19 Nov 2018, 2:41 pm
#473
(18 Nov 2018, 3:20 pm)cbma06 Can’t see GNE entering stagecoach area between Hartlepool and boro. when stagecoach bought HT , Arriva and stagecoach made a deal with Arriva giving up the Hartlepool corridor and Arriva gained areas of Cleveland. Despite GNE trying to purchase Hartlepool quite a number of years ago from stagecoach with a point blank no.
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I'm aware of "the deal", although I'm sure of it's relevance, especially in this instance. It was made between Stagecoach and National Express (I'm pretty sure it pre-dates the NEB sale to Cowie) nearly 24 years ago and that's a long time to keep a commercial agreement. It's also possible to do the Hartlepool - Seaton Carew - Middlesbrough section without encroaching too much on Stagecoach's existing routes. Like Arriva did around the turn of the century with its X24 Darlington - Hartlepool route. It was only the Stockton - Norton section where it ran directly along side Stagecoach. Then over the years, there's been more and more instances of them running subsidised routes in each others territory, such as the current early morning 794 Stagecoach run for R&CBC.
The point is really that the service suggestion was for Stagecoach to run from Sunderland - Middlesbrough. Other than a breif period running the evening and Sunday 236 Hartlepool - Trimdon Village in the mid 90's for DCC, a few school contracts around Wingate a few years later and the occasional shoppers service, Stagecoach have always avoided East Durham and I can't see that they would ever venture willingly into that area. Equally Arriva seem content in their patch and recent history woulsd suggest that GNE would be the most likely to take the risk.
To respond to wether the demand would be there... I can't see it would be worth while Stagecoach taking on both ANE and GNE Sunderland - Hartlepool. I know it's a contested route but it's not the biggest money spinner for either of them. And does the Hartlepool - Middlesbrough section need an extra bus if Go-Ahead decided to extend the X6? I really don't think so.
