Local Fleet Changes - May 2012

BL Travel, South Elmsall
Optare Versa Demonstator YJ61JHF is in use here, It has been operating route 249 (Pontefract-Hemsworth).

First South Yorkshire
Certain Vehicles have been onloan to this operation form First West Yorkshire including Volvo Olympian Alexander Royale 30832 (R652HYG) from Leeds and 37246 (YN07MKD) from York ammong others. Certain vehicles in this fleet now carry Brandings for route 75 (High Green - Sheffield - Batemoor) & X78 (Sheffield - Rotherham - Doncaster). Volvo B10M-55 Alexander PS 60604 (N767CKY) has gone into Preservition. Volvo B10M-55 Alexander PS 60605/6/11/15 (N768/9/74/8CKY) and Volvo Olympian Northern Counties Palatine 30547/8/51 (N302/3/11JBV) have gone to PVS, Carlton dealer for scrap.

Stagecoach Yorkshire
Volvo B10BLE Wright Renown 21129/31/2 (T545/7/8AUA) have moved to Stagecoach West to join 21130 (T546AUA) allready there. 21133/4 (T549/50AUA) have moved to Reserve from Barnsley where 21135 (T551AUA) is still in service. At Barnsley Optare Solo 47289 (YN03ZXJ) has gained brandings for route 6 (Barnsley-Kendray Bank End) while 47297/300 (YJ55BKZ/BLN) have been branding for Route 1 (Barnsley-Mapplewell & Staincross). M.A.N 18.240 Alexander ALX300 22448 (YN07KRO) has gained branding for Route 11 (Barnsley-Athersley North). MCV eVoltuion 39611 (YN56OSO) has lost its Dearne Link Brandings in favor of Stagecoach Beachball. Dennis Dart Alexander ALX200 34086 (S486BWC) has been placed in Reserve after a short spell at Barnsley. In Rotherham M.A.N 18.240 ADL Enviro 300 22554 (YN57MXX) has lost its Dearne Link Brandings after repaint. ADL Dart Pointer 2 35235 (YN56OMR) sustained front end damage after an RTC but is now back in service and was noted operating service 218 (Rotherham-Barnsley). Volvo B10M-55 Alexander PS 20930 (R930XVM) and Volvo B6BLE East Lancs Spryte 31911 (LR02BNZ) moved from stroage to Chesterfield, Stonegravels for preperation for use dueing the olympics but it is unsure which depot they will be based at dueing the olympic games.

Tate's Travel Group/ South Yorkshire Rider LTD

Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer 2 SN51SZY is new here and has replaced 1712 (P712BTA) which is now part of the Reserve fleet here.

Stobart Fest, Manchester 26/05/12

An Example of a Super Leage Fridge
Trailer With Scania H6563 PE12PZJ

Ok Ok, Its not bus realated... really but as well as Buses, Trains, Trams & Coaches my other hobbies are Trucks and Eating... The latter i'm doing now, For those unaware Eddie Stobart are the biggest haulage company in the UK making a delivery every 10 seconds. There big Green and Red monsters can be found on most motoways and on avrage you will pass a Stobart Truck every 4 minutes on a trip down the Motoway ! Overtime Stobarts have gained a massive spotters and fan group and last year they held there own Stobart Fest. Simaler to Truck Fest but with Stobart. Stobart Fest boasts drivers from the every popular TV seriers Eddie Stobart Trucks & Trailers includings Mark Dixon, Tim Fox & Ashley Maddocks who are 3 of the most well known drivers working for the company.

