Transdev Pink Transformational for Passengers (1)

 New Look At Denby Dale

The take-over of Yorkshire Tiger from Arriva by Transdev was completed recently and the new owner has lost no time in trumpeting its promised improvements. The first tangible  Team Penine product was the Denby Darts, services from Denby Dale into Huddersfield.

The D1, as it is now known, has already found its way onto the Metro West Yorkshire map of the Huddesfield area.

It runs pretty much direct into Huddersfield with a smallish wiggle via Highburton. Also on the map extract above are the other services from Denby. The 83, 83A, 84 and 84A are less complicated than thery look at first.

The 84 arrives via Cumberworth whilst the 83 runs via Upper Denby. They terminate at Denby Dale station. as indeed does the D1. The facilities are not lavish ...

... but the station entrance is literally across the road.

Each leg of the 83/84 runs everty two hours.

Currently Team Pennine have not announced any changes to this group of routes, but it seems that there is a policy of both upgrade and simpliciation which may presage changes. (How about D3 and D4?)

And, talking of complexity, just note a selection from the route numbers 435, 436, 436A, 437 and 437A on the map - currently there is no 436A and 437. The core service is 435 and 436 each running every two hours.

The 435 loops via Skelmanthorpe and Lower Cumberworth ...

... whilst 436 bumbles happily via Clayton West.

436 buses have a dinky little triange of roads in which to turn at Hill Top ...

... having served the bulk of the village retail opportunities, as seen in a former service B1 at the terminus.

The current complexity of service does NOT call at Denby Dale station "interchange" ...

... using stops on the main road with a hefty haul up to the top of the viaduct!

Back in the day, Clayton West was the terminus of a single track rail branch off the Huddersfield Penistone Sheffield line.

Steam eventually gave way to diesel ...

... until closure in 1983; surving so late because of the rural nature of the communities served and the tendency of roads to become snowed in!

The trackbed is now used by the Kirklees Light Railway, a narrow gauge line with a splndid loco shed adjacent to the former station building.

Sadly, the station building was too dilapidated to restore, so new platforms have been installed nearby.

It runs to a terminus near the original junction where there is a station called "Shelley"; a station not (yet?) set up for public access by road!

On the remaining "main" line, there was a station called "Shepley and Shelley" (now just Shepley). Both are about a mile from ther eponymous village!

Needless to say, the line has adopted a brand.

But, we digress (as usual!) - so back to the 435, 436 etc.

Team Pennine has announced a forthcomoing change.

Holmfirth Explorer X1 Holmfirth-Denby Dale-Wakefield

This new route replaces the complicated set-up of the 435/436/437 and instead there is now a simple, hourly timetable. Buses will run every hour Monday to Saturday and every two hours on Sundays. All buses will run via Shepley, Upper Cumberworth, Denby Dale Railway Station, Lower Cumberworth, Skelmanthorpe, Scisset and Clayton West. At school times buses will still serve Shelley College and Scisset Middle School. Between 10am and 2pm buses will serve the Green in Clayton West.

Buses will serve both the 435 and the 436 "loops" but will only run to the former triangle turn-round during off-[eal hours.

There will be new-look buses too, with posh & comfy seats, free Wifi, USB power points and next-stop information on board. You won’t be able to miss the bright pink buses in our new Holmfirth Explorer identity!

The new timetable will be very simple ...

... AND (assuming the above is correct geographically) the station "interchange" will be served.

But X1? Not very "X"!

Looks good, However, but there's more ...

 Next Pink timetable blog : Thursday 19th August