(16 Jun 2023, 5:34 pm)Storx wrote To be fair Darlington is just as far time wise, both roughly 20 - 25 minutes away if using the bus station.

Let's be honest the place has been forgot about for the best part of 2 decades now ever since GNE pulled out. Half the routes were never replaced really. Some of the worst served areas around there, if I'm right didn't Newton Aycliffe actually win that 'award' relatively recently. Sure I can remember reading that sometime.

It's the sort of place on paper that should do well aswell really, can't imagine car usage is high at the place but I could be wrong. Always reminds me of Consett and Ashington which both have a much better service, mind Consett is starting to get debateable with the cut, cut, cut that's been happening there recently.

Nah, we didn't win anything.

Bishop Auckland has been in decline for certain, Tindle Crescent is probs one of the main killers but the dire bus service certainly didn't help matters, Arriva acquired some absolutely dire motors when GNE pulled out then the closure of Arriva's depot in Bishop Auckland only caused much more of a downturn with services being messed about with, reliability wasn't great on some routes and it just wasn't cost effective for Arriva's worth while.

You can't help but wonder where things have gone so wrong, even just over 4 years ago Coundon had 4 buses an hour to Bishop Auckland on the 18 & 56, from next month they're down to just 1 an hour on the 56 (plus the hourly 99 to Shildon & Spennymoor on weekdays only).