Me Sat with Ray Broad, Top bloke
And drives this top Truck, Debby

Stobart Fest also shows the best trucks up close and is a good day out for anyone remotely intrested. Stobart Fest took place over the weekend of 26/27 May 2012 at the Manchester City Football Ground in Manchester. The event was extremly good at catering for everyone who might have wanted to attend it. The Event wasn't on grass which can cause issues in wet weather with mud and sinking vehicles. I was very impressed that Stobart had cated for the elderly and disabled with the trucks persitioned around seating in the middle where visiters could sit and rest. The event layout was very good and was a perfect example of Stobart Groups style where everything is perfect, right or changed !. The Stobart Shop was a very popular area with one big que however it wasn't half as big as ques to meet drivers Mark Dixon and Ashley Maddocks. These streched the full lenth of the event. The Weather was perfect and could not have been better, Even managed to get a slight tan. Yes it was Manchester not Majorca ! I only managed to see one very small, Odd cloud during my day at the event, More water came from me in sweat form waiting in line for the Stobart Shop then anywhere else. Shortly after arriving at Stobart Fest i managed to meet Ed Stobart :D. I wasn't too botherd at this event about meeting every driver but more so taking pics of every truck and getting my hands on Model Scania Topline H3831 to which i was succsessful at doing. I also managed to meet drivers Ray Broad who i have met before at Barlborough (Tesco RDC Chesterfield) and also Driver Mick Leech who i do like from the Trucks & Trailers TV Seires. Some Trucks in attendance where:


Driver Mark Ashurst Standing busy
with Tanker H6363



H4700    S708ART    Debby
H4500   PX10DJV     Pheobe Grace
F1484    M26 RKY    Teletubby
F1500    VX08HWH  Bettina
-------     T1NKM       Ally
H2970   PX12AZB    Lynda Dawn
H4856   PX61BHZ    Poppy 90

There we're many more vehicles also showing off the company and what they do on a day to day basis. The most intresting of which were Stobart Biomas's Walking Floor Trailer which came with Stobart Biomas H8207 and Tim Fox. There was also a Stobart Fuel Tanker, Drawbar and a Stobart Cafe Ford Transit Van. Presentation of every vehicle was excerlant, Even staff vehicles in the car park. One thing i do like about Eddie Stobarts is they do keep vehicles and depots in cracking condition and present them extreamly well. This really does show off the company to anyone and is noticable. I was very impressed at this.

One Of Stobarts Smallist, F1500

The Free Parking for Stobart Fest visiters went down well. Also the free entry to the site for anyone went down well with visiters of the Super Leages Magic Weekend who we're wanding about between games looking at some of the 15 branded Stobart Super Leage Fridge Trailers. The Event when i visited on Saturday was full all day as most people took advantage of the nice weather on the morning. Sunday also got a good turnout i'm told by good freind Mr G (John Glover) But it wasn't as busy as Saturday. The most notable vehicle for me was new Iveco Stralis H2970 PX12AZB. This is one of only two in the fleet and was attracting quite a big crowd. This was together with the Curtainside Rail Box. The Iveco looked a nice little truck and looked like a contender for Stobarts also rear DAF XF. There wasn't an XF at Stobart Fest however i must say i'm a fan of the DAF XF. Overall the day was excerlant and i really enjoyed myself at Stobart Fest in Manchester. Hopefully they will do another local Stobart Fest in the Yorkshire, Greater Manchester or Derbyshire area next year so i am able to go there too...



Biomas H8207, PX10ELC driven
by legand Tim Fox !

Most Stobart Trucks carry Girls Names on the front, Something worth looking out for the next time you seen one passing you. Fleetnumbers are located on the side below or on the Door and once you start spotting you get into it very quickly as i did myself many years ago. Stobarts iconic Green and Red trucks are recognised as been part of Great Brittian and rightly so !  For now i'm out but remember, The next time you see one of these Green and Red Monsters it will have a very intresting story with it and will be heading to another intresting place, It might even have a famous driver behind the weel !.

Barnsley Townlines Update Plus...

