Today I put Tees Flex (AKA Ben’s Buses / Teesside Twirly Taxis) to the test, head-to-head over scheduled bus services along the same route – skip to the end to find out who won…
With service levels and capacity restrictions returned to near normal levels, I figured today I would make my first journeys on public transport since lockdown. There’s been much (valid) discussion of access to the QE from parts of Gateshead, with this in mind I wanted to address access to North Tees Hospital from Hartlepool. North Tees is the default hospital for many clinics since the downgrade of Hartlepool years ago, yet the public transport access has never been properly addressed.
Tees Flex was my weapon of choice for the outbound journey. The pick-up locations in Hartlepool are annoyingly restrictive as not to step on Stagecoach’s commercial toes, despite this not being seen as a concern in Arriva dominated East Cleveland. As below, choices are basically anywhere in the sparsely populated rural west, the Hospital, Queens Meadow or the Town Centre & Marina area. This at least provides a reasonably even spaced choice across the town. I chose to begin my journey from the Marina, partly reasoned as it’s the most central and mostly reasoned for the ample parking and proximity to a Costa Coffee.
I was also testing out a ‘hack’ for Tees Flex I had thought of – the 3 Tees Flex operating zones are designed to allows travel within zone but not between zones. Wynyard Village, however, is in both the Hartlepool and Stockton/Darlington zones – theoretically meaning I could make a journey from Hartlepool to Wynyard and then onto North Tees. For the purpose of this head-to-head I imagined I was making ‘on-demand’ journeys, though in reality Tees Flex allows users to pre-book journeys at specific times to reduce waiting. I requested a ride at 08:22 for pick-up ASAP. The app told me I should expect to wait 17 minutes and the fare would be £3, payable to the driver, which is a welcome difference from Arriva Click where payments are taken by the app.
Unsurprisingly, my ride was being dispatched from Ron Perry on the A19, which seems to be a popular hang out in down time. The live tracking map re-assured me I could pop-over to Costa and enjoy a take-away coffee before departure.
Out of interest I tapped in my intended journey into traveline to see how they suggested getting to North Tees, churning out a journey time of 1hr14min and an arrival time of 10:12. I reckoned if I had got my skates on and ran across town I could have got the previous departure on the 36, getting me to North Tees at 09:42. Target set. I returned to the shelter where the live travel info suggested taking a 23 which apparently randomly terminated at Seaham Grange (incorrect) or perhaps a jolly out to Newport on the 1, though it didn’t clarify whether it was the South Wales or Shropshire Newport so I gave it a miss.
44006 arrived bang on when expected and the driver requested payment and issued my ticket. For the purpose of this journey I was making single journeys, though Tees Flex offers return journeys at 50% of the single rate. I didn’t know how these returns would work, though I’m pleased to report it’s as simple as showing your outbound ticket to the driver who will then override the price for you to simply pay the ‘top-up’ fare – I don’t even need to commit to making the return journey when booking my outbound, I can simply make another scheduled or on-demand booking later.
I was wondering if I could book my second leg from Wynyard to North Tees during my first journey. Turns out this isn’t possible, during a journey the app is fixed as a live map with ETA. If there’s a next time I could pre-schedule my journey to be around the time I know the first leg will drop me off. I guess I could have called the booking line if I really wanted to narrow my connection – but I didn’t. I was the only passenger on the rapid 19 minutes journey and I was dropped off at Wynyard precinct (I bet you no-one that lives in Wynyard will call it a precinct) at the bus stop which declared ‘No Public Services’ – Doh! A poster letting people know Tees Flex exists wouldn’t go amiss.
I tapped in my next journey, wondering if the tech would allow 44006 to be released from the Hartlepool zone to make a Stockton zone journey considering it was the nearest available vehicle. It doesn’t. 44037 was duly dispatched from Stillington. I was told to expect a 18 minutes wait, not the end of the world considering Wynyard is a pleasant enough place to spend a short while. After 10 minutes, however, I had a push notification advising my Sprinter would be with me momentarily.
Not you mate, I want the next one…
44037 rolled up at 09:14 and I paid the £1.50 requested. It was only when I sat down I realised I had been issued a return. The driver must have assumed no-one would be making such a single journey and I wasn’t going to argue the 50p, especially as I was getting a private taxi for less than a standard bus single. Plus the newer Sprinters have all mod cons so I was able to reclaim the battery spend thus far on booking my rides via the USB chargers. The live map changed course from suggesting the back lanes to via the A19 not long after we set off, driver duly followed and dropped me at North Tees at exactly 09:30.
Next contender, scheduled buses. Popped straight on Traveline which churned out a suggested route of 37 to Norton, 36 to Hartlepool – exactly as expected. Next departure at 09:44, arriving 10:55, allowing for walking to stops. The Stagecoach app confirmed much the same, but has the useful feature of suggesting ticket types. I decided I didn’t require to final hop on the 7 at the flat £1.80 fare as I could probably walk quicker, meaning two singles at £5.30 just beat a dayrider plus at £5.70, though this of course would be valid for a return journey.
26285 provided traction on the 37 to Norton, where I was deposited at the Army centre. I crossed over to the Hartlepool bound side which is in a pretty sorry state, no timetable, broken live times info and social distancing guidance which as it turns out, I’ve been following for the best part of 30 years anyway.
26289 was about 8 minutes down when it got to Norton. This was my first ride on this batch on the 36, I was pleasantly surprised at their turn of speed down the A689, these seem to be worthy successors to the history of heavy-weight single decks on this route. Though I’m sure the odd E400s will be missed. It was 10:57 when I was finally deposited around the back of Middleton Grange, the closest the 36 will get you to the Marina these days. A brisk walk over the bridge had me back where I started by 11:08.
Side-by-side, head-to-head, for me one journey was quicker, cheaper, more comfortable and eminently more favourable, Tees Flex. I just wish the Hartlepool pick-ups were more flexible.
Some Facts:
Single:
Tees Flex: £4.50 (should have been £4) Bus: £5.30
Day Return:
Tees Flex: £6 Bus: £5.70
Travel Time – Including waiting for first journey:
Tees Flex: 1hr 7min. Bus: 1hr 27min.
Travel Time – From boarding first vehicle:
Tees Flex: 50min. Bus: 1hr 16min.
