(20 Jan 2026, 12:09 pm)Andreos1 wrote https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c205p2k47epo
First I've heard of this.
New P&R site for Durham.
Tim McGuiness??
Durham County Council
Durham County Council
RE: Durham County Council
(20 Jan 2026, 12:09 pm)Andreos1 wrote https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c205p2k47epo
First I've heard of this.
New P&R site for Durham.
A pop up one, presumably for all the events the council keep cancelling.
RE: Durham County Council
https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/2...m=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwdGRjcAP6poZjbGNrA_qmSmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHluez7-rUHHPMznhnHBPIpJ-16FwN8S80A8N-EbApQt4UmJ7BbqZp7vbijOI_aem_rgNC-CELzNe8XQMhNQ2YFw
Cuts to Home to School Transport
Cuts to Home to School Transport
'Illegitimis non carborundum'
RE: Durham County Council
(12 Feb 2026, 12:28 pm)Andreos1 wrote https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/2...m=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwdGRjcAP6poZjbGNrA_qmSmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHluez7-rUHHPMznhnHBPIpJ-16FwN8S80A8N-EbApQt4UmJ7BbqZp7vbijOI_aem_rgNC-CELzNe8XQMhNQ2YFw
Cuts to Home to School Transport
No surprise there, with Nigel Fromage’s party in control.
RE: Durham County Council
The article says that particular change has been in the offing for a few years.
Durham is one of the few remaining LAs that provides free school transport for young people over 16 with EHCP and particular needs (though it’s a pain as you have to reapply for it every single year, even on a 3 year course) but it’s clear they’re going after that, next.
Durham is one of the few remaining LAs that provides free school transport for young people over 16 with EHCP and particular needs (though it’s a pain as you have to reapply for it every single year, even on a 3 year course) but it’s clear they’re going after that, next.
RE: Durham County Council
The pre 0930 fare for County Durham concession bus pass holders will rise from 50p to £1, effective April 1st 2026
RE: Durham County Council
'Illegitimis non carborundum'
RE: Durham County Council
Burnhope hasn't had a Sunday bus service for 15 years, has it? And I think hasn't had a bus to Durham for something over 50 years.
Tough for them to be cut off, of course, but its quite a small place.
I wonder if franchising will change this sort of thing - wouldn't be easy, basically down to needing more public spending (plenty of other calls on that). But it will definitely mean the finger couldn't be pointed at bus operators.
Tough for them to be cut off, of course, but its quite a small place.
I wonder if franchising will change this sort of thing - wouldn't be easy, basically down to needing more public spending (plenty of other calls on that). But it will definitely mean the finger couldn't be pointed at bus operators.
RE: Durham County Council
(24 Mar 2026, 9:39 pm)Busadvocate wrote Burnhope hasn't had a Sunday bus service for 15 years, has it? And I think hasn't had a bus to Durham for something over 50 years.
Tough for them to be cut off, of course, but its quite a small place.
I wonder if franchising will change this sort of thing - wouldn't be easy, basically down to needing more public spending (plenty of other calls on that). But it will definitely mean the finger couldn't be pointed at bus operators.
Burnhope had a bus service to Durham until atleast 2003 when Arriva withdrew the 768.
RE: Durham County Council
(24 Mar 2026, 9:39 pm)Busadvocate wrote Burnhope hasn't had a Sunday bus service for 15 years, has it? And I think hasn't had a bus to Durham for something over 50 years.
Tough for them to be cut off, of course, but its quite a small place.
I wonder if franchising will change this sort of thing - wouldn't be easy, basically down to needing more public spending (plenty of other calls on that). But it will definitely mean the finger couldn't be pointed at bus operators.
I think the issue is more than the (lack of) Sunday service.
Theres also the issue of the hourly service not always turning up and the times it actually does run.
'Illegitimis non carborundum'
RE: Durham County Council
Ah, had forgotten 768. It was a DCC contract. Have found a 2001 timetable, when it was a mixture of Stanley Travel and Arriva. But in the rather fine DCC timetable book for summer 1986, there was no Durham service, and hadn't been fro some time. Just the Fulton's then Watson's 712 to Stanley (hourly all day M-Sat and hourly from late Sun AM). In summer 1986 Burnhope also had a Tues and Fri Lanchester - Chester le Street bus, one each way, seemingly a joint United/ Northern operation (did each do one joureny?). CleSt market was a big thing then, hard to imagine now.