Further brandings on Barnsley Townlines have taken place last night, this morning. 6 Branding has now been applied to Solo M920 47289 (YN03ZXJ) And 1 Brandings has now been applied to Solo M950 47300 (YJ55BLN). The latter is in full Townlines livery (Very impressed at that) However 47289 is a big mess. To me it looks like they have started doing it and then its been rushed into service. Behind the doors there is no brandings what so ever however this has the route branding above the windows. On the other side the bus has the Green flag however no Barnsley Townlines wording on the side. There could possibly be more vehicles currently been branded today. 47297 (YJ55BKZ) is not out so this could also be gaining Townline 1 branding. 47290 (The final bus expected to get 6 Brandings is still operating the 1 today with the top half of the 1 brandings still applied. 22447 isn't out and nor have i seen 22448 (Possibly gaining 11 brandings). Apart from those ive seen everything else. I will go out and have a look around in the morning or if not i'm not sure when it will be however i will try and get out a check. For the rest of the day 47289 should be operating the 6 and 47300 is on the 1. I will post another update like the previous one when i can check all vehicles out tomorrow :D

Also Noted Today where on Wakefield Rd from 47299 (YJ55BLK) was 2 intresting Stagecoach movments involving an 02 plate Volvo B6BLE East Lancs Spryte and a Volvo B10M-55 Alexander PS. Both in full fleet livery and possible heading for Holbrook for Olympic cover and reverse. Holbrook are short of vehicles currently due to ADL Enviro 400H vehicles been sent for warrenty work... Again. If not they may have been heading towards PVS Carlton however not sure why Stagecoach engineers would take them there. The vehicles where both showing Sorry Not In Service at the time about 12:53-12:55pm today. These must have been leaving the Wakefield Rd Depot (I.e Barnsley) and both looking in good condition... Personally been a B10M fan i would love to see the B10Ms used on Olympic cover in Barnsley or Sheffield... The thought of a B10M on the 265 between Barnsley & Sheffield on a morning is one of great hope indeed.

Tram Train Gets The Green...

The Tram-Train project that will see the 'Sheffield Supertram network extended as been given the Green Light by the DfT. The move comes as the Supertram gets ever popular. Yellow Trams between City & Meadowhall are currently all full most of the day. This will extend from Meadowhall Interchange currently served by Yellow to Rotherham Centre Train Station (Finally finished) and then up to Rotherham Parkgate. Hopefully this will fill the big hole in the Stagecoach network between Sheffield & Rotherham but we will have to wait a little longer yet with this opening in 2015. An Idea would be a Supertram Link from Meadowhall to Rotherham and Parkgate until this opens in 2015. That would give the current 3 years repaint time for buses and possible use buses form the Olympic Contract (We Can all Hope !). I can't see the tram train running from Middlewood however. Im guessing this will run something like Cathedral - Meadowhall - Rotherham - Parkgate. Nobody yet knows what the new colour will be or if the current Trams will be able to operate to Parkgate on the rails... Would be a slight problem if not and say 2 or 3 of the new vehicles we're off use however ovcourse the power would need sorting as Trams & Trains use different power connections. Anyways for now we will just wait and see what happens and i will try to keep you updated as and when updates are annoced and come in to me. For now a photo of Tram 110 at Middlewood on Yellas to Meadowhall.

Why Sheffield Supertram ?

Tram 102 seen at Middlewood

Something ive allways wounderd regarding the Supertram network in Sheffield is why its called Sheffield Supertram. Ok its a tram network in Sheffield but whats so Super about it. The name oftern confuses me and the vehicles in the fleet. This is because the 'Sheffield Supertram' is operated currently by Stagecoach as it has been for some time now, So surely it should be part of Stagecoach Sheffield. Another thing that bafflles me is that you cannot find the vehicles (Trams) Operated on the Stagecoach fleetlist, They have fleetnumbers (101-125) So why not ?. Its not like 'Sheffield Supertram isn't part of the network. I find the Supertram very useful when travelling into Sheffield and Meadowhall, I can start at home and use Stagecoachs £5.50 Day Explorer to get to my destination and back again for example getting the Bus Into Town, 265 to Sheffield and then onto the Yellow Tram to Meadowhall. I find this extramly usefull and also usefull is the fact the Tram extends Stagecoach network (Including the Supertram Links) across Sheffield. The current network for the Supertram and Supertram Link services is below:

Blue Route:

