BAFFLED bus passengers have protested over moves to cancel one of the main early morning connections from the Dales.

Passengers say they have been told the 8am bus from Bedale to Northallerton which connects with buses to Darlington and to many train services is being cancelled by Dales and District Buses.

They say the Number 73 bus at that time is well used and withdrawing it will cause hardship for people trying to get to work and students trying to reach colleges at Northallerton and beyond.

One angry passenger, who asked not to be named, said: "I am completely puzzled as to why Dales and District have announced they are cancelling the 8am Bedale to Northallerton 73 bus with effect from April 12th. What on earth is the reasoning behind this?

“Many people, myself included, use this bus to get to work in time for an 8.40am to 9am start, and a fair number of Northallerton and Darlington college students catch this bus too as do people needing to catch a train from Northallerton.

“The options available following this cancellation are: a 7.30am bus which is far too early for many workers and students alike, who would want to be hanging around for an hour in Northallerton especially in the depths of winter.

"And from past experience, the 8.30am bus does not always even arrive in Bedale on time so could invariably result in passengers arriving late for work and college, not a viable option for many and could result in loss of jobs.

“At this time of the day it is also a time when every passenger is paying for their travel, so if the cancellation is to reduce costs, would it not be better to remove one of the later morning buses instead when it would not affect workers.”

Another regular 8am bus passenger warned: "The concern is this is the thin end of the wedge and more cancellations and changes to the service could follow. We have few enough services as it is, we really can’t afford to lose any.”

Dales and District buses operate through Procter’s Coaches based at Leeming Bar industrial estate near Bedale, which with sister companies Compass Royston and Esk Valley Coaches has a combined fleet of 200 coaches.

Dales and District, which runs 23 services covering Richmond, Leyburn, Northallerton, Bedale Ripon and Hawes, did not respond to approaches for a comment on the changes in the service.