(10 May 2026, 7:44 pm)Dan wrote A Sprinter:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GxAHTd...tid=wwXIfr

Any pics, I'm not on Facebook

(10 May 2026, 8:38 pm)Retro Nero wrote Any pics, I'm not on Facebook

Neither am I.

I went for the 520 today and it was running 43 seconds late. The driver was too friendly and was delaying the service by saying hello to every pensioner who got on. I think he was after their bingo winnings.

Nah in all seriousness, I photoed the 520 today, the vehicle looks smart and Lee looked as if he was enjoying himself, though that might be that his sanity might have departed as at the time of photoing, he would have already done 11 round trips or so between Houghton and Fencehouses.

(11 May 2026, 9:37 pm)Rapidsnap wrote I went for the 520 today and it was running 43 seconds late. The driver was too friendly and was delaying the service by saying hello to every pensioner who got on. I think he was after their bingo winnings.

Disgraceful. Call Nexus, call the Police, call in the SAS!

(11 May 2026, 9:37 pm)Rapidsnap wrote I went for the 520 today and it was running 43 seconds late. The driver was too friendly and was delaying the service by saying hello to every pensioner who got on. I think he was after their bingo winnings.

Nah in all seriousness, I photoed the 520 today, the vehicle looks smart and Lee looked as if he was enjoying himself, though that might be that his sanity might have departed as at the time of photoing, he would have already done 11 round trips or so between Houghton and Fencehouses.

When the 59 ran on a Sunday, the driver of that always looked like he was having a jolly good time. I think some genuinely enjoy a route where you get to know all the regulars and don't routinely have to deal with the likes of the two obvious 30 somethings who got all arsey when the driver asked for ID when they wanted under 21 tickets on the X21 we were on, last week.

Photo of Northstar number 11 on service 520 heading back to Houghton from the Peoples Republic of Fencehouses.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...5263470097

I do love the Northstar livery, it seems to suit whatever bus it is applied to

https://northstarbus.co.uk/news/article.php?id=45

(18 May 2026, 10:22 am)Nerd4321 wrote https://northstarbus.co.uk/news/article.php?id=45

A ticket to County Durham's key attractions
Three new bus services are launching across County Durham to help visitors and residents explore its key attractions.

Three new bus services are launching across County Durham to help visitors and residents explore its key attractions.
The Durham Explorer services will run on weekends and bank holidays between 23 May and 31 August this year.
Each service will connect Durham City to a range of visitor destinations including Locomotion; Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens; Beamish, The Living Museum of the North; The Auckland Project; Raby Castle, Park and Gardens; The Bowes Museum; and High Force Waterfall; with many venues also offering discounts to those who arrive by bus.
The services have been funded by the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, to help make bus travel more affordable and attractive for both local people and visitors. The Mayor’s Fares will apply with a single adult journey costing just £2.50 and people aged 21 and under travelling for £1.
Cllr Karen Allison, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for leisure, high streets, tourism and regeneration, said: "We can’t wait to see these three new routes up and running, helping people to explore more of what our fabulous county has to offer. Whether it’s historic market towns, peaceful countryside or top visitor destinations, all can be easily accessed through these services.
"It’s a great option for residents looking for family days out and we also hope it will attract more visitors to the county, who will stay for longer to explore the area’s many attractions. This will no doubt help to supercharge our economy and encourage repeat visits to both County Durham and the wider north east."
The new Durham Explorer buses, operated by Northstar, are:
The Durham Dales Explorer (873) which runs from Durham City to The Auckland Project; Raby Castle, Park and Gardens; Barnard Castle; The Bowes Museum and High Force Waterfall.
The Time Traveller line (874) from Durham City to Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens; and Beamish, the Living Museum of the North.
The Tracks Through Time line (875) from Durham City to Shildon and Locomotion.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “County Durham has so much to offer, from brilliant attractions to stunning countryside, and these new bus routes make it easier for people to enjoy great days out without needing to rely on a car.
“I’m delighted we at the strategic mayoral authority have been able to fund them, helping more families, residents and visitors explore what our region has to offer, support local tourism and enjoy simpler travel by bus.”
Bethany Jackson, head of audiences at Ushaw, said: “At Ushaw, we’re delighted to be part of the new The Time Traveller line bus route. Improving sustainable and accessible travel is incredibly important to us, and this new service creates more opportunities for local residents and visitors alike to discover everything our historic estate offers, including our house, chapels, gardens, exhibitions and vibrant events programme.
“We look forward to welcoming even more people to Ushaw this summer and to working alongside other fantastic attractions across County Durham to showcase the very best of our region.”
All buses have accessible access, with dogs also allowed on board.
An adult day ticket is also available in County Durham for £6, allowing unlimited bus travel, while passengers can also purchase a regionwide adult day ticket for bus and Metro travel for £7.50. A regionwide day ticket for young people costs £3.
Children under 11 can also travel without charge during the school holidays as part of the Kids Go Free initiative, offering travel at no cost for up to three children when accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket or a concessionary pass holder.


