The March 2026 contracts have been awarded in the majority of cases work is retained by the current operators. 
With the following changes:

18 from Stagecoach (Newcastle) to Northstar. 
32/32A from Stagecoach to GCT.
333 new service to GNE.
599 Northstar to GCT.
787 Stagecoach to GNE (route extended to Byker).
X46 GCT to Stanley Travel.

(Today, 8:56 am)GuyParkRoyal wrote The March 2026 contracts have been awarded in the majority of cases work is retained by the current operators. 
With the following changes:

18 from Stagecoach (Newcastle) to Northstar. 
32/32A from Stagecoach to GCT.
333 new service to GNE.
599 Northstar to GCT.
787 Stagecoach to GNE (route extended to Byker).
X46 GCT to Stanley Travel.

How true is this? Not sure if Stagecoach are losing the 32/32A as there was talks of us getting electric buses for them routes.

(Today, 10:32 am)ReDemPTiion wrote How true is this? Not sure if Stagecoach are losing the 32/32A as there was talks of us getting electric buses for them routes.

Surely the 342 can’t be retained by GNE since they’re the reason it has to be put out to tender!

Gutted about Northstar losing the 599.

They ran it really good.

(Today, 11:16 am)Michael wrote Gutted about Northstar losing the 599.

They ran it really good.

Sadly it's the massive flaw with the short contracts which Nexus does. They'd be much better awarding 3/4 year contracts and give the operator a little bit of a chance to do something with their route, even if it's forced branding on some like the Durham P&R, Northumberland Connect, Durham Cathedral, Whitby P&R etc. services.

It doesn't help anyone having a route yo-yo'ing around operators and I'm sure operators like Northstar would love that opportunity.

Heck just look at City Transport and their effort on the Sunderland Connect which is the only one with a longer contract.

(Today, 11:14 am)Coastliner700 wrote Surely the 342 can’t be retained by GNE since they’re the reason it has to be put out to tender!

Yeah 100% GNE don’t want the 342 they’ve even said they don’t want it. I’ll wait until it’s officially announced to see what’s actually happening.

Would the 333 award cover the 19 too as thought it was interworking or have I picked that up wrong?

(11 hours ago)gc802002 wrote Would the 333 award cover the 19 too as thought it was interworking or have I picked that up wrong?

The 333 is a single contract.
19, 19A & 335 part of the same contract.

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(Today, 11:14 am)Coastliner700 wrote Surely the 342 can’t be retained by GNE since they’re the reason it has to be put out to tender!

341 & 342 are both retained by GNE as a single contract.

(Today, 11:16 am)Michael wrote Gutted about Northstar losing the 599.

They ran it really good.

First day of operation.! Lets see what doesn't operate, and doesn't operate with a tiny minibus.

(Today, 10:32 am)ReDemPTiion wrote How true is this? Not sure if Stagecoach are losing the 32/32A as there was talks of us getting electric buses for them routes.

Contracts were provisionally awarded yesterday, with operators now in a “standstill” period (where results can - and often do - change).

Until the back end of next week, it’s a little too early to take the above as gospel.

(11 hours ago)ReDemPTiion wrote Yeah 100% GNE don’t want the 342 they’ve even said they don’t want it. I’ll wait until it’s officially announced to see what’s actually happening.

Why? They didn’t want to operate it commercially but if they’ve put the cheapest bid in then no reason why they wouldn’t be awarded it.

(9 hours ago)NEtransport wrote Why? They didn’t want to operate it commercially but if they’ve put the cheapest bid in then no reason why they wouldn’t be awarded it.

From what I had heard they didn’t want to operate it commercially like you say but I’m just confused as to why nexus didn’t allow someone else to run it.

(9 hours ago)NEtransport wrote Why? They didn’t want to operate it commercially but if they’ve put the cheapest bid in then no reason why they wouldn’t be awarded it.

I kinda agree. It is daft that they give up the service and then bid for it again. Its like saying "i cant be bothered to pay for a meal i just had with my friend but hes gonna pay even though I was the one who invited him"

Why run a service commercially. See no growth you wanted then give back the service only for you to then bid on the service you dont want to run commercially

(9 hours ago)NEtransport wrote Why? They didn’t want to operate it commercially but if they’ve put the cheapest bid in then no reason why they wouldn’t be awarded it.

And that's why the deregulated market is such a mess. Costs to the public purse spiralling, because operators can do this, and they have done for years. 

The worst examples are operators chucking services, losing the tender that's put out, then deciding they can run it commercially after all.

