform. This is the only remaining barrier to level access at Hunmanby. Since September 2017 the issue of the extra 'Harrington Hump' has been batted around between Network Rail and Northern Rail.
Through a casual internet search 4 weeks ago the group found out about this Department for Transport scheme, which can provide up to 100% funding, and specifically mentions 'Harrington Humps'. The Friends of Hunmanby Railway Station formally
wrote into the named officers at Network Rail and Northern Rail dealing with applications. This application is submitted by Friends of Hunmanby Railway station so that Hunmanby station is considered for one more 'Harrington Hump.' The Department for Transport welcomes community involvement. In just four weeks supporting letters have been sent in to support the extra 'Harrington Hump' by:
Both Scarborough Borough Councillors for Hunmanby Ward Cllr Michelle Donohue Moncrieff and Cllr Paul Riley
Our County Councillor Cllr Roberta Swiers, for Hertford & Cayton Division
Member of Parliament Kevin Hollinrake, Thirsk & Malton
North Yorkshire County Council, Executive Member for Access, Cllr Don Mackenzie
Hunmanby Parish Council
Hunmanby Doctors Surgery Patient Participation Group
Yorkshire Coast Community Rail Partnership
Scarborough Borough Councillor Alex Bailey Member of Castle ward and Representative on
Yorkshire Coast & Ryedale Disability Forum
7 individual Letters from local residents who would benefit from this suggested
improvement.
Through our Member of Parliament Kevin Hollinrake, Network Rail gave support for the scheme, in effect taking on ownership and ongoing maintenance once constructed.
Train Fares, Tips for cheaper train tickets:
The New 16-17 Saver, offers the highest ever discount on rail travel- meaning you can still get half price train tickets! The new 16-17 Saver is now on sale online and offers 50% off most rail fares for anyone aged 16 and 17 years old. For only £30, the 16-17 Saver is valid for one year or until your 18th birthday (whichever is earliest) and discounts will be applied to standard Season, Anytime, Off-Peak and Advance tickets for travel on the National Rail network, except on ScotRail or Caledonian Sleeper services. The new 16-17 Saver will extend the 50% child discount to 16 and 17 year olds. You can choose to either have your 16-17 Saver on your phone, or have a printed card sent to you via post. Ideal Christmas Present?
Tesco's Clubcard? Every £1 worth of vouchers = £3 towards a railcard for a year Choose from
16-25 railcard, a Senior Railcard, Two Together or Family & Friends, each cost
£30 or just £10 of Tesco vouchers
The Disabled Person Railcard is £20, this also includes a friends to travel with you. You also qualify for a Disabled Person Railcard if you are registered deaf or use a hearing aid.
Friends of Hunmanby Railway Station aim to have the disabled railcard application form in the rail timetable leaflet holder at Hunmanby station, or call at staffed station like Bridlington or Scarborough.
Going further afield, ease of travel more important than speed?
With the new service from Hunmanby to Doncaster and Sheffield, both these stations offer a wide range of destinations with just one change. Avoiding the need to change at both Seamer and York or Leeds. If purchasing a ticket, often it is worth
looking at the 'go via' option box and putting in 'Hull'.
Scarborough station is renowned for its customer service and 'knowledge' and is the best place to book tickets in person. Especially if you would like a generous connection time between services, rather than the minimum connection time.
Getting to and from the station:
Taxi: Filey Taxis 07794 968230 (not Sunday) based in the village, operate one car and a 8 seat mini bus
Fares start at £5, to get you to or from the station.
This holiday season increasing numbers are using the station as a railhead for the holiday camps.
Current prices:
Within
Hunmanby Car £5 Minibus £10
Hunmanby
to Primrose Valley or The Bay Car £8 Minibus £13
Hunmanby
to Reighton Sands Car £9 Minibus £14
Hunmanby
to seamer Car £12 Minibus £20
Hunmanby
to Scarborough Car £14 Minibus £22
New Floral Displays:
Friends of Hunmanby Station have now extended the new, long flower border along the whole platform after trimming back the hedge.
New Shelters. Ticket Machine, Real Time Information Display, CCTV Cameras
Both new shelters have now been erected after a very long delay when we were without any shelter. The ticket machine is working on the Scarborough platform with little trouble most of the time. If you purchase a ticket via the internet to collect at a station. The code you receive can be used at any station with a ticket machine. Electric wiring has been installed in trenches on both platforms for Real Time Information Displays in both Shelters but there is again a long delay for them to be fitted. Holes have been dug for posts on both platforms to hold the CCTV Cameras (there apparently will be two on each platform) but, as with all the other fittings, there is a long delay in actually getting them fitted.
Station Awards:
Hunmanby Railway Station was awarded a Gold by Scarborough Council annual Muck and Magic awards for its eye-catching floral displays. Also judges for Yorkshire in Bloom inspecting the village this year recommended that the Station should be put
forward independently for judging next year (the village was given a Silver Gilt award this year).
Updated 22.10.2021