(11 hours ago)Adrian wrote As harsh as it sounds, NECA are going to be tasked with doing what works best for people who live in the communities served by those cross-border routes, as oppose to what's in the best interests of a commercial operator. The finer detail should be in the scheme that we're yet to see, but I can't see the Durham leaders accepting a two-tier system which sees their residents paying more than elsewhere on the network.

I don't know a lot of these areas well enough to comment, but the Sedgefield <-> Stockton link I know is important. I suspect it's the same for Bishop Auckland and Shildon into Darlington.

I think a better example of where a service permit would be more appropriate, may be something like the 685. Roughly 50/50 of what will be within the NECA franchising area and what won't be.

Let’s hope they consider these links and sorts of arrangements not take the simple solution such as cutting the 685 at the border point! Let’s hope this is something that’s considered and a solution is forthcoming