(24 Nov 2025, 1:39 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote 43, X10/X11, X18/35, X21 and X22 are Northumberland County Council contracts?

Go North East stuff is all Nexus contracts, apart from the 21 is commercial from Birtley to CLS? Is the 307 a Nexus or Northumberland contract?

All of the Stagecoach routes are commercial, apart from the 7 and 308, which are Nexus contracts?

I think a lack of common sense has been used here. Why would Northumberland Council pay for a service that doesn't enter Northumberland?

Just checking the buses for tomorrow as need to get in to town for beers at 4pm. Was happy to find both the X1 and 56 are running from wreckenton but when the game finishes at 10is not a bus in sight to get me home. What is the point of that?

(25 Dec 2025, 12:46 pm)Rob44 wrote Just checking the buses for tomorrow as need to get in to town for beers at 4pm. Was happy to find both the X1 and 56 are running from wreckenton but when the game finishes at 10is not a bus in sight to get me home. What is the point of that?

Maybe because its boxing day and drivers volunteer to work boxing day and as it has been for many years services wind down between 6-7pm, we could go back to 10/15 years ago where there wasn’t a boxing day service at all and people went to and from the match either by taxi or walking?


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Maybe when people do a job to serve the public they should expect to work unsocial hours...

Maybe a more expensive flat fare to cover a higher running costs. Buses would definitely be used after the match.

(25 Dec 2025, 12:49 pm)Theboyle92 wrote Maybe because its boxing day and drivers volunteer to work boxing day and as it has been for many years services wind down between 6-7pm, we could go back to 10/15 years ago where there wasn’t a boxing day service at all and people went to and from the match either by taxi or walking?


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Hey im not having a go but when shops and pubs and entertainment places are open as normal maybe bus should be too. Heck they run a Saturday service over Christmas when nowadays most people work the same shift they would normal I know mine do.

Alos Im at work today and tomorrow and i didn't volunteer

As for the match go back further and in the early 1900' till around the late 50's matches was played xmass day and pople got there as there was a full train and bus service throughout England!

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(25 Dec 2025, 1:06 pm)idiot wrote Maybe when people do a job to serve the public they should expect to work unsocial hours...

Maybe a more expensive flat fare to cover a higher running costs. Buses would definitely be used after the match.

Agree with this....  I would pay 5 quid on the bus rather than 30 plus for a taxi!

(25 Dec 2025, 12:49 pm)Theboyle92 wrote Maybe because its boxing day and drivers volunteer to work boxing day and as it has been for many years services wind down between 6-7pm, we could go back to 10/15 years ago where there wasn’t a boxing day service at all and people went to and from the match either by taxi or walking?


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There's always been a boxing day bus service in T&W at least - certainly for well over 10/15 years anyway. And it's always wound down around 6pm.  And for the last decade or so has prompted exactly the same debate on here re: drivers' time with families vs providing a public service.

(25 Dec 2025, 2:01 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote There's always been a boxing day bus service in T&W at least - certainly for well over 10/15 years anyway. And it's always wound down around 6pm.  And for the last decade or so has prompted exactly the same debate on here re: drivers' time with families vs providing a public service.

The thing that surprised me was the the 56 and x1 are providing 5 buses p/h from 9 till like you say wind down at 6. Surely it could be 3 bph and start earlier and finish later with more staff or costs?

I agree the drivers should get a bit time with their families its not so much about cost. Boxing day has always been an early finish the same as Christmas Eve and News Years Eve. Also as there are often fixtures played New Years Day there is no service then . It's always been the case. Just one of those where alternatives need to be looked at

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(25 Dec 2025, 12:46 pm)Rob44 wrote Just checking the buses for tomorrow as need to get in to town for beers at 4pm.  Was happy to find both the X1 and 56 are running from wreckenton but when the game finishes at 10is not a bus in sight to get me home.  What is the point of that?

Almost as daft as the Bee Network running special timetables on the X50, 250 and 263 to Old Trafford l, but only until about 8pm. Nothing runs after the match!!

Tram is running every 15 minutes, but that isn't good enough for the amount of people going.