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(18 May 2026, 10:22 am)Nerd4321 wrote https://northstarbus.co.uk/news/article.php?id=45

Bit weird that they start on Saturday but bus times TBC

(18 May 2026, 11:06 am)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Bit weird that they start on Saturday but bus times TBC

This weekend is the bank Holiday weekend and start of half term.

(18 May 2026, 11:06 am)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Bit weird that they start on Saturday but bus times TBC

The timetables are now available on the Northstar website, and have been on Durham CC site for a little while.

(18 May 2026, 12:56 pm)tyresmoke wrote The timetables are now available on the Northstar website, and have been on Durham CC site for a little while.

Still just says times TBC from what I can see https://www.durham.gov.uk/DurhamExplorer but great if they are on the operator website now, they weren't earlier.  Hopefully will be a success.

---

(18 May 2026, 12:06 pm)BusLoverMum wrote This weekend is the bank Holiday weekend and start of half term.

The weird part was the lack of timetables/info given the iminent start date, not the fact it was a weekend.

(18 May 2026, 4:30 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Still just says times TBC from what I can see https://www.durham.gov.uk/DurhamExplorer but great if they are on the operator website now, they weren't earlier.  Hopefully will be a success.

I get the same showing on that page linked, but they're on the Durham County Council timetable site (although I was having difficulties opening the 875 timetable) and Northstar's own website.

Looks as if services 874 & 875 will interwork at Durham from looking at the timetables.

Quite a clever idea having the 874/875 interwork, as it means people South of Durham have a direct bus to Beamish sort of. It does explain the random trip back to Shildon in the evening.

https://northstarbus.co.uk/news/article.php?id=46

Propose to cancel X22

(7 hours ago)Nerd4321 wrote https://northstarbus.co.uk/news/article.php?id=46

Propose to cancel X22

What a surprise. Not.

Is this just an excuse to have a pop at Northstar again, i swear this forum is starting to be overtaken by kids

(5 hours ago)V514DFT wrote Is this just an excuse to have a pop at Northstar again, i swear this forum is starting to be overtaken by kids

It'll be a City fan cause why wouldn't it be. City here City there. Other companies should be shut down and City run the North East

(7 hours ago)Nerd4321 wrote https://northstarbus.co.uk/news/article.php?id=46

Propose to cancel X22

Proposal: Extend the 874 Time Traveller Line to Metrocentre

I've been looking at ways to strengthen the leisure network from Durham and wondered what people's thoughts would be on extending the current 874 beyond Beamish to provide a direct link to Chester-le-Street, Birtley and Metrocentre.

Proposed Route

874 Time Traveller Line
Durham Bus Station – Durham Rail Station – Bearpark – Ushaw – Witton Gilbert – Sacriston – Edmondsley – Grange Villa – Beamish Museum – Ouston – Barley Mow – Birtley – Metrocentre

Why?

• Creates a direct link from Durham to both Ushaw and Beamish Museum on the same service.
  
