Full award results at this link: 

https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/N...61320-2026

Some interesting new services coming by the looks of it, although quite a few with only 1 bidder.

(11 hours ago)Superman wrote Full award results at this link: 

https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/N...61320-2026

Some interesting new services coming by the looks of it, although quite a few with only 1 bidder.

"Full award results" does not seem to include the actual contract price. Does that become known at a later stage in the process? (I'm pretty sure the "contract value" stated in the info given so far is just the price that had been estimated by TV, which is relevant in affecting the procedures that must be followed.)

Most attracted bids from 2 big firms, with an unknown SME unsuccessfully bidding for a handful on Teesside. Presumably the big 2 will be all be Arriva and Stagecoach; I wonder why Arriva did not bid for all of them? Services 1&2 seem just as operationally feasible for them as they are for Stagecoach. Stagecoach did not bid for the Darlington 16/17/18.

The contract values suggest they are min cost contracts. The passenger revenue on some of them will be fairly sobering - I doubt if there are really all that many potential bus users in School Aycliffe ...

(9 hours ago)Busadvocate wrote "Full award results" does not seem to include the actual contract price. Does that become known at a later stage in the process? (I'm pretty sure the "contract value" stated in the info given so far is just the price that had been estimated by TV, which is relevant in affecting the procedures that must be followed.)

Most attracted bids from 2 big firms, with an unknown SME unsuccessfully bidding for a handful on Teesside. Presumably the big 2 will be all be Arriva and Stagecoach; I wonder why Arriva did not bid for all of them? Services 1&2 seem just as operationally feasible for them as they are for Stagecoach. Stagecoach did not bid for the Darlington 16/17/18.

The contract values suggest they are min cost contracts. The passenger revenue on some of them will be fairly sobering - I doubt if there are really all that many potential bus users in School Aycliffe ...

Those prices quoted vary from the ones on the initial tender notice (separately available notice on the tender website), so I believe they are the final tendered prices.

(9 hours ago)Busadvocate wrote Most attracted bids from 2 big firms, with an unknown SME unsuccessfully bidding for a handful on Teesside. Presumably the big 2 will be all be Arriva and Stagecoach; I wonder why Arriva did not bid for all of them? Services 1&2 seem just as operationally feasible for them as they are for Stagecoach. Stagecoach did not bid for the Darlington 16/17/18.

The contract values suggest they are min cost contracts. The passenger revenue on some of them will be fairly sobering - I doubt if there are really all that many potential bus users in School Aycliffe ...

Imagine Stagecoach didn't bid for the 16/17/18 was because the Yutongs would be unable to get under the bridge at Albert Hill on the 18 although the same problem may eventually be fall Arriva if Darlington does go fully electric although could shift it to Stockton Depot I suppose.

School Aycliffe is an awkward one given parts fall under Darlington/Tees Valley whilst parts fall under County Durham, in an ideal world the Darlington to School Aycliffe service would be merged with the Aycliffe Town Service 17 but doubt that would happen especially as the latter only runs between 9am to 2pm on Monday to Friday, wouldn't be entirely surprised if Arriva tried to divert the 8 via School Aycliffe in a similar vain to the Darlington to Stillington route being bolted onto the 10 route although would mean no bus through parts of Aycliffe Village.

My guess would be Hodgsons as being the SME but could be wrong.

Hartlepool loses out once again despite a need for more services yet it’s baffling they are supporting services which on some cases have duplicates and already well served.