(25 Dec 2025, 4:13 pm)Swiny1 wrote I agree the drivers should get a bit time with their families its not so much about cost. Boxing day has always been an early finish the same as Christmas Eve and News Years Eve. Also as there are often fixtures played New Years Day there is no service then . It's always been the case. Just one of those where alternatives need to be looked at

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Completely agree we get 2 days out of 356 off to spend with family them being Christmas day and new years day, and 3 days with early finishes them being Christmas eve , boxing day and new years eve, unfortunately for the public we dont just run for football games, how are people going to cope when Sunderland play leeds on NYD with a 2pm kick off?


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The problem with the football matches isn't the buses. It's the fact the matches are being played at stupid o'clock in the first place.

Imo there should be zero bus service on Boxing Day, unless the operators want to run it. It's a waste of tax payers money and there won't be mass riots in County Durham or Teesside tomorrow.

No doubt GNE would suddenly find a way to run some aswell, if the begging bowl was shut.

(25 Dec 2025, 7:39 pm)Theboyle92 wrote Completely agree we get 2 days out of 356 off to spend with family them being Christmas day and new years day, and 3 days with early finishes them being Christmas eve , boxing day and new years eve, unfortunately for the public we dont just run for football games, how are people going to cope when Sunderland play leeds on NYD with a 2pm kick off?


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365 (or 366 every four years) presumably.

But there has been loads of Christmas services running today, the local church had them running at midnight.

(25 Dec 2025, 1:42 pm)Rob44 wrote Hey im not having a go but when shops and pubs and entertainment places are open as normal maybe bus should be too. Heck they run a Saturday service over Christmas when nowadays most people work the same shift they would normal I know mine do.

Alos Im at work today and tomorrow and i didn't volunteer

As for the match go back further and in the early 1900' till around the late 50's matches was played xmass day and pople got there as there was a full train and bus service throughout England!

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Agree with this....  I would pay 5 quid on the bus rather than 30 plus for a taxi!

Speaking to a few bar owners in Newcastle over the last few days, I'm not sure they're expecting a lot of business tomorrow, so I can understand the bus companies not taking any risks and even more so understand Nexus not paying for late services.

(25 Dec 2025, 10:36 pm)Shrek wrote Speaking to a few bar owners in Newcastle over the last few days, I'm not sure they're expecting a lot of business tomorrow, so I can understand the bus companies not taking any risks and even more so understand Nexus not paying for late services.

The fact that Sky moved this game to 8pm is ridiculous. It’s also crazy that SAFC play Man City on NYD at 8pm. No buses, trains or Metros.

(25 Dec 2025, 11:10 pm)Economic505 wrote The fact that Sky moved this game to 8pm is ridiculous. It’s also crazy that SAFC play Man City on NYD at 8pm. No buses, trains or Metros.

Unfortunately thats the way it is i can remember years ago before i drove when Sunderland were at home on NYD i walked from ryhope to the stadium and back as there was no buses, didnt complain and I wasn’t the only one doing it people just got on with it, if there was a demand for a full days service i would say yeah put a skeleton service on but for 1/2 hours before and another 1/2 hours after a match the takings wouldn’t be worth the service required when you take into account wages, fuel, insurance etc and doubt nexus would cover the costs its the same with boxing day by the time people have been to the shops grabbed some bargains and all they want to do is head home and with most shops shutting early why have a service on past 7pm.


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(25 Dec 2025, 9:00 pm)Storx wrote The problem with the football matches isn't the buses. It's the fact the matches are being played at stupid o'clock in the first place.

Imo there should be zero bus service on Boxing Day, unless the operators want to run it. It's a waste of tax payers money and there won't be mass riots in County Durham or Teesside tomorrow.

No doubt GNE would suddenly find a way to run some aswell, if the begging bowl was shut.

Agreed

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Sat in Corner House today for some lunch and watched the buses go by predominantly ones to City Centre
...

307 operated by 27 branded GNE Buses canny loads in general around lunch time

308 operated by JH Hughes 3 passengers on one service 5 on another and 4 on another operating with fresh air! Certainly would of benefited more operating a 309 route and hitting Battlehill Drive to Blyth

38 was a around 30-40 full too

Didn't look at buses going out of Newcastle too much as the flow that time in the day should be to commute into Newcastle and not away

I think the service provided by Go North East has been probably one of the worst I have seen on a Boxing Day in several years with no Buses going into South Shields, Durham or Consett.

