(01 Jun 2023, 6:58 pm)Jimmi wrote Word of the changes within County Durham & Darlington has gotten to the Northern Echo: https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/2...-services/
The summary of changes:
Service 1 Darlington to Crook & Tow Law
How will it change?
Due to reductions in English National Concessionary funding support from Durham County Council and subsequent unsustainable passenger demand/financial position as a result, Service X1 will unfortunately be withdrawn in full and replaced by a revised and extended Service 1. During Monday to Saturday daytimes, revised Service 1 will operate up to every 30 minutes between Darlington and Crook (via Bishop Auckland) and once per hour, buses will continue to extend to Tow Law. Service 1 will also operate to a revised route between Shildon and Bishop Auckland, via Tindale Crescent rather than South Church. This does regretably mean that there will be no service on Adelaide Bank and passengers in South Church should continue to access Service 5. Additionally, there will be no service on a section of Byerley Road in Shildon, between Middleton Road and Hippodrome owing to the withdrawal of Service X1. Between Bishop Auckland and Crook all Service 1 journeys will operate to a standard route and will no longer serve High Grange. All journeys will operate via North Bitchburn and Toronto in both directions. Evening journeys are proposed to operate as they currently do until around 9pm, after which, Service 1 journeys will only operate between Crook and Tindale Crescent. Sundays and Bank Holidays will continue to operate hourly between Darlington and Crook, albeit journeys will adopt the revised route between Shildon and Bishop Auckland, via Tindale Crescent.
Service 3 Skerne Park to Darlington
How will it change?
Due to reductions in English National Concessionary funding support from Tees Valley Combined Authority and subsequent unsustainable passenger demand/financial position as a result, Service 3/3A will be revised to operate as Service 3 between Skerne Park and Darlington only, up to every 15 minutes during Mon‐Fri daytimes, and every 30 minutes on Saturdays. There will be no service to Mowden (except for one school journey in each direction on schooldays only). There will also be no service on Hundens Lane, Albert Hill or Whessoe Road/Longfield Road. Additionally evening and Sunday journeys will be regrettably withdrawn.
Service 4 Darlington to Minors Crescent
How will it change?
Due to reductions in English National Concessionary funding support from Tees Valley Combined Authority and subsequent unsustainable passenger demand/financial position as a result, evening and Sunday journeys on Service 4 will be regrettably withdrawn.
Service 5 Darlington to Bishop Auckland
How will it change?
Due to reductions in English National Concessionary funding support from Durham County Council and subsequent unsustainable passenger demand/financial position as a result, Service 5/5A is proposed to be merged into one route combination, although maintained at the current 30‐minute frequency during Monday to Saturday daytimes. A wholly revised timetable will be in place. The new Service 5 route will operate as per current Service 5 route between Darlington and Bishop Auckland, but all journeys will serve Greenfield Way in Newton Aycliffe (there will be no journeys via Meadowfield Way). Additionally, this does mean that Service 5/5A will no longer serve Jubilee Estate in Shildon, however revised Service 1 will continue to do so. Service 5 will operate via Dale Rd and Spout Lane on all journeys. Evenings and Sunday journeys will be broadly similar to now albeit with a revised timetable in place, however Sunday evening services between Darlington and Newton Aycliffe would be withdrawn after 7pm due to unsustainable passenger demand.
Service 6 Durham to Cockfield
How will it change?
Due to reductions in English National Concessionary funding support from Durham County Council and subsequent unsustainable passenger demand/financial position as a result, Service 6 will be revised to operate to a 20‐minute frequency during Monday to Saturday daytimes between Durham and West Auckland. Only some morning and afternoon peak journeys will extend to Cockfield and there will be no service between Cockfield and Barnard Castle. This is due to unsustainable passenger demand. Additionally, afternoon Monday‐Friday peak time journeys will be revised to terminate in Durham City Centre and will no longer serve Framwellgate Moor. This is due to resource availability to provide these extended trips but most importantly owing to the consistent congestion delays encountered at this time and in this area, affecting the existing schedule. A small number of journeys will continue to serve Framwellgate Moor in the morning peak with additional journey time. Monday to Saturday evenings will operate normally, with the last bus from Durham revised to be 22:25 and Bishop Auckland at 20:46, owing to unsustainable passenger demand.
