(15 Jun 2023, 5:57 pm)peter wrote Yeah, well aware it's a different shall we say, 'less generous when it comes to funding bus services' local authority for Darlington (only stuck it on the end of my DCC-related comment about the 84/85 to save double posting)! Indeed, the 16 is the only one after the once a week 20 got withdrawn. Tbh I reckon the 16 could do a loop of Mowden, in via Abbey Road, out via Pierremont, then follow the 3A route to Harrogate Hill also serving Glebe Road - not sure how long that would take even if a bus every 2 hours would still be better than none - I think the fact there's a quick fix by altering the 16 is why I'm surprised it hasn't been done, and the 12 because of the airport link. Tbh for Hurworth you could divert service 72 through Hurworth and back to Blackwell via Neasham Road and the A66 but with it being a NYCC tender may not be possible.
DCC are supposedly exploring options for replacing the Newton Aycliffe to Sedgefield section - the only realistic option I foresee is an extension to the 113.
Arriva had the 84/85 and 95/96 contracts back in like 2011, it would be very odd to see them take over the problem mainly being that they all run into eachother and are rural routes, the only depot which could do it is darlington and they've already scrapped most the solos and the e200s will be needed on more profitable runs. It's also unlikely they would extend the 6 to barnard castle there likely wouldn't be much through travel to durham and most would get off in west auckland and bishop which is already provided by 85
(14 Jun 2023, 7:34 pm)cainebj wrote It's taken a little bit of time to go public but Durham County Council are also funding the Cockfield extension on service 6, on an hourly basis in place of the existing half hourly. DCC are also funding an extension of service 6 to Ramshaw which will see the Hodgsons operated service 104 reduced to operate Newfield to Bishop Auckland only, losing the through travel to Tindale Crescent.
Funding is also in place to retain the Barnard Castle journeys, plus additional journeys.
Arriva's website has been updated with this information now, though a timetable is not yet showing available.
it seems like an odd choice to go to ramshaw, the 104 bus sits in bishop quite a bit during the day the only fixes which would work would be going to newfield hourly which there wouldn't be demand for or pretty unlikely if they got the 9 contract and the 104 was weardale drive to newfield.