(8 hours ago)Nerd4321 wrote I kinda agree. It is daft that they give up the service and then bid for it again. Its like saying "i cant be bothered to pay for a meal i just had with my friend but hes gonna pay even though I was the one who invited him"

Why run a service commercially. See no growth you wanted then give back the service only for you to then bid on the service you dont want to run commercially

Because there’s no revenue risk if operated on behalf of Nexus. Nexus pay Go North East to run the service, and Nexus take all fare revenue. That’s different to running a service commercially.

(8 hours ago)Nerd4321 wrote I kinda agree. It is daft that they give up the service and then bid for it again. Its like saying "i cant be bothered to pay for a meal i just had with my friend but hes gonna pay even though I was the one who invited him"

Why run a service commercially. See no growth you wanted then give back the service only for you to then bid on the service you dont want to run commercially

The thing is, a different pair of eyes might see something you've missed. To give an example, Northstar operate the 79 and extending to Washington would a no brainer now, since the 2A is gone and other links to Biddick/St Roberts and the galleries south of Shiney Row are poor. But clearly neither GNE, Northstar or Nexus have spotted this.

If working the PVR out and the 32/32A contract is the full thing. Gateshead Central Taxis need a total of 8 buses for the services (6 for the 32/32A & 2 for the 599)

Sure they have some buses in the yard thsy have been wasting away that could be fixed up in time

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Interstingly the 787.... does anyone know why it has been curtailed to Byker? The original proposal was to Wallsend through the night ( I had done some maths on getting it to wallsend then Taxi if needed in the middle of the night or needed an early bus (earlier than the 91)

(8 hours ago)Adrian wrote And that's why the deregulated market is such a mess. Costs to the public purse spiralling, because operators can do this, and they have done for years. 

The worst examples are operators chucking services, losing the tender that's put out, then deciding they can run it commercially after all.

Operators taking on contract work on a commercial basis is a good thing for the tax payer. What Isn't is if that money doesn't exist as the savings is used to prop something else up and then the original route gets chucked in!

(6 hours ago)DaveFromUpNorth wrote Sure they have some buses in the yard thsy have been wasting away that could be fixed up in time

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Interstingly the 787.... does anyone know why it has been curtailed to Byker? The original proposal was to Wallsend through the night ( I had done some maths on getting it to wallsend then Taxi if needed in the middle of the night or needed an early bus (earlier than the 91)

You’re correct the did originally have it operating to Wallsend via welbeck road. Only thing I can think of is the consultation results saw that not many people would be using it through Wallsend and Walker. Be interesting to see where it’s going if it’s only going to Byker.

(Today, 8:56 am)GuyParkRoyal wrote The March 2026 contracts have been awarded in the majority of cases work is retained by the current operators. 
With the following changes:

18 from Stagecoach (Newcastle) to Northstar. 
32/32A from Stagecoach to GCT.
333 new service to GNE.
599 Northstar to GCT.
787 Stagecoach to GNE (route extended to Byker).
X46 GCT to Stanley Travel.

Were can you find out who got what?

(Today, 8:56 am)GuyParkRoyal wrote The March 2026 contracts have been awarded in the majority of cases work is retained by the current operators. 
With the following changes:

18 from Stagecoach (Newcastle) to Northstar. 
32/32A from Stagecoach to GCT.
333 new service to GNE.
599 Northstar to GCT.
787 Stagecoach to GNE (route extended to Byker).
X46 GCT to Stanley Travel.

The X46 was previously operated by Stanley Travel, when it was introduced. I wonder if they will put a Solo SR on it as they did when they had it before.

Very surprising to see Northstar has been awarded the 18 and lost the 599. Wasn't expecting that.

Equally surprised to see the 787 going from Stagecoach to GNE.

So if these are the only services changing operators, that means GCT have retained the 19, 35, 350/351 and 653? 317 a Nexus contact or ran commercially by GNE? Thought Stagecoach might have won the 341 and 342.

(1 hour ago)OrangeArrow49 wrote The X46 was previously operated by Stanley Travel, when it was introduced. I wonder if they will put a Solo SR on it as they did when they had it before.

Very surprising to see Northstar has been awarded the 18 and lost the 599. Wasn't expecting that.

Equally surprised to see the 787 going from Stagecoach to GNE.

So if these are the only services changing operators, that means GCT have retained the 19, 35, 350/351 and 653? 317 a Nexus contact or ran commercially by GNE? Thought Stagecoach might have won the 341 and 342.

The 787 moving to GNE makes sense as Riverside is essentially open 24/7 anywho for National Express. The 341 and 342 have been retained by GNE. The 317 is a nexus contract.