Tram 120 (Creamy) seen at Castle Sq

Malin Bridge Park & Ride - Hillsborough - Bamforth St - Langsett Primrose View - Infermary Rd - Shalesmoor - Netherthorpe Rd - University - West Street - City Hall - Cathedral - Castle Square - Fitzalan Square/ Ponds Forge - Sheffield Station/ Hallam University - Granville Rd - Park Grange Croft - Park Grange - Arbourthorne Rd - Spring Ln - Manor Top - Holinsend - Gleadless Townend - White Ln - Birley Ln - Birley Moor Rd - Hackenthorpe - Donetsk Way - Moss Way - Crystal Peaks - Beighton Drake House Ln - Waterthorpe - Westfield - Halfway Park & Ride

Purple Route:
Herdings Park - Herdings Leighton Rd - Gleadless Townend - Holinsend - Manor Top - Spring Ln - Arbourthorpe Rd - Park Grange - Park Grange Croft - Granville Rd - Sheffield Station/ Hallam University - Fitzalan Square/ Ponds Forge - Castle Square - Cathedral - (Castle Square - Fitzalan Square/ Ponds Forge - Hyde Park - Cricket Inn Rd - Nunnery Square Park & Ride - Woodbourne Rd - Attercliffe - Arena/ Don Valley Stadium - Valley Centretainment - Carbrook - Tinsley/ Meadowhall South - Meadowhall Interchange) 

Yellow Route:

Tram 123 popping up from the Tunnel

Meadowhall Interchange - Tinsley/ Meadowhall South - Carbrook - Valley Centretainment - Arean/ Don Valley Stadium - Attercliffe - Woodbourne Rd - Nunnery Square Park & Ride - Cricket Inn Rd - Hyde Park - Fitzalan Square/ Ponds Forge - Castle Square - Cathedral - City Hall - West Street - University - Netherthorpe Rd - Shalesmoor - Infermary Rd - Langsett Primrose View - Bamforth St - Hillsborough - Hillsborough Park - Leppings Ln - Middlewood Park & Ride

Supertram Link:
Middlewood Park & Ride - Stockarth Lane/Middlewood Road North - Langsett Road South / Birch House Avenue - Oughtibridge Church (outbound) / Station Road (inbound) - Wharncliffe Side - Bitholmes Lane - Carr Rd - Stocksbridge & Deepcar (This connects with Yellow Route Trams)

Supertram Link 2:


Supertram Link 36459 at Middlewood

Malin Bridge Park & Ride - Stannington Road - Stanwood Road - Deer Park Road - Stannington Road - Oldfield Road - Nethergate - School Lane - Church Street - Upper Gate Road - Bankfield Lane - Stannington Road - Acorn Drive - Greaves Lane - Stannington Road - Deer Park Road - Stanwood Road - Stannington Road - Loxley New Road - Malin Bridge Park & Ride (This connect with Blue Route Trams)

Tram 113 Seen at Cystal Peaks

The Fleet consists of 25 Three Car Siemans Duewag Tram Cars made in Germany in 1992. The Trams are able to carry 88 people seated and 155 standing passengers and are quite low and easy to access by all passengers from most platforms. The vehicles have been designed to be capable of 10% gradiants (Sheffiels hilly) The Duewags are the third longist trams in Europe to the day and some of the longest in the UK. The network covers 18 miles and includes a Tram Tunnel and two Tram Viaducts.

EMT Tram 111 seen at Hyde Park

The Tramway is operated to timetable with avrage gaps between Tram on Yellow & Blue Every 10 Minutes and Purple Every 30 Minutes. The Tramway in Sheffield is operated like a Railway with Singals. Trams are crewed by 2 members of Staff (Driver & Condutor) But sometimes there can be up to 4 Condutors on the busier Yellow Route to Meadowhall. The Tram Service is very reliable and normally always on time (More then what can be said for the buses). Most Trams are in the Stagecoch Standard Livery however Tram 111 is in an allover advert from East Midlands Trains & Tram 120 is in the classic Cream & Blue South Yorkshire Transport livery (Known As Creamy) Plans have been put in place to extend the tramway from Meadowhall to Rotherham (The Tram-Train) However so far this hasn't happend and honistly i can't see it doing so in the future for a long long time but then again ive been suprised before !.

