Services Safeguarded
 
With the help of cash boost from the Bus Service Improvement Plan, we will continue to fund a number of bus services across our region ?
 
These include:
 
- Services 17/18 in Darlington until March 2026
- Services 6/6A in Darlington and Stockton until March 2026
- Services 1&2 in Redcar and Cleveland until March 2026
- Service RP1 Riverside Park, in Middlesbrough, until March 2026
- Services X40/X41 for Wynyard until March 2026
- Service 101 serving Teesport until August this year
- Tees Flex until August this year
- Service 16 in Darlington until August this year [website however states March 2026]
- Services 3&4 in Darlington from April to March 2026
- Service 29 in Middlesbrough from April to March 2026
- Service 3 in Redcar and Cleveland from April to March 2026
 
Plenty of work is continuing with bus operators on the above and a number of other routes, so watch this space ?

For more information ➡️ https://orlo.uk/wRWaO

(17 Feb 2025, 6:25 pm)No Jimmi wrote Services Safeguarded
 
With the help of cash boost from the Bus Service Improvement Plan, we will continue to fund a number of bus services across our region ?
 
These include:
 
- Services 17/18 in Darlington until March 2026
- Services 6/6A in Darlington and Stockton until March 2026
- Services 1&2 in Redcar and Cleveland until March 2026
- Service RP1 Riverside Park, in Middlesbrough, until March 2026
- Services X40/X41 for Wynyard until March 2026
- Service 101 serving Teesport until August this year
- Tees Flex until August this year
- Service 16 in Darlington until August this year [website however states March 2026]
- Services 3&4 in Darlington from April to March 2026
- Service 29 in Middlesbrough from April to March 2026
- Service 3 in Redcar and Cleveland from April to March 2026
 
Plenty of work is continuing with bus operators on the above and a number of other routes, so watch this space ?

For more information ➡️ https://orlo.uk/wRWaO

Seems a lack of BSIP in Hartlepool.

X40/X41 timetable needs looking at because nearly every day buses are running up to 20 minutes late.

I can't be bothered to hunt it down but does anyone know if the electric vehicles are going ahead at Darlington and Redcar? Believe the orders had to be placed before Jan 2025 or the funding was lost.

Obviously Arriva are very quiet on their orders in recent times though.

(17 Feb 2025, 6:58 pm)Economic505 wrote Seems a lack of BSIP in Hartlepool.

It’s very annoying because neither stagecoach or the combined authority seem to care about Hartlepool hence why we currently have two darts which are now 21 years old still in daily service and no new buses, no new routes or anything that could improve services in the town.

(17 Feb 2025, 6:58 pm)Economic505 wrote Seems a lack of BSIP in Hartlepool.

North and West of Stockton is worse imo considering there's places like Stillington, Redmarshall, Carlton, Sadberge and Long Newton with absolutely no bus service at all and it's not as if the places are hamlets in the middle of nowhere either.

(18 Feb 2025, 7:23 pm)Storx wrote North and West of Stockton is worse imo considering there's places like Stillington, Redmarshall, Carlton, Sadberge and Long Newton with absolutely no bus service at all and it's not as if the places are hamlets in the middle of nowhere either.

At least Stockton has had something with the service 6 and X40 X41 where as Hartlepool has not had anything.

(18 Feb 2025, 11:13 pm)col87 wrote At least Stockton has had something with the service 6 and X40 X41 where as Hartlepool has not had anything.

The X40/X41 is technically Hartlepool aswell, in council terms, as parts of Wynyard are in their area.

The 6 and X40/X41 are awful routes though and make no sense, especially the 6. That would be much better doing something like: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/54.56259...?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDIxMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D with a second route dealing with the Yarm to Ingleby Barwick side, ideally not heading towards Stockton at all.

Bar around 100yds near the A66 the whole of that route is currently unserved by buses, especially in the Hartburn area. Absolutely shocking for an urban area imo.

(18 Feb 2025, 11:13 pm)col87 wrote At least Stockton has had something with the service 6 and X40 X41 where as Hartlepool has not had anything.

The TVCA is too Middlesbrough/ Stockton Darlington / Yarm centric. Hartlepool is out on the periphery.

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(18 Feb 2025, 11:40 pm)Storx wrote The X40/X41 is technically Hartlepool aswell, in council terms, as parts of Wynyard are in their area.

The 6 and X40/X41 are awful routes though and make no sense, especially the 6. That would be much better doing something like: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/54.56259...?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDIxMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D with a second route dealing with the Yarm to Ingleby Barwick side, ideally not heading towards Stockton at all.

Bar around 100yds near the A66 the whole of that route is currently unserved by buses, especially in the Hartburn area. Absolutely shocking for an urban area imo.

Good point regarding Hartlepool Wynyard. The powers that be should have recognised this when creating the X40/41.

(18 Feb 2025, 11:41 pm)Economic505 wrote The TVCA is too Middlesbrough/ Stockton Darlington / Yarm centric. Hartlepool is out on the periphery.

To be honest, from an outsider, it feels like there is no plan at all and it's just whoever shouts the most. The 1/2 in East Cleveland are bonkers routes when there's commercial routes doing the main flows and they're paying for Teesflex to do the bits inbetween. Just does not make sense.

How they can keep not having bus services in urban / sub urban areas, at all, is shocking aswell. Nexus gets slagged off, and rightly so at times, but there's not areas like Hartburn which are busless.

I know that's a big problem at the West side of Hartlepool aswell which are virtually busless or have the token 3/3A lingering around which is all good as long as you don't leave the house after 6pm.

