Funds plea to keep bus services in North York Moors

Volunteers behind the Moorsbus service have secured an extended timetable which started yesterday - but more funding from local authorities would help secure future services.

The service run by the Moorsbus Community Interest Company and the Friends of Moorsbus has been increased for the new tourist season, from 14 days’ total travel in 2016 to 73 days between May 1 and September 30 this year.

Whereas last year buses ran on Sundays and bank holidays between July and September, the new timetable includes services on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, and buses are operating for an additional two months.

An extra service is running to Rosedale and Dalby Forest on Sundays and bank holidays, including an early morning bus for walkers who stay in Pickering, while another extra bus is also running from York on Mondays and Saturdays.

So far, Kirkbymoorside and Pickering town councils have each agreed to donate £400 towards the running costs but dozens of other councils in and around the National Park have also been asked to contribute.

Eden Blyth, a director at the Moorsbus Community Interest Company, said: “The growth in our network is entirely due to more passengers, organisations and businesses ‘chipping in’. It costs around £400 a day to operate the service. Buses have been covering between 40-50 per cent of their costs from fares.”

The service has also been boosted by a £29,000 grant awarded jointly to Moorsbus and the Esk Valley Community Rail Partnership from rail operator TransPennine Express. The grant will lead to a new ‘MoorsPlus’ service to create seamless journeys into the countryside by public transport - from TransPennine trains via the Esk Valley Railway, which runs between Whitby and Middlesbrough, and onto the local, voluntary bus services.

Piers Elias, development manager for the Esk Valley Community Rail Partnership, said: “The partnership will help reduce the burden of cars in the countryside, increase rail travel and give greater access to our part of the Moors for anyone without a car. We’re all winners be that socially, economically or environmentally.”

Mr Blyth added: “It means lots of people can effectively come to the Moors for a long weekend which is something we’ve never been able to help achieve before.”

Moorsbus is also working with TransPennine Express to offer tickets that would cover both rail and then onwards Moorsbus connections to make it even easier for people living as far away as London to visit the Moors, Mr Blyth said.

IMPORTANCE OF MOORS’ BUSES

Jim Bailey, chairman of the North York Moors National Park Authority, welcomed the extended Moorsbus services.

He said: “It’s great that people are so passionate for getting out and experiencing the North York Moors and the National Park. Landscape is a resource that people need to recharge the spirit.”

Eden Blyth hopes more local authorities will back the newly extended timetable, saying: “We’re trying to give people a better service. It appeals to walkers and older people who can’t get out otherwise. We think it’s important and that people don’t appreciate how many people don’t have cars.”

For the Moorsbus timetable, visit www.moorsbus.org