As above, Transport North East have confirmed:
“The bid, developed in partnership by Transport North East on behalf of the North East Joint Transport Committee, Arriva North East, Go North East, Stagecoach and the seven local authorities, was submitted to Government as part of the Levelling Up Fund (Round 2)”.

The Chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee said:
“This funding will see us welcome an additional 52 brand-new zero emission buses, across routes which experience some of the worst levels of air pollution in our region”.