Before Link UP there was Care Call which Classic did run using Renault Masters. (Go-Ahead Northern ran them in the early 90s with some based at Percy Main). Me nana used to use it to go for her weekly shopping - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...565837053/
The buses used were later painted into U-Call livery which the services were lumped with when Classic won the contract for the West End U-Call (More on U-Call below) from Stagecoach.
U-Call Renault - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...226528752/
Before Link UP, in 2002 Nexus dabbled with the demand responsive idea in the West End of Newcastle with U-Call which was a mix of normal bus route and demand responsive transport, buses served key locations at certain times (West Denton, Kingston Park, Throckley, Lemington) with buses running between these location picking up people in various locations. There was another U-Call Service covering the Walker Area then up to Walkergate Metro before heading up to the Silverlink Industrial Area. Originally the service was ran by Stagecoach using a pair of Optare Aleros and a pair of Renault Master with Rohill Harrier bodies. A third Optare Alero appeared for the Walker Silverlink U-Call service. Some Mercedes 709Ds were later repainted into U-Call livery due to the unreliability of the low floor minibuses. The Contract passed to Classic around 2005 with the 2 Renaults passing the Classic, think the Optares may have went over but they quickley departed. Classic also had Mercedes Sprinters in U-Call colours. The Renaults and Sprinters were also used on various contracts too.
Optare Alero - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...8100848131
Optare Alero (East End) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...1919122235
Renault Master / Rohill Harrier - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...1919569374
Mercedes Benz 709D - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...6537397183
Mercedes Sprinter (Classic) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...9580823003
Then in 2006 U-Call was replaced by LinkUp with the contract going to Veolia Durham (Dunn-Line Durham).
RE: Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022
Please feel free to visit my Flickr page - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photogenic/
Who needs heroes anyway? Villians have more fun.
Who needs heroes anyway? Villians have more fun.