(12 Mar 2020, 2:17 am)streetdeckfan wrote I'm not usually one to be cynical, but this whole situation with the 19 just seems so fishy to me.

Obviously I don't know any of the finances involved or what goes on behind the scenes, but the way it all played out makes it seem to me like the reason it was withdrawn completely was to cause a bit of drama with the hopes of getting the same, if not more funding back to keep it running.

I expect the reason that it was withdrawn by Go North East was that the income from fares, passes etc. was significantly less than the cost of running from Northumberland Park to Ashington. 

Cobalt and the County Council must have taken the decision that the link was worthwhile saving and must have, as with other services, decided to make funding available to keep it going.

Nothing fishy at all, it happens all the time across the whole country - indeed, just recently, Nexus has decided to pay Stagecoach extra money to keep the 18 & 32/32A running
https://www.nexus.org.uk/news/item/have-...-and-3232a