The way the current Lanchester - Stanley contract with GNE was tendered as a freestanding service but operates as an extension of the (mainly) commercial service 6. That is a mixed blessing, IMO. It gives a through service to Metrocentre and Ncle (tho a long way round) but any traffic etc delays there affect the service. And GNE has had its share of big bus reliability issues in modern times, too. A frestanding, rock-solid, local service with connections into direct services at Stanley probably better (assuming appropriate fares and timetabling, too).
Ah, had forgotten 768. It was a DCC contract. Have found a 2001 timetable, when it was a mixture of Stanley Travel and Arriva. But in the rather fine DCC timetable book for summer 1986, there was no Durham service, and hadn't been fro some time. Just the Fulton's then Watson's 712 to Stanley (hourly all day M-Sat and hourly from late Sun AM). In summer 1986 Burnhope also had a Tues and Fri Lanchester - Chester le Street bus, one each way, seemingly a joint United/ Northern operation (did each do one joureny?). CleSt market was a big thing then, hard to imagine now.
The way the current Lanchester - Stanley contract with GNE was tendered as a freestanding service but operates as an extension of the (mainly) commercial service 6. That is a mixed blessing, IMO. It gives a through service to Metrocentre and Ncle (tho a long way round) but any traffic etc delays there affect the service. And GNE has had its share of big bus reliability issues in modern times, too. A frestanding, rock-solid, local service with connections into direct services at Stanley probably better (assuming appropriate fares and timetabling, too).
The way the current Lanchester - Stanley contract with GNE was tendered as a freestanding service but operates as an extension of the (mainly) commercial service 6. That is a mixed blessing, IMO. It gives a through service to Metrocentre and Ncle (tho a long way round) but any traffic etc delays there affect the service. And GNE has had its share of big bus reliability issues in modern times, too. A frestanding, rock-solid, local service with connections into direct services at Stanley probably better (assuming appropriate fares and timetabling, too).
Ah, had forgotten 768. It was a DCC contract. Have found a 2001 timetable, when it was a mixture of Stanley Travel and Arriva. But in the rather fine DCC timetable book for summer 1986, there was no Durham service, and hadn't been fro some time. Just the Fulton's then Watson's 712 to Stanley (hourly all day M-Sat and hourly from late Sun AM). In summer 1986 Burnhope also had a Tues and Fri Lanchester - Chester le Street bus, one each way, seemingly a joint United/ Northern operation (did each do one joureny?). CleSt market was a big thing then, hard to imagine now.
The way the current Lanchester - Stanley contract with GNE was tendered as a freestanding service but operates as an extension of the (mainly) commercial service 6. That is a mixed blessing, IMO. It gives a through service to Metrocentre and Ncle (tho a long way round) but any traffic etc delays there affect the service. And GNE has had its share of big bus reliability issues in modern times, too. A frestanding, rock-solid, local service with connections into direct services at Stanley probably better (assuming appropriate fares and timetabling, too).
RE: Durham County Council
(25 Mar 2026, 1:16 am)Busadvocate wrote Ah, had forgotten 768. It was a DCC contract. Have found a 2001 timetable, when it was a mixture of Stanley Travel and Arriva. But in the rather fine DCC timetable book for summer 1986, there was no Durham service, and hadn't been fro some time. Just the Fulton's then Watson's 712 to Stanley (hourly all day M-Sat and hourly from late Sun AM). In summer 1986 Burnhope also had a Tues and Fri Lanchester - Chester le Street bus, one each way, seemingly a joint United/ Northern operation (did each do one joureny?). CleSt market was a big thing then, hard to imagine now.
The way the current Lanchester - Stanley contract with GNE was tendered as a freestanding service but operates as an extension of the (mainly) commercial service 6. That is a mixed blessing, IMO. It gives a through service to Metrocentre and Ncle (tho a long way round) but any traffic etc delays there affect the service. And GNE has had its share of big bus reliability issues in modern times, too. A frestanding, rock-solid, local service with connections into direct services at Stanley probably better (assuming appropriate fares and timetabling, too).
