Rise in bus users on rail strike days to travel around North Yorkshire
There's further walkouts by train drivers today
Bus companies say there has been a rise in people using them due to the rail strikes.
There are further walkouts today affecting those wanting to travel around York and North Yorkshire and the Yorkshire Coast.
John Gelson is from Coastliner, which runs 840 bus from Leeds and York to Scarborough and Whitby, and he said: "On rail strike days in particular we've seen a big rise in demand to both Scarborough and Whitby as well. There's a lot more people travelling and travelling further distances. Some people are also being attracted by the Government's supported £2 fare cap, allowing people to travel from York or Leeds all the way to the Yorkshire Coast.
"I think people are being pleasantly surprised by our buses in many cases. We've had a few delays on the road caused by traffic on the A64 but in general, we're running through every hour all the time between Leeds, York and Scarborough going from Malton up to Whitby as well, so there's plenty of opportunity for people to get out and enjoy all the great things the Yorkshire Coast has to offer.
"I think we're ready for the summer demand. So far this year we've seen numbers picking up very steadily because of that £2 fare offer but also because of attractions that there are to enjoy when people arrive in Scarborough and Whitby. There's lots to see and do. We've got Armed Forces week coming up fairly shortly for Scarborough and I'm sure that's going to generate more and more people wanting to travel."
Stuart Fillingham is from East Yorkshire Buses, which runs buses on the Yorkshire Coast, Hull and York, and he added: "In some instances they are busy. Generally this week we're seeing quite a big uptake in the leisure market with it being school holidays. We're seeing people also taking advantage of the £2 flat fare that's in operation across our services. To be fair a lot of our tourist services, our buses into Scarborough, have been fairly busy this week.
"You generally get some uplift in the commuter section as well but generally on weekends, we're finding patronages are significantly higher because people are using the bus as an alternative and taking advantage of the £2 fare that's in operation at the moment."