Service 7 Durham to Darlington
How will it change?
A revised timetable will be in place, which regrettably means journeys will no longer extend to Framwellgate Moor in morning or the afternoon. This is due to consistent congestion delays encountered at these times and in this area, affecting the existing schedule. However, we’re really excited to announce that we’re increasing the frequency of Service 7 on Sunday and Bank Holidays to be every 30 minutes between Darlington and Durham.
Service 8/8A Darlington to Spennymoor & Ferryhill
How will it change?
Due to reductions in English National Concessionary funding support from Durham County Council and subsequent unsustainable passenger demand/financial position as a result, Service 8/8A timetable will see arevision, with some journeys on Service 8A being revised to operate during school holidays only. Additionally, Sunday Service 8 will also be withdrawn, regrettably due to unsustainable passenger demand.
Service 9/10 Darlington to Whinbush & Springfield
How will it change?
Due to reductions in English National Concessionary funding support from Tees Valley Combined Authority and subsequent unsustainable passenger demand/financial position as a result, Monday to Saturday evening service will be reduced to just one Service 10 per hour (Service 9 would operate final journey around 7pm). Sunday evenings will be withdrawn in full after 8pm. This is due to unsustainable passenger demand
Service 12 Darlington to Hurworth
How will it change?
Due to reductions in English National Concessionary funding support from Tees Valley Combined Authority and subsequent unsustainable passenger demand/financial position as a result, Service 12 will be withdrawn in full from Sunday 9 July.
Service 13A/13B Darlington to Firth Moor
How will it change?
Due to reductions in English National Concessionary funding support from Tees Valley Combined Authority and subsequent unsustainable passenger demand/financial position as a result, Monday to Saturday evening service will be reduced to just one journey per hour (alternating between Service 13A and 13B). Sunday evenings will be withdrawn in full after 9pm. This is due to unsustainable passenger demand.
Service 19 Darlington to Faverdale Ind Estate
How will it change?
Due to reductions in English National Concessionary funding support from Tees Valley Combined Authority and subsequent unsustainable passenger demand/financial position as a result, Service 19 will be revised to only operate between Darlington Centre and Faverdale Industrial Estate and will operate to a revised timetable as a result. Buses will operate a one‐way loop of the Industrial Estate and will continue to serve High Grange as normal. The section between Faverdale and West Park Hospital will be withdrawn due to unsustainable passenger demand. In addition, there will be no Sunday Service 19 from 9 July, owing to unsustainable passenger demand.
Service 22/22B Durham to Sunderland
How will it change?
Due to reductions in English National Concessionary funding support from Durham County Council and subsequent unsustainable passenger demand/financial position as a result, there will be a revised route and timetable in place on this service, with Service 22 proposed to operate hourly between Peterlee and Sunderland (with all journeys operating via Easington Colliery all day). Buses will continue to operate half hourly between Durham and Peterlee, however journeys terminating in Peterlee will operate as Service 22B and will additionally serve Acre Rigg Rd, Beverley Way and Neville Road in both directions, replacing Service X21/X22 in this area. A revised evening service will also be in operation, with a reduction in total number of journeys, unfortunately again due to unsustainable passenger demand.
Service 23 Hartlepool to Sunderland
How will it change?
Due to reductions in English National Concessionary funding support from Durham County Council and subsequent unsustainable passenger demand/financial position as a result, a revised route and timetable will be in place, with Service 23 revised to operate hourly between Peterlee and Sunderland during Monday to Saturday daytimes. Buses will continue to operate half hourly between Hartlepool and Peterlee, to an unchanged route.
Service 43 Durham to Esh Winning
How will it change?
Due to reductions in English National Concessionary funding support from Durham County Council and subsequent unsustainable passenger demand/financial position as a result, the Saturday frequency of Service 43 will be reduced to every 30 minutes. In addition, evening journeys will be curtailed, with the last bus from Durham City Centre at around 21:25.
Service 48 Durham to New Brancepeth
How will it change?
Due to reductions in English National Concessionary funding support from Durham County Council and subsequent unsustainable passenger demand/financial position as a result, Sunday Service 48 will be withdrawn.