Services that operated:

X1 - Newcastle to Easington Lane - Operated shorter variation of the service.
10 - Newcastle to Hexham - Operated full route
10A - Newcastle to Rockwood Hill - Operated full route
20 - Sunderland to Hall Lane Estate - Curtailed to part operation
20A - Sunderland to Rainton Bridge - Curtailed to part operation
21 - Newcastle to Chester-Le-Street - Only operating CLS Shorts, No service to Durham via Bus or Train today. Would've thought GNE would've taken advantage of this.
26 - Lukes Lane Estate to Jarrow - What was the point when the nothing else operating in the area
47 - Newcastle to Blackhall Mill - A one on Boxing Day that has always gone to Consett from memory but this year curtailed at Blackhall Mill.
53 - Gateshead to Saltwell Park - Did a half hourly clockwise loop of Gateshead to Saltwell Park only with no service into Newcastle, buses were go straight Bensham Bank back into Gateshead.
62 - Sunderland to Moorside - Operated part route from City Centre to Moorside Estate, surely they could've served Doxford International as no doubt some businesses would've been open.
301 - Newcastle to Metrocentre - Operated part route, Should've interworked this in Newcastle with the 307 to maintain links through to North Shields/Blyth with JH operating the 308.

(26 Dec 2025, 5:41 pm)Malarkey wrote I think the service provided by Go North East has been probably one of the worst I have seen on a Boxing Day in several years with no Buses going into South Shields, Durham or Consett.

Services that operated:

X1 - Newcastle to Easington Lane - Operated shorter variation of the service.
10  - Newcastle to Hexham - Operated full route
10A - Newcastle to Rockwood Hill - Operated full route
20 - Sunderland to Hall Lane Estate - Curtailed to part operation
20A - Sunderland to Rainton Bridge - Curtailed to part operation
21 - Newcastle to Chester-Le-Street - Only operating CLS Shorts, No service to Durham via Bus or Train today. Would've thought GNE would've taken advantage of this.
26 - Lukes Lane Estate to Jarrow - What was the point when the nothing else operating in the area
47 - Newcastle to Blackhall Mill - A one on Boxing Day that has always gone to Consett from memory but this year curtailed at Blackhall Mill.
53 - Gateshead to Saltwell Park - Did a half hourly clockwise loop of Gateshead to Saltwell Park only with no service into Newcastle, buses were go straight Bensham Bank back into Gateshead.
62 - Sunderland to Moorside - Operated part route from City Centre to Moorside Estate, surely they could've served Doxford International as no doubt some businesses would've been open.
301 - Newcastle to Metrocentre - Operated part route, Should've interworked this in Newcastle with the 307 to maintain links through to North Shields/Blyth with JH operating the 308.

I doubt any business was open at Doxford.

(26 Dec 2025, 5:41 pm)Malarkey wrote I think the service provided by Go North East has been probably one of the worst I have seen on a Boxing Day in several years with no Buses going into South Shields, Durham or Consett.

Services that operated:

X1 - Newcastle to Easington Lane - Operated shorter variation of the service.
10  - Newcastle to Hexham - Operated full route
10A - Newcastle to Rockwood Hill - Operated full route
20 - Sunderland to Hall Lane Estate - Curtailed to part operation
20A - Sunderland to Rainton Bridge - Curtailed to part operation
21 - Newcastle to Chester-Le-Street - Only operating CLS Shorts, No service to Durham via Bus or Train today. Would've thought GNE would've taken advantage of this.
26 - Lukes Lane Estate to Jarrow - What was the point when the nothing else operating in the area
47 - Newcastle to Blackhall Mill - A one on Boxing Day that has always gone to Consett from memory but this year curtailed at Blackhall Mill.
53 - Gateshead to Saltwell Park - Did a half hourly clockwise loop of Gateshead to Saltwell Park only with no service into Newcastle, buses were go straight Bensham Bank back into Gateshead.
62 - Sunderland to Moorside - Operated part route from City Centre to Moorside Estate, surely they could've served Doxford International as no doubt some businesses would've been open.
301 - Newcastle to Metrocentre - Operated part route, Should've interworked this in Newcastle with the 307 to maintain links through to North Shields/Blyth with JH operating the 308.

