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RE: Tender Discussion Thread
(07 Sep 2017, 7:12 pm)Ambassador wrote It appears Gateshaead Central are now operating the 118

Indeed they are using YX61 BJU, this has resulted in the allocation of YX07 DXE to the Tesco Free Bus, which later runs onto works service 592.


Tender Discussion Thread
(24 Jul 2017, 8:56 am)tyresmoke wrote All of the Durham County Council routes went out to tender last week. I'll try and get details of them.


I here that the results of DCC tenders are out
Has anyone heard any details of who won what.


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Tender Discussion Thread
Following the recent changes to passenger services in the Bishop Auckland and Weardale areas around school time that happened at zero minutes notice and the current lack of new timetables on their website, I dare bet we'll be left to go out and find out for ourselves by going out on the first day and going "ooh, this operator runs this service now" (or spend the next few weeks frantically searching on VOSA).

The services that changed timetables within the last week or so seemingly are: 80/81/81A/89, 84/84A/85/95/96, 101, 108/109 and 113, don't ask me what the changes are, go on the Durham timetable site and also open the timetable for the same relevant service on BusTimes' site and "Go Compare! Go Compare!"

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RE: Tender Discussion Thread
(14 Sep 2017, 9:11 am)Jimmi wrote Following the recent changes to passenger services in the Bishop Auckland and Weardale areas around school time that happened at zero minutes notice and the current lack of new timetables on their website, I dare bet we'll be left to go out and find out for ourselves by going out on the first day and going "ooh, this operator runs this service now" (or spend the next few weeks frantically searching on VOSA).

The services that changed timetables within the last week or so seemingly are: 80/81/81A/89, 84/84A/85/95/96, 101, 108/109 and 113, don't ask me what the changes are, go on the Durham timetable site and also open the timetable for the same relevant service on BusTimes' site and "Go Compare! Go Compare!"

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The last time i find out was when they change the timetable boards that usually happens about a Thursday before the changes occur. People don't look at the date so could be standing waiting for a bus that doesn't yet run..
RE: Tender Discussion Thread
I've made a list of all of the contracts available in Durham. I believe Scarlet Bandhave won a large percentage of them.

Durham Tenders 2017
1B Tow Law-Bishop Auckland Mon-Sat evening
5A Bishop Auckland-Darlington Mon-Sat evening
16A Durham-Stanley Mon-Thu evening
6A Stanley-Newcastle Mon-Thu evening
6 Cockfield-Bishop Auckland Mon-Sat evening
7 Shildon-Spennymoor Mon-Sat day
14 Durham-Langley Park Mon-Thu evening
22 Durham-Sunderland Mon-Sat evening
24 Durham-Hartlepool Mon-Sat evening
28/28b Chester-Newcastle Mon-Thu evening
30 Stanley-Lanchester Mon-Sat evening
34/34A Chester-Ouston Mon-Sat evening
35A Bishop-Ferryhill Mon-Sat evening
47 Ushaw Moor-Brandon Mon-Sat day
48 Durham-New Brancepeth Mon-Sat evening
52/725 Durham-East Hedleyhope Mon-Sat day
56/56a Durham-Ferryhill Mon-Sat evening
58 Durham-Hartlepool Mon-Sat day/eve
70/71/72 Barney towns Mon-Sat day
73 Barney-Langdon Beck Wednesday
74/83 Cockfield-Barney Mon-Sat day
78 Chester-Stanley Mon-Thu evening
78A Consett-Sunderland Mon-Thu evening
80/81/89 Bishop towns Mon-Sat day
84 Crook towns Mon-Sat day
84/85/95/96 Darlington/Bishop-Middleton in Teesdale Mon-Sat day
86 Bishop-Toft Hill Mon-Sat eve
101 Stanhope-Cowshill Mon-Sat day
104/82 Bishop-Newfiekd/Ramshaw Mon-Sat day
111/115 Spennymoor-Willington Mon-Sat day
113 Ferryhill-Sedgefield Mon-Sat day
204 Durham-High Pittington Mon-Sat day
213 Fishburn-Bracken Hill Mon-Fri works
239 Peterlee-Sedgefield Mon-Sat eve
700s Chester towns Mon-Sat day
763/4/773 Consett-Wolsingham Mon-Fri day
807/877 Seaham Schools
17/879 Newton Aycliffe town & school Mon-Fri day
881 West Auckland schools
891 Teesdale schools
945 Spennymoor works
969 Spennymoor works
59 Wheatley Hill-Arnison Ctr Sunday
V1/V6/16 Consett towns Mon-Sat eve
265 Durham-Seaham Mon-Sat eve
952 Stillington works & school contract
X25 Langley Park-Newcastle Mon-Sat eve
X70 Consett-Newcastle Mon-Sat eve
201/9/10 Peterlee towns Mon-Sat day
202 Peterlee-Seaham Sat day only
208 Peterlee-Durham Sat day only
238 Ryhope-Houghton Sat day only
206 Peterlee-Hutton Henry Sat day only
M6 Stanley-Crookgate Mon-Thu eve
40/a/b Durham Cathedral Bus Mon-Sat day
15 Consett-Durham Mon-Fri eve
V9 Consett-Chopwell Mon-Fri eve
60 Seaham-Parkside Mon-Sat eve
61 Murton-Sunderland Sat early morning
30 Stanley-Lanchester Mon-Sat early morning
M7 Stanley towns Mon-Sat day
V9 Consett-Chopwell Sat afternoon
61 Durham-Whitesmocks Mon-Fri day
16A Stanley-Consett Mon-Thu eve
X30 Newcastle-Stanley Mon-Fri eve

