(18 Mar 2026, 9:33 pm)Adrian wrote It's not as simple as that either. Those services are very likely going to have to apply for service permits to run into the franchising area, and part of that is retailing and accepting NECA fares within that area. This happens within the Bee Network for some of Transdev's stuff especially - the X41/X43 spring to mind. 

I don't think it's clear cut with any of the services you mention though. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think all of them operate for 50% or more of the mileage in the NECA area. The X12 for example is about 3/4 in the NECA area, so it's well within their gift to run their own service and decline a service permit for the commercially operated service. They would just have to register the service parallel with the traffic commissioner, so that the route into Stockton and Middlesbrough is covered.

For all of them, it’s above 75% of mileage, and 7/8A/X12 aside would be rather difficult to run without depots being opened where I’ve suggested. It’s certainly going to be a challenge for NECA and it’ll be interesting to see how they play it out although my money is on service permits being granted and operate under similar rulings to those found with Bee Network on the various routes into the Manchester region