They are also using their Gemini 2 & one of the Bendy Buses, which looked like it was 11103...

(04 Jul 2026, 5:51 pm)morritt89 wrote City Transport noted on Metro replacement today at South Hylton using the ALX400.

Not being funny, but this really does call in to question the Nexus press statements re Sunderland Connect. I simply don't believe it .

Embarrassing that Nexus are letting them do any work for them.

Quite possible that awarding of Ferry / Metro Replacement contracts is completely seperate to procurement of secured bus services where as the Metro sorts out its own replacement contracts whilst the bus division of Nexus organises other bus contract such as secured services and school contracts.

(04 Jul 2026, 10:07 pm)S830OFT wrote They are also using their Gemini 2 & one of the Bendy Buses, which looked like it was 11103...

So they just ditched the Silverstone Shuttles just to bring the Gemini 2 back up to do Metro Reps. 
Not suprising at all

(05 Jul 2026, 1:09 pm)deanmachine wrote Embarrassing that Nexus are letting them do any work for them.

I wanna know who was actually awarded the metro replacement. Its been a mix of companies for this & last weekend. Lets see what happens for the next two weekends

How has a bendy managed to get around Brockley Whins Estate to serve the Metro

(05 Jul 2026, 10:15 pm)Retro Nero wrote How has a bendy managed to get around Brockley Whins Estate to serve the Metro

Stoppppppppp

Do not say anything about that 

We will get the sentence of

"James can get anything through tight spaces"

I hear it anytime someone even mentions a bendy cant get here there everywhere. Same sentence all the time

(05 Jul 2026, 10:15 pm)Retro Nero wrote How has a bendy managed to get around Brockley Whins Estate to serve the Metro

It's genuinely not difficult.

Source: I was tonight's driver.

Has City Transport actually been blocked from tenders? I know they were blocked from the 700/701 as they lost it but haven't heard anything else.

Some of the rogues around in the North East, in the past, it seems like you need to go to prison to actually be blocked. PCL Travel and hundreds of alternative names in particular.

(06 Jul 2026, 5:52 am)Storx wrote Has City Transport actually been blocked from tenders? I know they were blocked from the 700/701 as they lost it but haven't heard anything else.

Some of the rogues around in the North East, in the past, it seems like you need to go to prison to actually be blocked. PCL Travel and hundreds of alternative names in particular.

What happened to PCL Travel/Rural Link etc? Did it get absorbed into something else

(06 Jul 2026, 12:16 pm)TheClumsyPineapple wrote What happened to PCL Travel/Rural Link etc? Did it get absorbed into something else

Think they got absorbed into L&B Travel

I see Mr F has posted on his Social Media that he has been approached by Mrs Mayor to give his views on Bus Franchising.

I'm sure he will be rehearsing how to get some money from the magic money tree whilst there, maybe could pay off one's debts.

He's no James Nightingale...

(09 Jul 2026, 10:44 pm)S830OFT wrote I see Mr F has posted on his Social Media that he has been approached by Mrs Mayor to give his views on Bus Franchising.

I'm sure he will be rehearsing how to get some money from the magic money tree whilst there, maybe could pay off one's debts.

He's no James Nightingale...

Isn't it just (edited) that all PSV Operator licence holders in the region (or perhaps, all that have had registered bus services) have automatically been included in the consultation? So it's not as if City Transport are being asked to contribute because they have some special role.

re opportunities for City Transport (and other small firms):
Generally: franchising looks to be heading mainly to big, depot-sized, packages of work, except for peak time schoolday services etc. If it's done like that, it would effectively exclude even the "big" small firms from a role in the main network. The likes of Northstar and Weardale Motors are excellent, capable, operators of "proper" services for Nexus and Durham, and it would seem a shame if they are effectively excluded in favour of multi-national / private equity conglomerates...

Just Mr F lying in the comments on one of my photos from the Radio 1 Big Weekend. 

(Yesterday, 4:50 pm)Malarkey wrote Just Mr F lying in the comments on one of my photos from the Radio 1 Big Weekend. 

There was 2 of his actual buses. Course he would defend it

Does he even have 14 buses?