Category: Uncategorized

The Strange Case of Service 80

by Jim
Service 80 at High Bentham

Kirkby Lonsdale Coach Hire’s service 80 was always a rather strange beast, consisting of just one journey a day in one direction from Kirkby Lonsdale to Lancaster via Ingleton and Bentham on Monday to Friday only.

Leaving Kirkby Lonsdale at 1650 it provided a connection from Lancaster to Ingleton and Bentham in the afternoons to take home passengers who had travelled to Lancaster earlier in the day. It bore the same service number as Stagecoach’s Lancaster to Ingleton via Bentham service and was introduced as a partial replacement when that service was withdrawn in April 2022.

In practice, it was a through bus from Lancaster, at least on schooldays, being one of the two buses that arrived at Kirkby Lonsdale at that time, one on each of services 81 and 82. The 82 bus continued to Settle as service 581 and operated throughout the year, whilst the 81 was left to continue from Kirkby as the 80.

What happened in school holidays was always unclear. The 81 from Lancaster ran on schooldays only so presumably a bus was sent out empty from Lancaster to run the 80, which left Kirkby Lonsdale at 1650. However, any passengers from Lancaster had to use the 82 in the holidays to reach Kirkby Lonsdale, which wasn’t due to arrive until 1653, three minutes after the 80 was supposed to leave!

But all this became academic, as following the introduction of new schedules and rosters at Kirkby Lonsdale Coach Hire, now Lonsdale Buses, service 80 suddenly disappeared! Following complaints and enquiries from passengers the company claimed that the journey had never been properly registered and as it saw very little use it was withdrawn without notice.

The Bus Users’ Group has seen documentation that suggests the service was registered, as part of the service 81 and 82 registration made in July 2022 and it appears that North Yorkshire Council shares this view.

The Council has reportedly asked Lonsdale Buses to re-instate the service at least until the proper, legal, 70-day notice period of withdrawal has been given. Meanwhile the service continues to be shown online on Bus Times, Traveline, Google Maps and other apps as well as on the company’s own website!

“£2 Bus Man” Welcomed to City

by Jim
group of people standing outsiden the bus station
Vice-Chair, Abi, Mayor of Lancaster, presenting the cheque.

Bus Users’ Group members gathered at Lancaster bus station to welcome a special passenger visiting the city as part of a fund-raising bus trip around England and Wales.

They met Andrew Cowell, known as “The £2 bus man” , after similar exploits, as he arrived on the last of the seven buses he had used to travel from his home in Derby.

The Mayor of Lancaster, Cllr Abi Mills, accompanied by the Deputy Mayor, Hamish Mills, both Bus Users’ Group members, presented him with a cheque for £115 from Group members towards the charity “The Railway Children” which helps disadvantaged street-children in developing countries

Mr. Cowell, 47, was making the journey as part of a 13-day trip around the coast of England and Wales using 84 buses to raise funds for the charity, as well as to promote the current £2 cap on bus fares that meant that this journey from Derby had cost just £14.

two people standing in front of a notice board
Vice-Chair, Abi meeting Andrew Cowell in the bus station

Cllr. Mills, who is also Vice-Chair of the Bus Users’ Group, said:

          “It was an honour to meet someone so dedicated both to charitable work and to bus travel and to welcome them to our city. Whilst no-one would seriously suggest using local buses for such long-distance journeys, Andrew’s travels highlight just how extensive and comprehensive this country’s bus network is. Despite coming all the way from Derby, he arrived exactly on time, which shows that buses can be reliable too.

Mr. Cowell was set to continue his journey the following day on the 555 service to Keswick and a further series of buses that would take him via Newcastle and on to Scarborough. He then intended to continue around the east and south coasts of England to the west country before returning via Wales.