North East Buses

There's some nonsense around but this is up there. There's absolutely no reason why anyone would buy Arriva Yorkshire or Arriva North West. If anyone was stupid enough to buy them then they're idiots.

Both areas are going to be franchised in the short-medium term so it's literally buying nothing.

I woke up to several messages stating the rumour, however that's certainly AI generated wibble...

(06 Dec 2024, 11:33 am)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]Here's the letter for those who may not be aware.

Confirmed to be fake by official Transdev sources.

The source of the letter was some enthusiast trying provoke responses to wind up another enthusiast(s) and predictably as some thought it was legit, it ended up being circulated far and wide, the letter was produced using AI.

(06 Dec 2024, 8:56 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]Confirmed to be fake by official Transdev sources.

The source of the letter was some enthusiast trying provoke responses to wind up another enthusiast(s) and predictably as some thought it was legit, it ended up being circulated far and wide, the letter was produced using AI.

Tbh, I had no idea it was AI generated. 
Obviously errors galore, but just thought someone had typed it up on their laptop.

(08 Dec 2024, 2:07 am)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]Tbh, I had no idea it was AI generated. 
Obviously errors galore, but just thought someone had typed it up on their laptop.

I only know because I was in the chat it originated from, although I had no part in the production and spreading of the duff gen.

BBC News - Cumberland Council approves expansion of local bus services - BBC News

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c89e...=deep-link

Go North West and Stagecoach are winners for the first tranche in Liverpool

https://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/news/ope...-40-years/

Stotts Coaches have another Temsa HD13 for National Express Work in the form of ST26 OTT which was seen in the 131 to Birmingham departing Leeds this afternoon - https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalark...ateposted/

Tower Transit seems a big winner in a smaller franchise win in the Liverpool area

https://www.route-one.net/news/huyton-tr...contracts/

A similar sort of story would be nice to see in the North East, the smaller operators gaining long term scholars contracts. Hopefully bringing some more stability to services too. Although unfortunately, it was Go North West that got similar contracts in Manchester.

As the work awarded to Tower seems to require 73 schooltme-only duties, it requires a very big "smaller operator" - considerably bigger than any of the operations of the "not big group" firms involved around the north east scene. As the Merseyside work is peak-only, implying part-time drivers, I would have thought finding enough drivers might well be a challenge, especially if it is all out of one depot. Most of the schooltime local bus services up here - Nexus services and their counterparts in Northumberland and Durham - are done by full-time drivers as part of integrated depot operations at multiple locations.

(03 Apr 2026, 2:59 pm)deanmachine wrote [ -> ]A similar sort of story would be nice to see in the North East, the smaller operators gaining long term scholars contracts. Hopefully bringing some more stability to services too. Although unfortunately, it was Go North West that got similar contracts in Manchester.

Not sure I'd call Tower Transport a smaller operator mind. They're a $250m revenue company from Australia.

It's arguably the worst, big corporation with no connection waltzing in, and taking contracts and putting all the local independents out of business. Metroline being another. 

We might all have our bad feelings against Arriva and GoNorthEast but they're both local companies at the end of day, even known they're owned by bigger groups. Rather them in a way than some big corporation with no connection who will just piss off if the going goes rough.

Truthfully I don't like franchising though, rather see it in house. Don't see the benefits of doing everything then paying someone to drive some buses as they're not exactly doing anything else since the councils own the vehicles, depots and set times, routes and pretty much everything.

(03 Apr 2026, 5:31 pm)Busadvocate wrote [ -> ]As the work awarded to Tower seems to require 73 schooltme-only duties, it requires a very big "smaller operator" - considerably bigger than any of the operations of the "not big group" firms involved around the north east scene. As the Merseyside work is peak-only, implying part-time drivers, I would have thought finding enough drivers might well be a challenge, especially if it is all out of one depot. Most of the schooltime local bus services up here - Nexus services and their counterparts in Northumberland and Durham - are done by full-time drivers as part of integrated depot operations at multiple locations.

It's a bit of an odd one tbh, I imagine a fair handful of drivers will be TUPE'd from existing operators - there must be an existing market for drivers doing scholars only, maybe those who are semi-retired? Having said that, perhaps at independents they may well employ drivers who just do their particular scholars run, but I imagine for those operated by the likes of Arriva and Stagecoach both the drivers and indeed the vehicles may then run onto normal service work. I wonder if these services TT have done are primarily those which do run independently i.e don't interwork or whether it includes those that currently do. Although maybe less efficient not necessarily a bad thing - I do find it a little bit cheeky when passengers have to suffer in the mid-afternoon when a run gets dropped on school days during what might otherwise be say a regular 15 min frequency. Not sure how much that happens in Merseyside compared to up here in the NE tbh!

Yesterday I travelled over to Liverpool to photograph the brand-new buses being prepared for the launch of bus franchising across the Liverpool City Region.

The first phase of the franchised network (Tranche 1) begins on 6th September 2026, covering St Helens and the Wirral. This marks the start of the region's transition to a fully franchised bus network under the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

One of the highlights was seeing the new fleet of Wrightbus StreetDeck Ultroliner diesel double-deckers, finished in the striking new yellow Metro livery. These buses have been procured by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and will operate under Category 1 franchise contracts, where the Combined Authority owns the vehicles while contracted operators are responsible for day-to-day operations. This approach provides a consistent, modern fleet while maintaining competition for operating contracts.

The new fleet will introduce improved reliability, accessibility and passenger facilities, with the first buses entering service on 6th September, including operation of a new airport express route.

The initial franchised fleet comprises:

88 Alexander Dennis Enviro200 single-deck buses (10.8m)
21 Alexander Dennis Enviro200 single-deck buses (8.9m)
58 next-generation Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV electric double-deck buses
50 Wright Electroliner electric double-deck buses
60 Wrightbus StreetDeck Ultroliner diesel double-deck buses

The Wright Electroliner and Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV electric double-deck buses have already begun entering service over the last few weeks as part of the Liverpool City Region's transition towards franchising, while the fleet of 60 Wrightbus StreetDeck Ultroliner diesel double-deck buses will join them from 6th September with the launch of Tranche 1.

Ahead of entering service, many of the new vehicles are currently being stored at the former Stonebridge Park & Ride site, opposite Stagecoach Merseyside's Gilmoss Depot, where the Wrightbus StreetDeck Ultroliners are also being prepared for service.

Photography note: These photographs were taken with the authorisation of the on-site security team. All images were taken from outside the site's perimeter fencing, as permission was not granted to enter the depot grounds, which remain private property.

It was fascinating to see so much of the new fleet gathered together ahead of launch, and it'll be interesting to watch the first phase of franchising go live in September before the remaining areas of the Liverpool City Region follow in later tranches.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalark...327622353/