(22 Mar 2016, 6:15 pm)Michael wrote Ye, glad the main route isn't changing, as i use it regularly.
I'm not sure i understand the 2nd part of your post Dan, as you said NEXUS haven't released details of the contact but then you say "As another operator has stepped in to operate the City Centre - The Docks section of the daytime 77 service on a commercial basis" - this sounds like they have decided, then you say... unless Stagecoach decide to operate it on a commercial bases.... confused on that point.
Do you know if Megariders will be allowed to be used on evenings/Sundays?, if the 77/77A is ran by another company.
Stagecoach presently operate services 5/5A between The Docks and Doxford Park. The section between Doxford Park and City Centre is operated by Stagecoach on a commercial basis, on Monday - Saturday daytimes. There is currently a through service from City Centre to The Docks, despite this section of the route being operated under contract to Nexus. On evenings and Sundays, the whole route between The Docks and Gilley Law is operated under contract to Nexus, by Stagecoach.
The new tender from May was originally the same, albeit numbered 77/77A. However, an amendment was made to the contract a few weeks into the tender process, with Nexus cancelling the daytime service between The Docks and City Centre. When this has happened in the past, it has been because another operator has stepped in to operate that service on a commercial basis. A fairly recent example would be Gateshead Central Taxis being awarded with the operation of the 96A service from Metrocentre to Lobley Hill. Go North East stepped in after the result was announced, to operate this service on a commercial basis. It's probably quite anti-competitive in a way, but on the flip side, can be quite a good thing, as it means that the operators are taking the rough with the smooth (whatever their intentions for this may be).
So, back to the 77/77A, this means that an operator has decided to operate the section of the new 77/77A services Monday - Saturday daytimes between The Docks and City Centre on a commercial basis. Stagecoach will not be able to continue with their current timetable on the 5/5A, if they are not the operator which has stepped in to operate the daytime Docks - City Centre section on a commercial basis. I think it's unlikely that Stagecoach will be the operator to do this, though.
Hopefully this is a bit clearer?