Not sure I agree there, unless it was every 20 minutes or so.
An hourly service is completely unusable in terms of connecting, because the same issues with the 6 still affect you. The only difference is instead of the bus being 10 minutes late, you're now standing around for 50 minutes in Stanley because you missed your connection.
I know which I'd rather have. Hub and spoke only works if both services are extremely frequent, 15 minute+ imo.
RE: Durham County Council
I appreciate that having to change buses has disadvantages too, but anything more than an hourly service at somewhere like Burnhope is pretty unrealistic. In any case, I strongly suspect most Burnhope passengers don't travel across Stanley on the 6, so would be unaffected (ie they are just travelling locally or changing onto other services). The buses to Newcastle etc are obviously much more frequent than hourly, so it's essentially the return that is the potential problem if the incoming bus runs late. If we are dreaming of a more perfect world, there could be a system of a guaranteed taxi back-up for a failed connection, which seems more realistic. Or even better, more radical bus priority to avoid the delays. Or failing that, an operating regime with more back-up resources to allow a substitute bus to come into service when needed.
RE: Durham County Council
(25 Mar 2026, 10:26 am)Busadvocate wrote I appreciate that having to change buses has disadvantages too, but anything more than an hourly service at somewhere like Burnhope is pretty unrealistic. In any case, I strongly suspect most Burnhope passengers don't travel across Stanley on the 6, so would be unaffected (ie they are just travelling locally or changing onto other services). The buses to Newcastle etc are obviously much more frequent than hourly, so it's essentially the return that is the potential problem if the incoming bus runs late. If we are dreaming of a more perfect world, there could be a system of a guaranteed taxi back-up for a failed connection, which seems more realistic. Or even better, more radical bus priority to avoid the delays. Or failing that, an operating regime with more back-up resources to allow a substitute bus to come into service when needed.
Aye can't disagree, not sure how feasible it would be but I'd always love to see connections with the trains rather than Stanley for connections. Like Chester Le Street is just down the road in the other direction.
Can we not create a little transport hub here and connect buses with the trains considering they go in both directions 5 minutes apart and are generally a hell of a lot more punctual.
If you gave them enough layover they could easily offer guaranteed connections and it's a connection I'd happily make - especially considering the train takes 9 minutes from CLS to Newcastle and 6 minutes to Durham. Even if it was only a couple of journeys a day as there's not probably not unlimited demand to Newcastle; with your local service doing that local links.
Similar discussion for the likes of 71 and 700's aswell. You could be home to Great Lumley in 25 minutes, if there was a connection and would make the 71 much more sustainable whereas the idea of trodding on the X21 for 40 minutes, then connecting isn't attractive imo.
RE: Durham County Council
(25 Mar 2026, 10:26 am)Busadvocate wrote I appreciate that having to change buses has disadvantages too, but anything more than an hourly service at somewhere like Burnhope is pretty unrealistic. In any case, I strongly suspect most Burnhope passengers don't travel across Stanley on the 6, so would be unaffected (ie they are just travelling locally or changing onto other services). The buses to Newcastle etc are obviously much more frequent than hourly, so it's essentially the return that is the potential problem if the incoming bus runs late. If we are dreaming of a more perfect world, there could be a system of a guaranteed taxi back-up for a failed connection, which seems more realistic. Or even better, more radical bus priority to avoid the delays. Or failing that, an operating regime with more back-up resources to allow a substitute bus to come into service when needed.
The operator doesn't help themselves with timekeeping. Whenever you see an ex London charabang or an underpowered Versa on wholly unsuitable routes, is it any surprise delays occur?
RE: Durham County Council
A new service ran by Durham County Council will start effective August 31st 2026, running between Sedgefield & Newton Aycliffe numbered 121 running on weekdays as a trial
RE: Durham County Council
(17 Aug 2026, 7:47 pm)Jimmi wrote A new service ran by Durham County Council will start effective August 31st 2026, running between Sedgefield & Newton Aycliffe numbered 121 running on weekdays as a trial
I guess this is to fill the gap left by the loss of the X21. Hopefully it’s not too little, too late and people will use it.