Local Bits And Bobs

Stagecoach Yorkshire have branded some of the ADL Dart SLF Enviro 200s branding for 93/95 (Barnsley-Hospital-Darton (Kexborough or Woolley Grange) internally. 36179 (YN60FKP) is the only one ive spotted and noted and it looked very good indeedy. Also at Stagecoach 22629 has gained a new front Stagecoach logo after about a year and half of having about 2% of one, Looks odd now as i had got used to it without the bits of Stagecoach logo. Tate's Travel have finally got around to repainting 1609 (S609HGD) into fleet livery and out of the allover dealer White, That been a Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton Pointer 2. Its been rumoured to me by certain people Tate's are to get a new livery but i can't see it or why would S609HGD be painted into the current livery after so long ?. In other news First South Yorkshire are short of buses at Olive Grove Depot in Sheffield leading to the loaning of 30832 (R652HYG), 37246 (YN07MKD) aswell as a Volvo B10BLE Wright Renown from Midland Rd, Rotherham.

Driver you have passed the stop !

Certainly in the area, There are some stupidly placed bus stops. Mainly i find in the Barnsley reigon which is under SYPTE control. Some Of these block junctions, Roads and in one case until recently have been located on blind cornors. The offending stop was to be found on Saville Rd In Gilroyd near Dodworth just after the junction of The Link (The stop on the other side isn't in a much better place). Anyway Bus Stop locations are for another day. This problem lays with Stagecoachs M.A.N 18.240 ADL Enviro 300 vehicles in Barnsley, Rotherham, Sheffield & Chesterfield. When passengers push the stop bells these can be missed by the driver, Who may not have heard the bell tone, fair do that happens however there is always the light warning the driver to stop in the cab right.... Wrong ! This light on the offending vehicles is in a bad place and if oftern missed by the driver, If its bright enough to see or working in the first place which it sometimes isn't. This was evident on a recent trip on Route 229 (Barnsley-Wombwell-Wath-Rotherham) operated by The Dearne Link Branded vehicles of the type at Rawmarsh depot, Rotherham. I was travelling towards Barnsley on 22555 (YN57MXY) and as we came into Wath-Upon-Dearne the driver missed a stop but was able to stop furter down the road. Then the bus filled up (15:03 Ex Rotherham) and as we came down out of Wombwell towards Barnsley the driver missed a stop again, However in this case the passenger just pushed the bell again for the next stop... Which we also missed so she knocked on his assult screen and he pulled over said sorry and the something allong the lines of Its this bus thats acting up !. For the rest of the trip he checked the mirror before every stop so must not have been able to see the in cab light. Ovcourse this isn't the only case ive experianced of this issue this year. Wakefield Rd Depots arn't any better 22630 (YN08JFK) at Stairfoot Mc'Donalds & 22544 (YN57MXL) at Green Rd, Penistone of the top of my head. The problem first came to light early 2010 and Stonegravels Depot, Chesterfield started to move there passenger Stopping signs onto the front panelwork where the interior fleet number is normally located from the rear of the cab behind the driver. This was after drivers complaned about the issue and now they can check if there passengers wish to leave the vehicle at the glace of the head, Without taking both eyes of the road ahead. This is very noteable when onboard the Chesterfield bacth of vehciles, They look completely different inside and better in my view.
 This has solved this problem in Chesterfield and drivers seem to like it If anything as a backup. The question is Why Don't Barnsley, Rawmarsh & Holbrook do the same with theres ? I mean how hard can it be to move a sign. Then Again rumour has it Holbrooks small bacth are likely to move to Chesterfield shortly so i guess they would be done before going into service. These vehicles are in general nice and work quite well on longer routes like the 35/46 between Barnsley-Hemsworth & Pontefract and the 43 between Chesterfield & Sheffield and the 52 in Sheffield Crossing the city between Hillsborough and Woodhouse. All the above services have a selection of these buses operating them aswell as others on the networks. Overall there very good buses and are well suited, The Scania K230 veriant of the ADL Enviro 300 been better however would be nice to see Stagecoach purchase more of these MAN bodied veriants over the awful Alexander Dennis Veriant as they favor currently. Same with the ADL Enviro 200 with the favored Alexander Dennis veriant been terrible in my view and the MAN 14.240 veriant quite a good little bus indeedy.

