Very surprised to see that based on the maps on the Nexus site, Stagecoach won't be running their 553 this year, leaving the Newcastle to Shields work entirely to GNE with the R1 (what could possibly go wrong...) 
https://www.nexus.org.uk/greatnorthrun

Good to see ticket acceptance in place across all operators and modes of transport, less good to see only very vague info about what buses are running when, with only a couple of weeks to go.
https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and...-north-run