The provision the last few years has dropped a fair bit from what was provided in 2019 which is what I last properly remember, back then we had multiple buses running throughout County Durham including the 16A, 20, 21/X21 to Bishop Auckland, last few year's been next to nothing, pretty much just the last few stops into Chester-le-Street on the 21.

Loadings I've seen have been mixed, although I wasn't paying too much attention, busiest seemed to be the services operated by their usual operators (GNE/SNE), the few X66's I saw leaving Gateshead were pretty rammed.

Durham County Council didn't actually open up Stanley Bus Station today despite Northstar serving there on the M43, instead having to drop passengers as the bus entered the bus station.

(26 Dec 2025, 9:56 pm)Jimmi wrote The provision the last few years has dropped a fair bit from what was provided in 2019 which is what I last properly remember, back then we had multiple buses running throughout County Durham including the 16A, 20, 21/X21 to Bishop Auckland, last few year's been next to nothing, pretty much just the last few stops into Chester-le-Street on the 21.

Loadings I've seen have been mixed, although I wasn't paying too much attention, busiest seemed to be the services operated by their usual operators (GNE/SNE), the few X66's I saw leaving Gateshead were pretty rammed.

Durham County Council didn't actually open up Stanley Bus Station today despite Northstar serving there on the M43, instead having to drop passengers as the bus entered the bus station.

That was the last year GoNorthEast ran it commercially wasn't it? Sure Arriva did that year aswell, or they did in the Northumbria area one year anyway.

Both haven't since, as far as I'm aware, sure it was all Nexus funded today, hence ending on the boundaries in multiple places.

Obviously Arriva don't want people using the subsidised services today in Northumbria either as they ran 'No Service' which probably explains the dire loads - https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/seasonal-bus...d-new-year (click on Newcastle).

Durham county council don't fund services on boxing days anymore so North Star running M43 could've been a commercial risk I'm not sure how many people used it that's also the reason for the early turn rounds

(26 Dec 2025, 10:02 pm)Storx wrote That was the last year GoNorthEast ran it commercially wasn't it? Sure Arriva did that year aswell, or they did in the Northumbria area one year anyway.

Both haven't since, as far as I'm aware, sure it was all Nexus funded today, hence ending on the boundaries in multiple places.

Obviously Arriva don't want people using the subsidised services today in Northumbria either as they ran 'No Service' which probably explains the dire loads - https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/seasonal-bus...d-new-year (click on Newcastle).

Yes it was 2019 when Arriva Northumbria ran their own services on Boxing Day out of Jesmond. 

(26 Dec 2025, 10:14 pm)Ds1197 wrote Durham county council don't fund services on boxing days anymore so North Star running M43 could've been a commercial risk I'm not sure how many people used it that's also the reason for the early turn rounds

M43 was commercially operated.

(26 Dec 2025, 10:36 pm)Jimmi wrote Yes it was 2019 when Arriva Northumbria ran their own services on Boxing Day out of Jesmond. 

M43 was commercially operated.

I guess Northstar, with the subsidies they receive to run their usual services, can afford the occasional gamble on a commercial service. I do wish they would lose the Arriva like colours. Awful !

(26 Dec 2025, 5:41 pm)Malarkey wrote I think the service provided by Go North East has been probably one of the worst I have seen on a Boxing Day in several years with no Buses going into South Shields, Durham or Consett.

Services that operated:

X1 - Newcastle to Easington Lane - Operated shorter variation of the service.
10 - Newcastle to Hexham - Operated full route
10A - Newcastle to Rockwood Hill - Operated full route
20 - Sunderland to Hall Lane Estate - Curtailed to part operation
20A - Sunderland to Rainton Bridge - Curtailed to part operation
21 - Newcastle to Chester-Le-Street - Only operating CLS Shorts, No service to Durham via Bus or Train today. Would've thought GNE would've taken advantage of this.
26 - Lukes Lane Estate to Jarrow - What was the point when the nothing else operating in the area
47 - Newcastle to Blackhall Mill - A one on Boxing Day that has always gone to Consett from memory but this year curtailed at Blackhall Mill.
53 - Gateshead to Saltwell Park - Did a half hourly clockwise loop of Gateshead to Saltwell Park only with no service into Newcastle, buses were go straight Bensham Bank back into Gateshead.
62 - Sunderland to Moorside - Operated part route from City Centre to Moorside Estate, surely they could've served Doxford International as no doubt some businesses would've been open.
301 - Newcastle to Metrocentre - Operated part route, Should've interworked this in Newcastle with the 307 to maintain links through to North Shields/Blyth with JH operating the 308.