Catching The Magic 03/05/12

On Monday 30/04/12 Stagecoach Yorkshire's Rotherham Rawmarsh Depot launched its Magic Bus Operation in Comperition with First South Yorkshire on Route 22 (Rotherham-Wath-Wombwell-Barnsley) On the Rotherham-Manvers-Wath corridor. This service is also using route number 22 as is Firsts however the Stagecoach Magic Bus boasts a £2 Maximum fare, £3 Magic Day Rider, £6 Magic Mega Student rider (weekley) & £9 Magic Mega rider (weekley). All of this apart can be found on the vehicles destination blinds and windows, The destination desplays are Manvers & Wath 22 and Rotherham 22 with promotional information shown under then main destinations. The route operates every 20 minutes and serves Manvers, Dearne Valley College, Swinton & Rawmarsh. The service runs limmited stop from Rotherham to Rawmarsh Bus Depot (Drop off Only). To sample the magic i had to head to Wath and did so via ADL Enviro 300 22549 on route 229 (Barnsley-Wombwell-Wath-Rotherham) which left me at Wath where Dennis Dart SLF East Lancs Spryte 33226 was awaiting me, This was driverless at the time and once he arrived i quickly establised that i could use the Stagecoach Day Explorer (£5.50 ticket) So no need to purchase the £3 Magic Day. I understand you are able to use all Stagecoach Day/Weekley Tickets on the Magic Bus 22. As i sat onboard i was the only one on the bus, A First 22 then came past with a standing load on a Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse. This supprised me but soon became clear that the bus was full of students traveling to the Dearne Valley College from Barnsley and Wombwell, The only link without a bus change as the Stagecoach 229 doesn't serve Dearne Valley College. As we waited time a few more people filterd onboard. As we departed Wath-Upon-Dearne Bus Station there was Me and 5 other passengers (Good going for 08:40am in the moring). As we left Wath we followed the full First 22 towards Manvers where someone not paying too much attention waved the first bus by then failed to notice the Magic bus approching, He did notice however by then it was too late to stop and the bus plowed by unable to stop safely due to a vehicle been too close to the rear. As we progressed on the journey towards Rotherham i checked out the internals onboard 33226, To my shock horrer Stagecoach have refershed the internals on the
Magic buses, Grabrails painted Red from Green, Scratched Windows replaced, Steam cleaned floor/ backs of seats etc. I am please to say the Darts look stunning inside and as we passed Rawmarsh depot i noticed the sole Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton Pointer I 33083 on the jacks inside. After arriving into Rotherham i manage a photo of 33226 leaving Rotherham however this was blured. Never the less i waited the 20 minutes and headed back to Wath on 33233. As we sat in Rotherham i managed to photo the interior of the vehicle which can be seen on the Right. Also seen are the refreshed interiors of the Spryte Dart and my personal view on the internals is that Stagecoach have really exceled themselfs here. Leaving Rotherham we had a load of 8 passengers onboard and it became apparent to me that some people are not too aware of the Limmited stopping of the Magic Bus. Saying that people still try and stop the X19 (Barnsley-Doncaster-Robin Hood Airport) Limmited Stop on its limmited parts. The Magic Buses are carring leftlets onboard advertising the service, its route and via points and also its timetable, These we're located at the front of the vehicle and seems very popular with other passengers with 1/2 stopping at the front to pick up the leaflet and question the driver. Its been reported certain drivers have been wearing Wizard Hats however ive not seen any driver today wearing the Wizard hats. This was however seen by Dixie on Real Radio Yorkshires brakefast show who commented on the new Magic bus but seemed a little confused. Fellow Enthusiast and owner of preserved Leyland Lynx C920FMP Adam Smith was then heard on Real Radio explaning the Magic Bus consept to Dixie and did very well in summing it up, This must have helped PR for the service, I mean its not every day you wake up to here Dixie talking about buses. As my journey continued i settled in. Passengers around me
 were commenting on the buses been old but new like and ovcoruse very cheap. As we arrived into Wath my trip was over however not without a last photo of the bus its self. The Magic bus livery i must add really suites the Darts however it would be much better if the 22 route branding was fully on the Blue and not running over onto the Yellow however this dosn't look too bad and could be called modern i guess. Both Magic Bus Driver i had today were very happy to talk to passing commuters informing them of the new Magic bus Service. Behind Dart Spryte 33233 in the photo we see a First 22 loading for Rotherham behind the Stagecoach bus. My only complant with the Magic Bus Service is its not extended to Meadowhall form Rotherham as this would be a double hit on first with the cheap service running from Wath to Rotherham following the 22 route and then Rotherham to Meadowhall following the X78 route. This would ovcourse get to First and totally improve Stagecoachs bus network been the only bus from Meadowhall with Stagecoach, This would give a link between Rotherham and Sheffield via Meadowhall connecting with the Tram at Meadowhall Interchange. That concludes my blogging on Magic bus however i do hope Stagecoach expand this more into Rotherham as its a great consept and most certainly one First will disapprove.