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Tender Discussion Thread
The 22 Sunderland - Peterlee is commercial as is the 24 Durham - Peterlee is Commercial the 58A does the Durham - Hartlepool contracted to DCC.


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The 59 service is paid by Country Councillors not by DCC directly as it runs 4 journeys on a Sunday


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Tender Discussion Thread
(15 Sep 2017, 9:47 pm)Jimmi wrote Are services 7, 70/71/72 & 80/81/89 now going to operate on Saturday's, as they currently only run Mon - Fri.

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I think there might be some errors in the Tender list.


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RE: Tender Discussion Thread
I think a lot of what appears to be 'secured' is in fact only a couple of journeys on an evening - some of which aren't even full journeys (with the current operator operating part of these journeys commercially).

Indeed some of the work that was tendered was not awarded, as some of these services were operating with deminimis funding (a separate agreement from the usual council contracts as I understand it), or were being commercially operated.

For example, the 22:15 M6 service which operates between Stanley and Crookgate is only secured on a Monday - Thursday evening. On Fridays, this journey is operated commercially by Go North East. Likewise the daytime M7 service between Stanley and East Stanley is secured, but operated commercially by Go North East between Stanley and Metrocentre. The chances of other operators taking this work on is slim, when it's unlikely to fit around daytime work nicely.

As usual; Scarlet Band have been quite successful in these tenders, managing to retain a large number of contracts. They've been awarded with the operation of services 58, 84/85/95/96 and 113, as well as the operation of Go North East services 209/210 in Peterlee.

Go North East have also been quite successful - losing some services (like the 209/210), but gaining others. The evening operation of Arriva North East services 22/24 in Peterlee and 86 in Bishop Auckland has been awarded to Go North East, as well as the operation of the Chester-le-Street town service 700s and Durham Cathedral Bus service 40.

Of course, should Arriva wish to take on the 22/24 services commercially on an evening, or indeed Go North East take on the 209/210 daytime service commercially, then these contracts will be void.

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RE: Tender Discussion Thread
(16 Sep 2017, 4:18 am)Dan wrote I think a lot of what appears to be 'secured' is in fact only a couple of journeys on an evening - some of which aren't even full journeys (with the current operator operating part of these journeys commercially).

Indeed some of the work that was tendered was not awarded, as some of these services were operating with deminimis funding (a separate agreement from the usual council contracts as I understand it), or were being commercially operated.

For example, the 22:15 M6 service which operates between Stanley and Crookgate is only secured on a Monday - Thursday evening. On Fridays, this journey is operated commercially by Go North East. Likewise the daytime M7 service between Stanley and East Stanley is secured, but operated commercially by Go North East between Stanley and Metrocentre. The chances of other operators taking this work on is slim, when it's unlikely to fit around daytime work nicely.

As usual; Scarlet Band have been quite successful in these tenders, managing to retain a large number of contracts. They've been awarded with the operation of services 58, 84/85/95/96 and 113, as well as the operation of Go North East services 209/210 in Peterlee.

