(19 Mar 2026, 12:44 pm)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.

So all routes which operate inside and outside the franchised area will require a permit? The 685 will continue to be operated by Stagecoach, but will need a permit? Nothing else changes on those routes as they won't be franchised?, so will presumably operate in their own livery?

On the subject of cross-border services, the Peter Hogg X74 BSIP funding was for 3 years when it replaced the 131/808 in January 2024, does this mean it could potentially be withdrawn in January next year?