That Barnsley to Wakefield Bus

Over the years there has been a good link between Barnsley & Wakefield by bus. Stagecoach Yorkshires hourly 59, Tate's Travels hourly 96 and two hourly 97 with the hourly Arriva 194 and passengers were spoilt for choice. Unless they were traveling in the Evenings or on Sundays. Evening & Sunday Services between Barnsley & Wakefield and ovcourse Wakefield & Barnsley have been very poor over time with passengers having to use the Arriva 59 to Royston and then the Stagecoach 57 to Barnsley and the oppersit way around. This normally ment missing a connection after getting off the 57 in Royston or missing the 57 after getting off the 59 but that might just have been my luck. However recently Stagecoach have pushed the 59 up on a 'Use it or Loose it basis' and this ran a Sunday service between the towns. This with the Evenings 194 from Arriva lead to an improved service with some sort of link if it all went belly up. This did occur to me one snowy evening in Febuary when despite BBC Look Norths Mr Hudson saying it would snow i pushed my luck and did a West Yorkshire Day Rider on Arriva. This went to plan until i, myself and me Mr Mills arrival in Huddersfield when it started to snow... Very lightly ill add however it started to snow. This became worse as i sat on Arriva Darwen 1804 (YJ08EEB) and by the time we reached Dewsbury i was late and after getting buses to Wakefield i had just missed the last 59 of the day (Stagecoach were on Strike that day so last service was earler then normal ex Wakefield to which i arrived at 2 minutes after its departure) Ovcourse it was snowing and getting worse. Both Tates went running and the 194 traveling down small roads as it does didn't look promising. After a errr long wait in what i believe to be the worst bus station in Yorkshire; One for another day... I managed to get the 194, As suprised as i was it had turned up. Formed by an Arriva DAF Wright Commander. As we traveled more into the unknown there was me, two passengers over 60 using passes and the driver, Once we got into Walton the snow was bad and the bus got into a few situations and slides however we got to Ryhill and then into Royston which for its size had been hit suprisingly bad. As the bus plowed (Been a good word) towards Barnsley i decided to jump of at Roundhouse and try and cacth the last strike day number 1 home from town (19:00) the time now been 19:03 so after hurring across the road i did manage to catch, 47299 (YJ55BLK) was produced. I'm not sure how the Arriva Commander and driver got back home again but i dont' think would have been running any sort of service. Anyway, Ive finished talking about one of the most memorable trips ive had so far in 2012. The Buses between Wakefield & Barnsley have gained in strengh recently and after Stagecoach introduced the Sundays and Evenings 59s shortly after my trip in the snow, on the 28/04/12 Tate's Travel has now introduced a Sundays timetable on route 96 to Wakefield, Whether thats to get at Stagecoach in compertition or Arriva i'm not sure but at a guess it will be. The First trip on this service was noted by myself on Sunday 29/04/12 formed by ADL Dart Enviro 200 1091 (YX09HZH) however due to the rain this was not photoable.