Go North East have also been quite successful - losing some services (like the 209/210), but gaining others. The evening operation of Arriva North East services 22/24 in Peterlee and 86 in Bishop Auckland has been awarded to Go North East, as well as the operation of the Chester-le-Street town service 700s and Durham Cathedral Bus service 40.

Of course, should Arriva wish to take on the 22/24 services commercially on an evening, or indeed Go North East take on the 209/210 daytime service commercially, then these contracts will be void.

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What depot will operate the 700s & 40s?, Chester is the obvious choice but no minibuses based, will buses transfer or are we likely to see Stanley/Washington do the 700s & Stanley/peterlee do the Durham cathedral service?, obviously crook will do the 86?
RE: Tender Discussion Thread
(16 Sep 2017, 4:18 am)Dan wrote I think a lot of what appears to be 'secured' is in fact only a couple of journeys on an evening - some of which aren't even full journeys (with the current operator operating part of these journeys commercially).

Indeed some of the work that was tendered was not awarded, as some of these services were operating with deminimis funding (a separate agreement from the usual council contracts as I understand it), or were being commercially operated.

For example, the 22:15 M6 service which operates between Stanley and Crookgate is only secured on a Monday - Thursday evening. On Fridays, this journey is operated commercially by Go North East. Likewise the daytime M7 service between Stanley and East Stanley is secured, but operated commercially by Go North East between Stanley and Metrocentre. The chances of other operators taking this work on is slim, when it's unlikely to fit around daytime work nicely.

As usual; Scarlet Band have been quite successful in these tenders, managing to retain a large number of contracts. They've been awarded with the operation of services 58, 84/85/95/96 and 113, as well as the operation of Go North East services 209/210 in Peterlee.

Go North East have also been quite successful - losing some services (like the 209/210), but gaining others. The evening operation of Arriva North East services 22/24 in Peterlee and 86 in Bishop Auckland has been awarded to Go North East, as well as the operation of the Chester-le-Street town service 700s and Durham Cathedral Bus service 40.

Of course, should Arriva wish to take on the 22/24 services commercially on an evening, or indeed Go North East take on the 209/210 daytime service commercially, then these contracts will be void.

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Will Peterlee run the 22/24? or will it be Deptford, as i don't know what is required to be allocated to them under Durham council contract?

I would imagine the 86 will be Crook

700s and 40 from Chester 


More Solo's coming up from the South?

Have a feeling Go North East will just decide to run the 209/210 commercially but with a few changes.


When will these contract changes go ahead?
Ooo Friend, Bus Friend.
Tender Discussion Thread
(16 Sep 2017, 10:20 am)Michael wrote Will Peterlee run the 22/24? or will it be Deptford, as i don't know what is required to be allocated to them under Durham council contract?

I would imagine the 86 will be Crook

700s and 40 from Chester 


More Solo's coming up from the South?

Have a feeling Go North East will just decide to run the 209/210 commercially but with a few changes.


If GNE gets the 22/24 evenings then I would expect peterlee would do them with indigo solos, wouldn't be surprised if the cathedral 40 would be from peterlee as previous service 40 was operated from a bus company in east Durham depot as I used to see them early morning travelling from shotton to Durham .


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RE: Tender Discussion Thread
(16 Sep 2017, 10:33 am)cbma06 wrote If GNE gets the 22/24 evenings then I would expect peterlee would do them with indigo solos, wouldn't be surprised if the cathedral 40 would be from peterlee as previous service 40 was operated from a bus company in east Durham depot as I used to see them early morning travelling from shotton to Durham .


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It all depends on the contract capacity requirement, some contracts require bigger buses than Solo's, i think these services could be one.
Ooo Friend, Bus Friend.
Tender Discussion Thread
(16 Sep 2017, 10:35 am)Michael wrote It all depends on the contract capacity requirement, some contracts require bigger buses than Solo's, i think these services could be one.


The secured 22/24 journeys is only a couple of journeys each way , the route is 24 from Durham to Peterlee then the 22 route from peterlee to Sunderland via easington village. Still can't see it needing bigger buses than solos unless the service gets a hammering at the Durham end , every time I see the 24 outside of my house on evenings there's about max 10 passengers on a good evening .