(18 Feb 2025, 11:55 pm)Storx wrote To be honest, from an outsider, it feels like there is no plan at all and it's just whoever shouts the most. The 1/2 in East Cleveland are bonkers routes when there's commercial routes doing the main flows and they're paying for Teesflex to do the bits inbetween. Just does not make sense.

How they can keep not having bus services in urban / sub urban areas, at all, is shocking aswell. Nexus gets slagged off, and rightly so at times, but there's not areas like Hartburn which are busless.

I know that's a big problem at the West side of Hartlepool aswell which are virtually busless or have the token 3/3A lingering around which is all good as long as you don't leave the house after 6pm.

A lot of people want a bus service connection West View to the Headland as well.  It’s less than 5 minutes in a car but can take a good 20 - 30 minutes on the bus and that’s if you can make the connection to the 6 or 23/24
Yes you can also argue Greatham has the 36 but it doesn’t actually go into the Village itself and it’s probably a good 15 minute or so walk to get from the furthest end of the Village to the Bus Stop on the edge of it.  Still I suppose it’s better than Dalton Piecey which is completely cut off altogether unless you can actually get lucky with Teesflex. Burbank area of the town has nothing either apart from the Paul’s Travel Mini bus which has a bit 4 journeys a week if that.  

Yes the X40 X41 is great if you live in Wolviston or Wynyard and yes bafflingly it can be classed as Hartlepool but let’s be honest we all know it’s actually Stockton area and does nothing for anyone who is actually in the Hartlepool area although Ben and the TVCA did actually spin it to say they did something for Hartlepool.   

I can also agree it does seem to be a case for whoever is friendly enough and if the TVCA is actually bothered instead of actually looking to see where services should be happening.  It shouldn’t be because Stagecoach or Arriva can’t make a profit on some existing services and have got an extra handout, or as a nice way of helping a business ( I mean technically Tesco and Teesport should pay for the 101 since it technically a work service same with Amazon who should pay for the X40 X41 ) They is no thought at all proposals for vital services get ignored while in some cases like Saltburn it’s payed for 3 competing services with Arriva, Teesflex and the 1/2.   It should be managed better but I doubt it will be anytime soon.  
As for the 6 I think we all know that only even exists so they is at least one bus to the white elephant I mean Teesside Airport. I doubt many people will actually use it from Stockton to Yarm or even to the Airport itself.

(18 Feb 2025, 11:55 pm)Storx wrote To be honest, from an outsider, it feels like there is no plan at all and it's just whoever shouts the most. The 1/2 in East Cleveland are bonkers routes when there's commercial routes doing the main flows and they're paying for Teesflex to do the bits inbetween. Just does not make sense.

How they can keep not having bus services in urban / sub urban areas, at all, is shocking aswell. Nexus gets slagged off, and rightly so at times, but there's not areas like Hartburn which are busless.

I know that's a big problem at the West side of Hartlepool aswell which are virtually busless or have the token 3/3A lingering around which is all good as long as you don't leave the house after 6pm.

Vast majority of the routes which they support were one of these: due to be withdrawn/cut such as the Arriva 12 (now 6), 17 & 18 in Darlington, councillors have kicked up a fuss wanting a service of some form or it serves some area of employment, so looks good for PR (Amazon, Teesport). If you lost your service years ago, then tough luck! Areas like Sadberge, Longnewton, Hartburn or Stillington have: a token, awkward council fleet service that you have to gain a membership to use, TeesFlex or nothing.

Some of these routes could likely be done better, better use of resources (17 had 20+ minute sit in Darlington Town Centre after each round trip, although has since been tagged onto the 8/8A cycle) and more areas served.

(19 Feb 2025, 6:27 pm)col87 wrote A lot of people want a bus service connection West View to the Headland as well.  It’s less than 5 minutes in a car but can take a good 20 - 30 minutes on the bus and that’s if you can make the connection to the 6 or 23/24
Yes you can also argue Greatham has the 36 but it doesn’t actually go into the Village itself and it’s probably a good 15 minute or so walk to get from the furthest end of the Village to the Bus Stop on the edge of it.  Still I suppose it’s better than Dalton Piecey which is completely cut off altogether unless you can actually get lucky with Teesflex. Burbank area of the town has nothing either apart from the Paul’s Travel Mini bus which has a bit 4 journeys a week if that.  

Yes the X40 X41 is great if you live in Wolviston or Wynyard and yes bafflingly it can be classed as Hartlepool but let’s be honest we all know it’s actually Stockton area and does nothing for anyone who is actually in the Hartlepool area although Ben and the TVCA did actually spin it to say they did something for Hartlepool.   

I can also agree it does seem to be a case for whoever is friendly enough and if the TVCA is actually bothered instead of actually looking to see where services should be happening.  It shouldn’t be because Stagecoach or Arriva can’t make a profit on some existing services and have got an extra handout, or as a nice way of helping a business ( I mean technically Tesco and Teesport should pay for the 101 since it technically a work service same with Amazon who should pay for the X40 X41 ) They is no thought at all proposals for vital services get ignored while in some cases like Saltburn it’s payed for 3 competing services with Arriva, Teesflex and the 1/2.   It should be managed better but I doubt it will be anytime soon.  
As for the 6 I think we all know that only even exists so they is at least one bus to the white elephant I mean Teesside Airport. I doubt many people will actually use it from Stockton to Yarm or even to the Airport itself.

I must admit from outsider locally there does seem to be some massive gaps in Hartlepool most of them which would be solved with something similar to these 2 routes:

Route 1: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/54.68580...?entry=ttu
Route 2: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/54.70084...?entry=ttu

The service on parts of them is non existent and bar the bit to Elwick it's literally all urban. Route 2 mainly being about connections to the massive retail park at the South of town and the hospital. Route 1 should be every 30 minutes aswell imo, it's literally that urban.