Anyone on here worked for Percy Main? I’m a driver at Stagecoach have been for 10 years but due to the route I am currently doing being lost to another operator and I’m not a fan of the other routes at the depot I’m thinking of a change. Riverside is closer to me but I don’t fancy working out or Gateshead interchange. The routes at Percy Main interest me more and I’m wondering if it’s worth it? 

Where do drivers get their breaks? 
Are they paid weekly like Stagecoach? 
Is it one big rota and you do all routes or is it like Stagecoach where each route has their own rota? 

Anyone able to respond would be much appreciated.

Looks like 19386 is back at Slatyford and 27817 also is

Well it seems 19386 has made its way back to Slatyford and 27817 is also there to

Interesting also. Given that the Evoras are losing their branding what happens to the rest of the fleet when we hardly have a standardised livery across the area. Don't tell its just a question of removing the vinyls as some of the vehicles look decidedly scruffy where this has happened.

The March 2026 contracts have been awarded in the majority of cases work is retained by the current operators. 
With the following changes:

18 from Stagecoach (Newcastle) to Northstar. 
32/32A from Stagecoach to GCT.
333 new service to GNE.
599 Northstar to GCT.
787 Stagecoach to GNE (route extended to Byker).
X46 GCT to Stanley Travel.

Having seen the internal communications on this, I thought it was useful to confirm the full 2026 order for ANE.

19 x E400 MMC DD (Ashington)
6 x E400 MMC DD (Blyth)
14 x BYD EV DD (Blyth)
14 x BYD EV DD (Durham) 
14 x Wrightbus Kite EV Midi (Darlington)
7 x Wrightbus Kite EV SD (Darlington)
6 x E400 MMC DD (Redcar)

28 x ADL E200 MMC 6.7 litre (TBC)
- Stockton have apparently been told they are getting 18 of these, but I understand that might have changed.
10 x Volvo Evora SD (TBC)

Total - 118. One third of the fleet.

(Edited to add missing 1).

It's always something that's had me thinking but is there any reason that we're consisting with these in 2026, when the vast majority of people just use an app or what not to find when the bus is due anyway?

imo there's loads of services around which aren't busy enough for a bus every 30 minutes; but could easily be busy enough for one for every 40 or 45 minutes or there's routes which are currently running around with 20/40 timetables which are just useless for anyone.

Some examples of these is the likes of the X45 and was X46 to Consett, could these not be both every 40 minutes which would combine to be every 20 minutes. Similar with the X30/X31 to Stanley.

For hourly routes, stuff like the Arriva 56 in Durham which would probably be ideal at every 45 minutes or even the X14/X15/X16/X18/X20 all being all every 40 minutes; continuing with the current every 2 hours to Berwick (every third bus instead of 2) combining to every 20 minutes along the Coast to Newcastle and every 10 minutes from Morpeth to Newcastle.

Surely for a punter a more frequent services is more important, than it being every 07 Past or whatever but for whatever reason they're just being not done?

6365 has moved over to Sunderland Depot and joined 6370 as part of the cascade of vehicles ( 6974 on loan)

Hearing that Nigel Featham and Ben Maxfield are gone from GNE at the end of this month. Nigel to focus on Go North West, now that includes Liverpool, with his side kick to also take on a new role there.

GNE to be led by Ben Gilligan from EY.

The New Arrival Takes Off


In December, Newcastle International Airport scrapped its free drop‑off and pick‑up parking outside the terminal. At the same time, it introduced a new Waiting Zone at Callerton Parkway, just over a mile from the terminal building. The Waiting Zone offers 90 minutes of free parking and features a new 12‑bay ultra‑rapid EV charging station, with planning permission already in place for a drive‑thru coffee shop to be added later in the year.


From the 6 January, the airport launched a 30‑minute shuttle service linking the Waiting Zone with the terminal, operated by Park & Fly. To run the new service, a new arrival has joined the fleet. YY75 DXC which is an Alexander Dennis E10V/Alexander Dennis E100EV, notably the first example of its type in the North East. She is seen resting in the long‑term parking area on the morning of 10/01/26.

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rpbsp/55034252579/