• Extends the route to another major leisure destination at Metrocentre, increasing its appeal to a wider range of passengers.
  
• Provides communities such as Bearpark, Witton Gilbert, Sacriston, Edmondsley and Grange Villa with a direct link to Metrocentre.
  
• Gives tourists staying in Durham an easy way to visit multiple attractions without needing to change buses.
  
• Creates a genuine cross-county leisure route linking heritage, culture, shopping and tourism.
  

What about the X22?

With rising operating costs across the industry, there is a question over how sustainable it is to continue operating a standalone X22 solely between Chester-le-Street, Barley Mow, Birtley and Metrocentre, particularly if passenger numbers remain heavily concentrated on shopping trips.

Another factor is that the X22 no longer benefits from interworking with the X43 at Metrocentre. Instead, both services now require separate vehicle allocations, meaning two buses are tied up operating what are effectively two relatively niche routes. From an operational perspective, that can be difficult to justify when resources are under pressure and operators are looking to maximise vehicle utilisation.

By incorporating the X22 corridor into the 874, the same vehicle mileage could potentially serve a much wider market, attracting visitors to Ushaw and Beamish while also providing the Metrocentre connection. This could improve overall passenger loadings across the day rather than relying on a relatively short shopping route to generate demand on its own. It may also allow for more efficient vehicle deployment by combining leisure, tourism and shopping flows onto a single route.

(7 hours ago)Nerd4321 wrote https://northstarbus.co.uk/news/article.php?id=46

Propose to cancel X22

It's a pity but sadly it's not looked particularly well used whenever I've seen it, good to see the X43 doing well enough to continue however which has had better looking loadings when I've seen/used it.

At least a good go has been made of it, something that has been rather lacking locally in recent years.

(3 hours ago)Malarkey wrote Proposal: Extend the 874 Time Traveller Line to Metrocentre

I've been looking at ways to strengthen the leisure network from Durham and wondered what people's thoughts would be on extending the current 874 beyond Beamish to provide a direct link to Chester-le-Street, Birtley and Metrocentre.

Proposed Route

874 Time Traveller Line
Durham Bus Station – Durham Rail Station – Bearpark – Ushaw – Witton Gilbert – Sacriston – Edmondsley – Grange Villa – Beamish Museum – Ouston – Barley Mow – Birtley – Metrocentre

Why?

• Creates a direct link from Durham to both Ushaw and Beamish Museum on the same service.
  
• Extends the route to another major leisure destination at Metrocentre, increasing its appeal to a wider range of passengers.
  
• Provides communities such as Bearpark, Witton Gilbert, Sacriston, Edmondsley and Grange Villa with a direct link to Metrocentre.
  
• Gives tourists staying in Durham an easy way to visit multiple attractions without needing to change buses.
  
• Creates a genuine cross-county leisure route linking heritage, culture, shopping and tourism.
  

What about the X22?

With rising operating costs across the industry, there is a question over how sustainable it is to continue operating a standalone X22 solely between Chester-le-Street, Barley Mow, Birtley and Metrocentre, particularly if passenger numbers remain heavily concentrated on shopping trips.

Another factor is that the X22 no longer benefits from interworking with the X43 at Metrocentre. Instead, both services now require separate vehicle allocations, meaning two buses are tied up operating what are effectively two relatively niche routes. From an operational perspective, that can be difficult to justify when resources are under pressure and operators are looking to maximise vehicle utilisation.

By incorporating the X22 corridor into the 874, the same vehicle mileage could potentially serve a much wider market, attracting visitors to Ushaw and Beamish while also providing the Metrocentre connection. This could improve overall passenger loadings across the day rather than relying on a relatively short shopping route to generate demand on its own. It may also allow for more efficient vehicle deployment by combining leisure, tourism and shopping flows onto a single route.

Problem with this is that it would require an additional bus to run this and/or the 875 as the 874/875 interwork with the only gap being at lunchtime to accommodate regulations on driver hours. Doubt Durham County Council would want to be subsidising a bus to a shopping centre outside of their authority area and can't see the extension being able to stand on its own either.