Service 49/49A Durham to Brandon
How will it change?
Due to reductions in English National Concessionary funding support from Durham County Council and subsequent unsustainable passenger demand/financial position as a result, a revised Sunday timetable, with hourly Service 49 journeys only will be in operation. There will be no Service 49A journeys on a Sunday and alternative options via improved Sunday Service X46 will be available. In addition, a revised Monday to Saturday evening timetable will also be in place with final journeys curtailed around 21:00 from Durham.
Service 56/56A Durham to Bishop Auckland
How will it change?
Due to reductions in English National Concessionary funding support from Durham County Council and subsequent unsustainable passenger demand/financial position as a result, Service 56 is proposed to be reduced to hourly between Durham and Bishop Auckland. However, we’re also implementing a trial extension of Service 56 to Tindale Crescent in Bishop Auckland and most journeys will terminate there. Regrettably, Sunday Service 56 is will also be curtailed at Coxhoe, Cornforth Lane and will not serve Stobbs Cross. All evening journeys will be completely withdrawn after circa 21:00, or circa 18:00 on Sundays, again owing to an unsustainable operating position.
Service 64 Arnison Centre to Sherburn Village
How will it change?
Due to reductions in English National Concessionary funding support from Durham County Council and subsequent unsustainable passenger demand/financial position as a result, evening journeys on Service 64 are proposed to be withdrawn after circa 21:00, owing to an unsustainable operating position.
Service 86 Trimdon to Bishop Auckland
How will it change?
Due to reductions in English National Concessionary funding support from Durham County Council and subsequent unsustainable passenger demand/financial position as a result, Service 86 will be withdrawn.
Service X21 Darlington to Peterlee
How will it change?
Due to reductions in English National Concessionary funding support from Durham County Council and subsequent unsustainable passenger demand/financial position as a result, Service X21 will be withdrawn and replaced between Sedgefield and Peterlee by a revised and increased Service X22. The frequency of service between Sedgefield and Peterlee will be retained at two buses per hour, both operating as Service X22. This however does mean there will be no direct link to Newton Aycliffe or Darlington from Sedgefield, Trimdons, Wingate and Peterlee. This is due to unsustainable passenger demand.
Service X22 Middlesbrough to Peterlee
How will it change?
Service X22 is proposed to be doubled in frequency between Peterlee and Sedgefield replacing Service X21 in this area. Buses will continue to provide two journeys per hour between Sedgefield and Peterlee. The service will be revised to omit Acre Rigg in Peterlee (See Service 22 for replacement option) and will also be curtailed at Stockton High St. Only a small number of peak time journeys will operate to Middlesbrough, where available vehicle resource permits
Service X26/X27 Darlington to Catterick & Colburn
How will it change?
Regrettably due to unsustainable passenger demand, the 22:24 journey from Colburn to Darlington is withdrawn.
Service X46 Durham to Crook & Stanhope
How will it change?
A revised Monday to Saturday timetable will be in operation, however no changes to length of operating day of frequency. We’re pleased to be able to improve the Sunday daytime frequency of Service X46 from every hour to every 30 minutes, effective from 9 July.
Service X66/X67 Darlington to Middlesbrough
How will it change?
Following improvement to our driver availability position, we’re pleased to announce the reinstatement of Service X67 and the resulting improvement in frequency of service to every 15 minutes between Darlington and Middlesbrough. Some peak time journeys however will continue to operate as Service X66, additionally serving Hartburn, increasing the frequency of service via West Stockton at key peak times. Evenings and Sundays will continue to operate hourly as per current arrangements; however we’re also introducing some additional early evening Sunday journeys along with extending the current 22:25 journey from Middlesbrough to Darlington on Mon‐Sat evenings.
Service X75/X76 Darlington to Barnard Castle
How will it change?
Due to reductions in English National Concessionary funding support from Durham County Council and subsequent unsustainable passenger demand/financial position as a result, Sunday journeys on Service X75 will be withdrawn from 9 July
Whoa, doesn't look good for local services in Darlo.
No evening AND no Sunday service on the 4!? Did not see that one coming, it's always been pretty busy when I've been on it.