Stagecoach Sunderland had the same services out again, same services each year.... would of thought the X24/X34 would of been out.

(26 Dec 2025, 11:14 pm)Michael wrote Stagecoach Sunderland had the same services out again, same services each year.... would of thought the X24/X34 would of been out.

Sunderland Depot also ran 3/4 and 10/11 in South Tyneside

(27 Dec 2025, 9:45 am)Ds1197 wrote Sunderland Depot also ran 3/4 and 10/11 in South Tyneside

NGL, didn't even noticed that but my point still stands, same old services in Sunderland.......

(26 Dec 2025, 5:41 pm)Malarkey wrote I think the service provided by Go North East has been probably one of the worst I have seen on a Boxing Day in several years with no Buses going into South Shields, Durham or Consett.

Services that operated:

X1 - Newcastle to Easington Lane - Operated shorter variation of the service.
10  - Newcastle to Hexham - Operated full route
10A - Newcastle to Rockwood Hill - Operated full route
20 - Sunderland to Hall Lane Estate - Curtailed to part operation
20A - Sunderland to Rainton Bridge - Curtailed to part operation
21 - Newcastle to Chester-Le-Street - Only operating CLS Shorts, No service to Durham via Bus or Train today. Would've thought GNE would've taken advantage of this.
26 - Lukes Lane Estate to Jarrow - What was the point when the nothing else operating in the area
47 - Newcastle to Blackhall Mill - A one on Boxing Day that has always gone to Consett from memory but this year curtailed at Blackhall Mill.
53 - Gateshead to Saltwell Park - Did a half hourly clockwise loop of Gateshead to Saltwell Park only with no service into Newcastle, buses were go straight Bensham Bank back into Gateshead.
62 - Sunderland to Moorside - Operated part route from City Centre to Moorside Estate, surely they could've served Doxford International as no doubt some businesses would've been open.
301 - Newcastle to Metrocentre - Operated part route, Should've interworked this in Newcastle with the 307 to maintain links through to North Shields/Blyth with JH operating the 308.

Most of the service you listed here did the exact same route last year

(26 Dec 2025, 5:41 pm)Malarkey wrote I think the service provided by Go North East has been probably one of the worst I have seen on a Boxing Day in several years with no Buses going into South Shields, Durham or Consett.

Services that operated:

X1 - Newcastle to Easington Lane - Operated shorter variation of the service.
10  - Newcastle to Hexham - Operated full route
10A - Newcastle to Rockwood Hill - Operated full route
20 - Sunderland to Hall Lane Estate - Curtailed to part operation
20A - Sunderland to Rainton Bridge - Curtailed to part operation
21 - Newcastle to Chester-Le-Street - Only operating CLS Shorts, No service to Durham via Bus or Train today. Would've thought GNE would've taken advantage of this.
26 - Lukes Lane Estate to Jarrow - What was the point when the nothing else operating in the area
47 - Newcastle to Blackhall Mill - A one on Boxing Day that has always gone to Consett from memory but this year curtailed at Blackhall Mill.
53 - Gateshead to Saltwell Park - Did a half hourly clockwise loop of Gateshead to Saltwell Park only with no service into Newcastle, buses were go straight Bensham Bank back into Gateshead.
62 - Sunderland to Moorside - Operated part route from City Centre to Moorside Estate, surely they could've served Doxford International as no doubt some businesses would've been open.
301 - Newcastle to Metrocentre - Operated part route, Should've interworked this in Newcastle with the 307 to maintain links through to North Shields/Blyth with JH operating the 308.

I though they were running the 56?/

(28 Dec 2025, 8:35 am)Rob44 wrote I though they were running the 56?/

There is a few missing from the list