Full award results at this link: 

https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/N...61320-2026

Some interesting new services coming by the looks of it, although quite a few with only 1 bidder.

(02 Jul 2026, 6:41 am)Superman wrote Full award results at this link: 

https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/N...61320-2026

Some interesting new services coming by the looks of it, although quite a few with only 1 bidder.

"Full award results" does not seem to include the actual contract price. Does that become known at a later stage in the process? (I'm pretty sure the "contract value" stated in the info given so far is just the price that had been estimated by TV, which is relevant in affecting the procedures that must be followed.)

Most attracted bids from 2 big firms, with an unknown SME unsuccessfully bidding for a handful on Teesside. Presumably the big 2 will be all be Arriva and Stagecoach; I wonder why Arriva did not bid for all of them? Services 1&2 seem just as operationally feasible for them as they are for Stagecoach. Stagecoach did not bid for the Darlington 16/17/18.

The contract values suggest they are min cost contracts. The passenger revenue on some of them will be fairly sobering - I doubt if there are really all that many potential bus users in School Aycliffe ...

(02 Jul 2026, 9:24 am)Busadvocate wrote "Full award results" does not seem to include the actual contract price. Does that become known at a later stage in the process? (I'm pretty sure the "contract value" stated in the info given so far is just the price that had been estimated by TV, which is relevant in affecting the procedures that must be followed.)

Most attracted bids from 2 big firms, with an unknown SME unsuccessfully bidding for a handful on Teesside. Presumably the big 2 will be all be Arriva and Stagecoach; I wonder why Arriva did not bid for all of them? Services 1&2 seem just as operationally feasible for them as they are for Stagecoach. Stagecoach did not bid for the Darlington 16/17/18.

The contract values suggest they are min cost contracts. The passenger revenue on some of them will be fairly sobering - I doubt if there are really all that many potential bus users in School Aycliffe ...

Those prices quoted vary from the ones on the initial tender notice (separately available notice on the tender website), so I believe they are the final tendered prices.

(02 Jul 2026, 9:24 am)Busadvocate wrote Most attracted bids from 2 big firms, with an unknown SME unsuccessfully bidding for a handful on Teesside. Presumably the big 2 will be all be Arriva and Stagecoach; I wonder why Arriva did not bid for all of them? Services 1&2 seem just as operationally feasible for them as they are for Stagecoach. Stagecoach did not bid for the Darlington 16/17/18.

The contract values suggest they are min cost contracts. The passenger revenue on some of them will be fairly sobering - I doubt if there are really all that many potential bus users in School Aycliffe ...

Imagine Stagecoach didn't bid for the 16/17/18 was because the Yutongs would be unable to get under the bridge at Albert Hill on the 18 although the same problem may eventually be fall Arriva if Darlington does go fully electric although could shift it to Stockton Depot I suppose.

School Aycliffe is an awkward one given parts fall under Darlington/Tees Valley whilst parts fall under County Durham, in an ideal world the Darlington to School Aycliffe service would be merged with the Aycliffe Town Service 17 but doubt that would happen especially as the latter only runs between 9am to 2pm on Monday to Friday, wouldn't be entirely surprised if Arriva tried to divert the 8 via School Aycliffe in a similar vain to the Darlington to Stillington route being bolted onto the 10 route although would mean no bus through parts of Aycliffe Village.

My guess would be Hodgsons as being the SME but could be wrong.

Hartlepool loses out once again despite a need for more services yet it’s baffling they are supporting services which on some cases have duplicates and already well served.

Some details on the Darlington services reported on another forum:

-The 10 extension to Stillington is going to be separated out from the 10 and merged with the X86 to provide a through service 86 from Darlington to Stockton via Stillington
-The 16 and the 18 will be merged into one route (which will be ran with non-electrics)
-The 17 is being extended down Neasham Road to the Rugby Stadium
-The 19 will be extended up to Heighington and School Aycliffe (a further extension up to Newton Aycliffe is still being negotiated)

Full details of the September changes are now on the Tees Valley CA website

Existing Tenders

Following approval by Cabinet in March 2026, we can confirm that the following contracts/ services will be in place until at least March 2028. Please note that TVCA will work with the relevant operators to share the updated route and timetable information, with updates provided to this page as soon as available:

• Service 17/18/18A
  
  • To be operated by Arriva, connecting areas of Darlington, including West Park & Mowden to Harrowgate Farm & Darlington Arena. From September 2026, this contract will incorporate the current Service 16, which is currently operated as a separate route. In addition, Darlington Borough Council will be funding additional service enhancements to connect West Park and provide additional evening and Sunday enhancements..
    
