*UPDATED 8th May 2022*
The 96 links a town and a city in Yorkshire via a few commuter villages and a real gem of a tourist attraction. It's operated by Globe Holidays partly under contract from WY Metro. Prepare to be pleasantly surprised! Click here to discover other bus routes in Yorkshire.
Barnsley
Once a mining town, Barnsley has now been regenerated with plenty of flowers in the town centre and possibly Britain's most modern-looking bus station. It's so easy to use Barnsley as a hub because the bus and railway stations are right next to each other. There was me thinking that such sensible ideas had been banned in the UK!
Things to do in Barnsley include the Museum & Discovery Centre and Calypso Cove Water Park.
The 96 leaves from stand A4 at the gleaming Barnsley Interchange:
Yorkshire Sculpture Park
The highlight of this route by far. There's nowhere like Yorkshire Sculpture Park anywhere else in Britain. Huge sculptures, lots of them, set in an enormous country park. You really need to spend the whole day here to do it justice. The bus runs right into the park, dropping you off in the car park by the visitor centre, which includes a gift shop and toilets. Elsewhere in the park there are a restaurant and cafe although you can of course bring your own lunch and have a picnic.
Wakefield
Wakefield became a city in 1888. There's plenty to do including a visit to Wakefield Cathedral, the Hepworth Wakefield or Sandal Castle.
Use the stop at Belle Isle for Hepworth Gallery
Use the stop at Chevet Lane for Sandal Castle
The 96 goes from stop 18 at Wakefield Bus Station:
Times
The full current timetable for the 96 is available from the following websites:
Here are your links to the live scheduled departure boards for the major stops on route 96:
- Barnsley Interchange, stop A4
- Yorkshire Sculpture Park, visitor centre
- Wakefield Bus Station, stand 18
Fares
The 96 is operated by Globe Holidays. Contact them for details of single, return and their own day tickets.
If you are travelling only within West Yorkshire, so Wakefield to Yorkshire Sculpture Park on the 96, then you can use Metro's range of tickets. The WY DaySaver Bus at £5.50 can be used on all buses of all operators throughout West Yorkshire.
If you need to use the train too, then the WY DaySaver Bus & Train Off Peak at £9.50 is valid on all buses and off-peak trains throughout West Yorkshire.
If arriving at Wakefield by train from outside West Yorkshire, a Wakefield Plusbus ticket is cheaper but has the same validity as the WY DaySaver Bus.
If you are only travelling within South Yorkshire, that's Barnsley to Haigh Roundabout (M1 junction 38) on the 96, then you can use Travel South Yorkshire's tickets, which include the BConnect Day at £5.30, valid on all buses in the borough of Barnsley, and the SYConnectDay at £7.40, valid on all buses and trams in South Yorkshire.
If you are only travelling within South Yorkshire, that's Barnsley to Haigh Roundabout (M1 junction 38) on the 96, then you can use Travel South Yorkshire's tickets, which include the BConnect Day at £5.30, valid on all buses in the borough of Barnsley, and the SYConnectDay at £7.40, valid on all buses and trams in South Yorkshire.
If you need to travel by train too, then the SYConnect+ Day at £9.20 covers all public transport in South Yorkshire.
If arriving into Barnsley by train from outside South Yorkshire, the Barnsley Plusbus is cheaper but has the same validity as the SYConnectDay.
Connections
Travel South Yorkshire have a map of all bus services in Barnsley. Stagecoach run most of the buses in Barnsley (but not the 96). See a map of their Barnsley routes here.
Barnsley's bus and railway stations are all under one roof at Barnsley Interchange making switching from train to bus and back again easy. Click for live train departures, departure list and fares.
If you're connecting in Wakefield, then Metro's Wakefield bus map will help you on your way. Arriva run most of the buses in Wakefield. See their local network map here.
Wakefield has two railway stations, both a few minutes walk from the bus station:
Alternatives
If you're travelling between Barnsley and Wakefield and don't mind which way you go, you have a couple of alternatives to the 96:
Long Distance Footpaths
Connections
Travel South Yorkshire have a map of all bus services in Barnsley. Stagecoach run most of the buses in Barnsley (but not the 96). See a map of their Barnsley routes here.
Barnsley's bus and railway stations are all under one roof at Barnsley Interchange making switching from train to bus and back again easy. Click for live train departures, departure list and fares.
If you're connecting in Wakefield, then Metro's Wakefield bus map will help you on your way. Arriva run most of the buses in Wakefield. See their local network map here.
Wakefield has two railway stations, both a few minutes walk from the bus station:
- Westgate: Click for live train departures, departure list and fares.
- Kirkgate: Click for live train departures, departure list and fares.
Alternatives
If you're travelling between Barnsley and Wakefield and don't mind which way you go, you have a couple of alternatives to the 96:
- Stagecoach 59
- Trains - £6.80 for an off-peak day return
Between Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Wakefield you can also choose Arriva 108 which takes a slightly different route to the 96.
Long Distance Footpaths
- Trans Pennine Trail passes through Barnsley and Wakefield
- Dearne Way passes through Barnsley, Darton and Yorkshire Sculpture Park
- Barnsley Boundary Walk passes through Yorkshire Sculpture Park
- Wakefield Way passes through Yorkshire Sculpture Park
All of the information in this post is correct at the time of writing, but please check the relevant links before travelling.
I took this bus last Sunday and visited the sculpture park. It was a great day. Thanks for all your hard work, much appreciated and very informative.
ReplyDelete