(20 Oct 2021, 9:22 am)peter wrote What I was meaning is, have DCC stepped in to fund the full 71 hence there are no changes or can we expect to see the Houghton-Chester section withdrawn in the future? These changes seem to incorporate a number of DCC contracts - the 730, 239, and new 42, I wondered if the 28 and 71 had been resolved or if these are still outstanding.

Yes, the agreement was that Go North East would continue to operate the 28, 71 and 730 on a commercial basis until Durham County Council could go through the tender process.

They tendered for the provision of the 71 and 730 (along with the 201, 209/210 and 239, as well as part of the Scarlet Band S1 as seen in the new 42 due to their inability to cover it), and Go North East were awarded all these contracts on a one-year basis, with the 730 being replaced by an extended version of the 6 (most efficient way to run it, removing the requirement for remote reliefs).

The 28 and 734 remains operated by Go North East commercially, having not gone out to tender.

The above services will all come out to tender again next year, along with all the other Durham County Council contracts which are due to expire in October 2022 (Park & Ride, Cathedral Bus, and many of Scarlet Band's services).