• Service 6/6A/6B
  
  • To be operated by Stagecoach, connecting areas across Darlington & Stockton, including Stockton High Street, Ingleby Barwick, Yarm, Eaglescliffe, Middleton-St-George, Morton Park and Darlington Town Centre. This service will continue to be enhanced on evenings and Sunday by Darlington Borough Council S106 contributions.
    
• Service 1&2
  
  • To be operated by Stagecoach, connecting areas of East Cleveland, including Saltburn, Skelton, East Cleveland Hospital, Carling How, Skinningrove, Loftus, Easington, Liverton Mines, Moorsholm and Lingdale. From September 2026, the service will be routed to operate via Brotton High Street.
    
• Service RP1 to Riverside Park
  
  • To be operated by Stagecoach, connecting Middlesbrough to Riverside Park and Middlesbrough College.
    
• Service X40/X41
  
  • To be operated by Stagecoach, connecting areas including Stockton, Billingham, Wolviston and Wynyard. In addition to the X40/X41 route, TVCA also fund an additional extension to Stagecoach’s Service 36 – Service 36A aligns to the wider X40/X41 timetable and route, designed to meet shift patterns and provide additional connectivity to employment.
    
• Service 29 (Commercial Extension)
  
  • To be operated by Arriva, connecting areas of Middlesbrough, including Cypress Road, Nunthorpe and the Parkway Centre, as well as increased evening and Sunday provision across the entirety of the route.
    
• Service 13/13b
  
  • To be operated by Stagecoach, connecting areas including Coulby Newham, Hemlington, Middlesbrough, Portrack, Stockton and Salters Lane.
    
• Service 35
  
  • To be operated by Stagecoach, connecting areas including Stockton, Norton Grange, Billingham and Wolviston Court.
    
• Service 3/3a
  
  • To be operated by Stagecoach, connecting areas of Hartlepool, including Hartwell Park (Tall Ships), Bishop Cuthbert, Hartlepool Town Centre, Owton Manor and South Fens.
    
• Service 51
  
  • To be operated by Stagecoach, connecting areas across Hartlepool, including Dalton Piercy and Elwick with Hartlepool Sixth Form College and Hartlepool Town Centre, and additionally also providing connections to West Park, Hartlepool Tesco Extra, Hartlepool Morrisons, and Hartlepool Railway Station.
    
• Service 86/87 (previously X86 & 10)
  
  • From September 2026, this route will be operated by Arriva, connecting rural communities across Stockton and Darlington, including Sadberge, Stillington and Bishopton, with opportunity to integrate two previously separate services (X86 and 10) for improved ticketing and more direct connection opportunities.
    

New Tenders

In addition to agreeing to continue the above supported service contracts, TVCA have secured additional new services across the region that will be introduced from September 2026. These services are identified as below:

• Service X60 (NEW)
  • To be operated by Stagecoach - a new connectivity route to be introduced to connect rural villages to Stockton and Darlington, identified through the Network Review. The finalised timetable for this service will provide connectivity from Teesside Park - Stockton - Elton - Long Newton - Teesside Airport – Darlington
    
• Service 31 (NEW)
  • To be operated by Stagecoach - a new connectivity route to be introduced to connect Port Clarence to healthcare facilities and surrounding employment areas, identified in through the Network Review. The finalised timetable for this service will provide connectivity from Port Clarence - Billingham - University Hospital of North Tees.
    
• Service 39/39A (NEW - Commercial Extension)
  • To be operated by Stagecoach - introduced to provide a direct connection between residential areas in Park End and James Cook Hospital, improving access to healthcare services. The finalised timetable for this service will provide connectivity from James Cook Hospital - Park End - North Ormesby – Middlesbrough.
    
• Service 39A (NEW - Commercial Extension)
  • To be operated by Stagecoach – providing local connectivity between residential areas and key local centres.The finalised timetable for this service will provide connectivity from Coulby Newham Parkway, Eagle Park, Nunthorpe, Park End, North Ormesby and Middlesbrough.
    
• Service 19 (NEW - Commercial Extension)
  • To be operated by Arriva - a targeted service to support education access, particularly linking to Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College. The finalised timetable for this service will provide connectivity from Darlington to Newton Aycliffe via Faverdale, West Park and School Aycliffe.