RE: Durham County Council
(18 Aug 2026, 5:12 pm)V514DFT wrote That 121 should of been created well before now, how long has it been since the X21 was withdrawn?
3 years now since the X21 was withdrawn.
It's also at least 2 years since the Darlington 5 was diverted away from Heknowle Estate in Bishop Auckland and it's only finally going to be covered again by diverting the Weardale 85 service round there from the end of August.
RE: Durham County Council
(18 Aug 2026, 7:45 pm)Jimmi wrote 3 years now since the X21 was withdrawn.
It's also at least 2 years since the Darlington 5 was diverted away from Heknowle Estate in Bishop Auckland and it's only finally going to be covered again by diverting the Weardale 85 service round there from the end of August.
Thats disgraceful that
Kind Regards
Tez
Tez
RE: Durham County Council
(17 Aug 2026, 7:47 pm)Jimmi wrote A new service ran by Durham County Council will start effective August 31st 2026, running between Sedgefield & Newton Aycliffe numbered 121 running on weekdays as a trial
Well I went out to see the 121 this afternoon and this Fiat Ducato appeared, nothing to give any indication that it was operating a passenger service, not even a paper display (that's assuming it actually was the 121):
RE: Durham County Council
Oh dear.
'Pothole' emerges at new £12m bus station in Bishop Auckland - BBC News https://share.google/5mjLEUJOP2ON1owUE
'Pothole' emerges at new £12m bus station in Bishop Auckland - BBC News https://share.google/5mjLEUJOP2ON1owUE
RE: Durham County Council
From 1st November the 111 is reduced in frequency to 2 hourly and renumbered 11 with a new service 10 running 2 hourly alongside the 11 up to Newfield from Spennymoor, maintaining the hourly frequency between Byres Green and Spennymoor. The 9 will extend from Bishop 3 times a day to Newfield too as well as a route change in Woodhouse estate to serve Walker Drive and Proudfoot Drive.
RE: Durham County Council
(29 Sep 2026, 9:32 am)220631612 wrote From 1st November the 111 is reduced in frequency to 2 hourly and renumbered 11 with a new service 10 running 2 hourly alongside the 11 up to Newfield from Spennymoor, maintaining the hourly frequency between Byres Green and Spennymoor. The 9 will extend from Bishop 3 times a day to Newfield too as well as a route change in Woodhouse estate to serve Walker Drive and Proudfoot Drive.
There's also timetable variations registered for Weardale services 84/85 & 764/765/773 too.
Some other changes:
Arriva North East
8 - extra Spennymoor to Darlington journey at around 7pm
56 - extra journey between Durham and Ferryhill departing at 1720
Gateshead Central Taxis
47, 52/53 & 204/204A have variations but look to be just a few trips re-timed
Hodgsons
35A withdrawn without replacement seemingly if you don't count the extra trip on the 8
RE: Durham County Council
(29 Sep 2026, 5:16 pm)Jimmi wrote There's also timetable variations registered for Weardale services 84/85 & 764/765/773 too.
Some other changes:
Arriva North East
8 - extra Spennymoor to Darlington journey at around 7pm
56 - extra journey between Durham and Ferryhill departing at 1720
Gateshead Central Taxis
47, 52/53 & 204/204A have variations but look to be just a few trips re-timed
Hodgsons
35A withdrawn without replacement seemingly if you don't count the extra trip on the 8
That 17:20 journey on the 56, well as an extra morning journey at 08:03 from Ferryhill to Durham have been running since the start of September but bizarrely have disappeared from the timetable - they both operated today however according to BusTimes.
RE: Durham County Council
(29 Sep 2026, 5:33 pm)peter wrote That 17:20 journey on the 56, well as an extra morning journey at 08:03 from Ferryhill to Durham have been running since the start of September but bizarrely have disappeared from the timetable - they both operated today however according to BusTimes.
Had no idea these trips existed already, although I don't recall Arriva mentioning said journeys were introduced at the time although it's absent from the timetable on both Arriva's own website and bustimes, but does show up on the Travel North East site and Google Maps, figured that was the change as was looking on the Travel North East site for upcoming timetable changes and used bustimes to compare with current times.
No idea what's changing with the 56 then.