(03 Jun 2026, 4:49 pm)Superman wrote The distances involved this time are much smaller than Newcastle to Blyth or Ashington for example. Plus, there isnt another operator in the immediate area to simply go and apply to (whereas Newcastle have Stagecoach and GNE in very close proximity). The next closest major operator is, also in Stockton.

(03 Jun 2026, 9:38 pm)Storx wrote Wouldn't be too convinced about that mind; Chester Le Street was the same, and Washington is a hell of a lot closer than Stockton is to Redcar.

There's plenty of HGV/LGV jobs around that neck of the woods too. It's not close at all imo.

(05 Jun 2026, 8:08 pm)Superman wrote I was comparing the situation with other bus operators directly, which makes it arguably different, but in any case those HGV jobs were always there (and they pay much more than a driver rate anyway) so if people wanted to go, they would have done that already.

From what I have seen and heard, the concerns regarding the closure appear to be more pronounced among political stakeholders than among actual employees. The majority of drivers seem neither supportive nor dis-engaged by the move, particularly as the closure package includes a permanent increase in pay amongst other benefits. Many little things not publicly mentioned, which is why you haven't seen Unite calling for strike action - for example (which was the case at Newcastle...). Read into that what you will.

(06 Jun 2026, 8:18 am)tvd wrote Does anyone have any theories over just why Redcar depot is unprofitable?

It runs the X4 which has recently got new buses and it busy.  The 63 was always a core high frequency route.
The X2 and X3 serve parts of the area with no other services so presumably are fairly busy.  Likewise the 64.

The depot is fairly newish, without much dead mileage.

What am I missing, where is the money being lost?

(06 Jun 2026, 8:18 am)tvd wrote Does anyone have any theories over just why Redcar depot is unprofitable?
It runs the X4 which has recently got new buses and it busy.  The 63 was always a core high frequency route.
The X2 and X3 serve parts of the area with no other services so presumably are fairly busy.  Likewise the 64.
The depot is fairly newish, without much dead mileage.
What am I missing, where is the money being lost?

(06 Jun 2026, 8:18 am)tvd wrote Does anyone have any theories over just why Redcar depot is unprofitable?

It runs the X4 which has recently got new buses and it busy.  The 63 was always a core high frequency route.
The X2 and X3 serve parts of the area with no other services so presumably are fairly busy.  Likewise the 64.

The depot is fairly newish, without much dead mileage.

What am I missing, where is the money being lost?

(06 Jun 2026, 11:01 am)Shrek wrote It might not be unprofitable, it might just be that they've looked at the costs of one bigger depot compared to two and they have shown it makes business sense to close Redcar.

(06 Jun 2026, 9:36 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Chances are, with Redcar being a newer depot, they might just lease the land it's on rather than own it outright, whereas Stockton depot is probably owned by Arriva as it's been their operational base for god knows how long. So they could be leasing costs to consider, or if the depot isn't leased, it's probably easier to sell a more modern depot than an older one.

(06 Jun 2026, 10:36 pm)220631612 wrote Arriva lease almost all their depot sites, all sold under the DB regime.

(24 Aug 2026, 3:06 pm)Ryland wrote Is it formally confirmed that redcar depot is closing if so then when. Where are all the buses going to be placed in stockton as there depot isn't the the biggest. And doesnt accomdate for deckers needing repair so where are they going to go

(24 Aug 2026, 3:15 pm)busesofthenortheast wrote Redcar depot closes this weekend, some deckers will be based at Stockton but will be going to Whitby Depot for work done if needed, all the pulsars will move to Stockton and if I’m correct some Evoras will be split in between Stockton & Whitby but might swap I’m not sure but Redcars brand new E200MMCs will be delivered to Stockton instead because they won’t arrive before Redcar closes

(24 Aug 2026, 9:07 pm)Rockstar666 wrote I believe arriva have gained the depot opposite their own on boathouse lane to accommodate the incoming redcar fleet

Think the depot belonged to company called speedy services  ?

(25 Aug 2026, 8:18 pm)Storx wrote Must say surprised there hasn't been more in the media about the shambles that Teesside is right now mind, usual BusTimes caveats.

There's gap all over the places, including the last bus on the 62 and 63 (in both directions to/from Redcar) outright cancelled.

Stockton is just as bad on certain routes and they haven't even inherited the Redcar mess yet.

(26 Aug 2026, 7:34 am)tvd wrote I Imagine if a completely new driver is recruited at Stockton, it must be very hard to learn all the routes and variations that depot will operate.
Or would any newbie be only put on a few routes at a time to not overwhelm them?
I don't suppose there'll be many bus depots in the country running more routes than Stockton soon will be.

(26 Aug 2026, 7:34 am)tvd wrote I Imagine if a completely new driver is recruited at Stockton, it must be very hard to learn all the routes and variations that depot will operate.
Or would any newbie be only put on a few routes at a time to not overwhelm them?
I don't suppose there'll be many bus depots in the country running more routes than Stockton soon will be.

(30 Aug 2026, 10:57 am)Ryland wrote Are any of the services working todsy as nothing tracking and im looking at going to Whitby from marske

(30 Aug 2026, 3:33 pm)S830OFT wrote I do wonder how long it will take until an Evora makes an appearance on the X12/X22/X66 or on the other side of the coin one of the StreetLites to make it onto the X4 again...

(30 Aug 2026, 3:33 pm)S830OFT wrote I do wonder how long it will take until an Evora makes an appearance on the X12/X22/X66 or on the other side of the coin one of the StreetLites to make it onto the X4 again...

(30 Aug 2026, 4:55 pm)Mike_98 wrote Yeh, won't be too long till things like that happen. Stockton have already been throwing Ex Redcar vehicles on their old main services and Vice Versa with Stockton's Old Main Vehicles on Redcars old services. 

Could be wrong with the Tracking but apparently:

1446 Out on X12 right now
1420 Has been out on some trips including the 5
1374 been out on a few trips including X12 and the 5
1502 Been on a X12 today also

Today I seen some pictures of:

1451 and 1459 on the X4

This is just gonna be a common thing now. Who knows, maybe we'll see some Deckers out on Stocktons old main services. But yeh, no doubt we will see a Lite back out on X93/94 in the future and things like that.

(30 Aug 2026, 4:55 pm)Mike_98 wrote Yeh, won't be too long till things like that happen. Stockton have already been throwing Ex Redcar vehicles on their old main services and Vice Versa with Stockton's Old Main Vehicles on Redcars old services. 

Could be wrong with the Tracking but apparently:

1446 Out on X12 right now
1420 Has been out on some trips including the 5
1374 been out on a few trips including X12 and the 5
1502 Been on a X12 today also

Today I seen some pictures of:

1451 and 1459 on the X4

This is just gonna be a common thing now. Who knows, maybe we'll see some Deckers out on Stocktons old main services. But yeh, no doubt we will see a Lite back out on X93/94 in the future and things like that.

(30 Aug 2026, 6:47 pm)tyresmoke wrote Pulsars can go anywhere… don’t know why anyone would expect the two ‘fleets’ to be kept separate? 
The double decks should stick to the X94 and the 63/64/65 but I’m sure they’ll go wandering eventually. The X93 is a purely Whitby production (which hasn’t changed).