(10 May 2015, 9:27 pm)Tom wrote Wonder if Arriva could extend one 6 per hour to Barnard Castle? Would be good to have a direct link from Durham!
Can't see this happening as Arriva previously ran the 85 between Bishop Auckland and Barnard Castle via Cockfield every 2 hours along with the 84 Bishop Auckland to Darlington via Cockfield every 2 hours and I think there was the 85 between Bishop Auckland and Cockfield every hour meaning a bus between Bishop Auckland - Cockfield every 30 minutes.
Arriva withdrew the 84/85 beyond Cockfield (84/85 withdrawn and 6 was extended to Cockfield) and also the 95/96 between Barnard Castle and Middleton-In-Teessdale in January 2012 due to low passenger numbers with Durham County Council stepping in to replace these services after petitions from people in Teesdale against the withdrawal of these services. Scarlet Band were given the contracts for these replacement services.
The current Scarlet Band 85 is actually commercially operated between Bishop Auckland and Cockfield.