The oddity that is EYMS!

This week I made the trip into the East Riding of Yorkshire, specifically the capital of the county, Kingston-upon-Hull, or 'ull to give it its local name! The purpose was to visit East Yorkshire Motor Services (EYMS) or certainly the product that they offer.

I can remember back to a time when EYMS was part of the National Bus Company and with it had plenty of red vehicles and generally a lot of Bristol VRs. As time moved on, so did the fleet and it's pleasing to see on my journey today that Hull is littered with a mix of vehicle types from the operator but mostly are Volvo products.

Picking up a few timetables from the transport interchange which is sandwiched between the railway station and the shopping centre, my heart somewhat sinks to note that EYMS are still using the 12-hour clock for their timetables.

Admittedly the service I was using only operates for 12 hours of the day, but it's quite frustrating to see and it looks so antiquated against the Stagecoach timetables. We are fast approaching 2016 (year not time!) and we still have operators using the 12-hour clock. It does send out a bizarre message when even most shops now utilise the wonder that is the 24-hour system and is over 50 years behind the railways and airlines.

However, that aside, my vehicle, the new Volvo EvoSeti which EYMS have the huge number of one. The company are frequently taking in ex-demonstrators and then the interior is made Shipp-shape (the famous moquette which nods its head to Peter Shipp, EYMS king!) and away we go. It's an innovative way for smaller operators, and I mean that in the most kindest way, to upgrade their fleet especially with PRM-TSI just months away for single-deck vehicles.

Fortunately my bus passes the HQ on Anlaby Road so I took the opportunity to alight and have a quick look "around the back" and note that the Volvo B10M-Alexander PS single deckers, originally from Stagecoach are part of the training fleet. It would seem that this may be short lived as next to it were two Dennis Tridents in training livery. Sad to see this type disappearing even if they haven't carried a customer for a number of years in this part of the world.

What did strike me is the amount of vehicles that were in the paint shop. A quick chat with one of the engineering staff on a break revealed they have a policy that any vehicle with a visual defect is quickly rectified and back out on the road again. He beamed as he mentioned the pride he has in the fleet and noted other local operators being happy to send out what he classified as "an unfinished bus". I asked if this meant a risk to the fleet numbers and he stated that there are enough vehicles spare although as a last resort we would down tools and send the vehicle out, albeit with a heavy heart.

Back to the city centre and it was obvious to see that EYMS buses are well turned out. The livery of burgundy and cream although not striking is actually classy and despite wet roads the light colour of the skirt seemed relatively clean on nearly all vehicles. Drivers wear a uniform which is again classy and you get the feel of a nod back to the NBC in the way EYMS conducts itself both on the road and in the office.

My day in Hull draws to a close, but I can't resist another sample so I board a Volvo B7L towards the interchange. Not my favourite of vehicles but the interior is light and bright and the moquette certainly provides the cheery atmosphere. EYMS had a recent Big Bus Day and customers could purchase slippers and cushions with the Shipp-shape pattern similar to what Transport for London offer in their Transport Museum shop. I may be tempted!

All in all it's been a good day in Hull and noted an independent company which is battling on amid cuts to its rural service funding from ERoYC and HCC but still manages to offer a quality product for today's passenger. How long it can keep this up for is another matter but with good publicity, a decent looking fleet, reliable and friendly drivers it is hoped that EYMS will be around in its current form serving the good people of East Yorkshire for some time to come.

I was going to make the trip up to Scarborough and sample Scarborough & District (EYMS's brand for the North Yorkshire seaside town) but it's November. And it's cold. Sorry. Next year I think!