Has scarlet band retained service 58/58a?


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RE: Tender Discussion Thread
(16 Sep 2017, 10:45 am)cbma06 wrote The secured 22/24 journeys is only a couple of journeys each way , the route is 24 from Durham to Peterlee then the 22 route from peterlee to Sunderland via easington village. Still can't see it needing bigger buses than solos unless the service gets a hammering at the Durham end , every time I see the 24 outside of my house on evenings there's about max 10 passengers on a good evening .

Has scarlet band retained service 58/58a?


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By Dan's post:


As usual; Scarlet Band have been quite successful in these tenders, managing to retain a large number of contracts. They've been awarded with the operation of services 58, 84/85/95/96 and 113, as well as the operation of Go North East services 209/210 in Peterlee.
Ooo Friend, Bus Friend.
RE: Tender Discussion Thread
The 22 is never busy between Durham and Peterlee in the evening unless there's something like Lumiere on. If gne do run it, that will be a pig for people who use it for work journeys eg to dragonville, as they'll need different tickets there and back for a teatime shift.
Tender Discussion Thread
According to the tender PDF at the start of the thread, the tender for the evening 24 to Sunderland was for a minimum of 25 seats, so chance to be the same again I'd imagine.

I think Scarlet Band accept Arriva return tickets on their evening contracted services, eg. 35A, not sure if council have stipulated this or not.
RE: Tender Discussion Thread
(16 Sep 2017, 10:57 am)Jimmi wrote According to the tender PDF at the start of the thread, the tender for the evening 24 to Sunderland was for a minimum of 25 seats, so chance to be the same again I'd imagine.

I think Scarlet Band accept Arriva return tickets on their evening contracted services, eg. 35A, not sure if council have stipulated this or not.


Thanks Jimmi, i forgot that PDF was on the first page!

I never use Arriva services so wasn't sure, i do hope tickets are accepted on the new companies.
Ooo Friend, Bus Friend.
RE: Tender Discussion Thread
The 22 and 24 both have a minimum seat requirement of 16.
22 covers 2034, 2134 and 2234 Peterlee-Sunderland & return
24 covers 2051, 2151, 2251 Hartlepool-Durham (2051/2151 to Peterlee Saturday's), 2108, 2208 Peterlee-Hartlepool, 2217 Durham-Hartlepool and 2317 Durham-Blackhall. Saturday it's the 2108, 2208 Peterlee-Hartlepool and 2308 to Blackhall only

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RE: Tender Discussion Thread
(16 Sep 2017, 11:22 am)tyresmoke wrote The 22 and 24 both have a minimum seat requirement of 16.
22 covers 2034, 2134 and 2234 Peterlee-Sunderland & return
24 covers 2051, 2151, 2251 Hartlepool-Durham (2051/2151 to Peterlee Saturday's), 2108, 2208 Peterlee-Hartlepool, 2217 Durham-Hartlepool and 2317 Durham-Blackhall. Saturday it's the 2108, 2208 Peterlee-Hartlepool and 2308 to Blackhall only

Thanks Tyre, wonder if there's any chance Arriva will jump in and run it commercially, expecting Go North East to do that with the 209/210.


What is the PVR for the 700's in Chester?
Ooo Friend, Bus Friend.
RE: Tender Discussion Thread
(16 Sep 2017, 11:26 am)Michael wrote Thanks Tyre, wonder if there's any chance Arriva will jump in and run it commercially, expecting Go North East to do that with the 209/210.


What is the PVR for the 700's in Chester?

Just the one, same as now. I think it also includes a school bus if I remember right.
I'd expect Arriva to take those on commercially.

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RE: Tender Discussion Thread
I'm not sure who has gained what to be honest, other than the few that have already been posted. We certainly didn't win anything despite bidding for a handful.

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Tender Discussion Thread
(16 Sep 2017, 11:26 am)Michael wrote Thanks Tyre, wonder if there's any chance Arriva will jump in and run it commercially, expecting Go North East to do that with the 209/210.


What is the PVR for the 700's in Chester?


Has the Scarlet Band 58A been scraped as it ran the 24 section Peterlee - Hartlepool Mon-Fri & Sat Evening.
Durham - Peterlee via Wheatley Hill & Coxhoe currently 58A what's happened too the contract.


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