(3 hours ago)Malarkey wrote Proposal: Extend the 874 Time Traveller Line to Metrocentre

I've been looking at ways to strengthen the leisure network from Durham and wondered what people's thoughts would be on extending the current 874 beyond Beamish to provide a direct link to Chester-le-Street, Birtley and Metrocentre.

Proposed Route

874 Time Traveller Line
Durham Bus Station – Durham Rail Station – Bearpark – Ushaw – Witton Gilbert – Sacriston – Edmondsley – Grange Villa – Beamish Museum – Ouston – Barley Mow – Birtley – Metrocentre

Why?

• Creates a direct link from Durham to both Ushaw and Beamish Museum on the same service.
  
• Extends the route to another major leisure destination at Metrocentre, increasing its appeal to a wider range of passengers.
  
• Provides communities such as Bearpark, Witton Gilbert, Sacriston, Edmondsley and Grange Villa with a direct link to Metrocentre.
  
• Gives tourists staying in Durham an easy way to visit multiple attractions without needing to change buses.
  
• Creates a genuine cross-county leisure route linking heritage, culture, shopping and tourism.
  

What about the X22?

With rising operating costs across the industry, there is a question over how sustainable it is to continue operating a standalone X22 solely between Chester-le-Street, Barley Mow, Birtley and Metrocentre, particularly if passenger numbers remain heavily concentrated on shopping trips.

Another factor is that the X22 no longer benefits from interworking with the X43 at Metrocentre. Instead, both services now require separate vehicle allocations, meaning two buses are tied up operating what are effectively two relatively niche routes. From an operational perspective, that can be difficult to justify when resources are under pressure and operators are looking to maximise vehicle utilisation.

By incorporating the X22 corridor into the 874, the same vehicle mileage could potentially serve a much wider market, attracting visitors to Ushaw and Beamish while also providing the Metrocentre connection. This could improve overall passenger loadings across the day rather than relying on a relatively short shopping route to generate demand on its own. It may also allow for more efficient vehicle deployment by combining leisure, tourism and shopping flows onto a single route.

From a Northstar point of view, it would be better to extend the X43 to Durham via the B6532, Sacriston, Durham Arnison and Durham Hospital imo.

Whether it would be sustainable who knows, but it's better than that long extended route around the world and does 2 of the places you've listed anyway. The links from South of Stanley have gone aswell and it opens new Stanley to Arnison links in the opposite direction which might pick a few people up which is a counter flow to the Metrocentre passengers.

The Metrocentre is not what it used to be .... no metroland ? May of been better been a bus service from CLS to IKEA & Sambuca via Metrocentre may of been a clever piece of marketing

(2 hours ago)Storx wrote From a Northstar point of view, it would be better to extend the X43 to Durham via the B6532, Sacriston, Durham Arnison and Durham Hospital imo.

Whether it would be sustainable who knows, but it's better than that long extended route around the world and does 2 of the places you've listed anyway. The links from South of Stanley have gone aswell and it opens new Stanley to Arnison links in the opposite direction which might pick a few people up which is a counter flow to the Metrocentre passengers.

Arnison centre is good idea. But duplicating the 16 in an already busy corridor does not seem good. Something like once or twice a day (one in morning return in early afternoon) to lanchester may sound good?

(1 hour ago)TheClumsyPineapple wrote Arnison centre is good idea. But duplicating the 16 in an already busy corridor does not seem good. Something like once or twice a day (one in morning return in early afternoon) to lanchester may sound good?

Aye agreed, guess it just depends how much cross Stanley traffic there is really since the likes of Burnopfield, Tantobie etc all lost their Durham links so there might be something.

Agreed the 16/16A would be an issue though. 

Tbf Lanchester, wouldn't be too bad either; just depends how you went through the South of Stanley. There's probably a bit of demand from there if you got it right, there was 4 buses an hour from there at one point.