(11 Apr 2024, 6:47 pm)busmanT wrote Transport North East is not directly involved in bus network planning - that’s the responsibility of Nexus, Durham and Northumberland County Councils and there is no indication that this will change.

If we go down the franchising route, I can't see how that'd work with responsibility further devolved at County level? The sensible option would be to extend the existing Tyne and Wear executive to the new CMA region and rename it. That'd bring it inline with having one ITA (Transport North East) to oversee it all.