(22 Feb 2026, 10:16 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote To be fair, perhaps they do! But it's disappointing expecting a GCT service just for it go back to Stagecoach. More importantly, it's not good value for taxpayers with the higher cost of paying Stagecoach to run it compared to GCT.

Especially ridiculous 2 years running.

Strange there was already rumour of  Stagecoach getting EVs for the 32/32A, so it was predicted they would keep it and presumably expected it would be awarded to GCT and given back. At least positive to see GCT have retained the 35 which has largely been operated well this year by GCT.

To be honest, bus services are a good and valid use of tax payers money so I don't think anyone would be really bothered about it as long as the service is reliable, which the 32 usually is under Stagecoach. GCT have a habit of going the wrong way randomly at times and just improvising. A few year back when the 19 route changed quite significantly in the Shields area, we pulled up to the Ferry and the driver asked passengers if they knew the new route 'cause he hadn't been shown it despite asking the depot. They just give him spoken directions which is very easy to forget if you're a visual learner. And luck was on the drivers side that day too because I was the only person who knew the new route.

(Yesterday, 6:09 pm)SN69 ZRC wrote To be honest, bus services are a good and valid use of tax payers money so I don't think anyone would be really bothered about it as long as the service is reliable, which the 32 usually is under Stagecoach. GCT have a habit of going the wrong way randomly at times and just improvising. A few year back when the 19 route changed quite significantly in the Shields area, we pulled up to the Ferry and the driver asked passengers if they knew the new route 'cause he hadn't been shown it despite asking the depot. They just give him spoken directions which is very easy to forget if you're a visual learner. And luck was on the drivers side that day too because I was the only person who knew the new route.

That sounds very neurotypical for GCT...

(Yesterday, 4:09 pm)Storx wrote I know it's probably not right in some ways but personally wouldn't be surprised if Hartlepool came an outstation of Stockton at some point with a full fleet of electrics.

Would solve out all the issues with the buses not being able to be maintained at Hartlepool.

It's not like they're a million miles away from each other.

Similar discussion with South Shields and Wheatsheaf

And apparently the Depot Manager of Stockton already oversees Hartlepool

(Yesterday, 4:09 pm)Storx wrote I know it's probably not right in some ways but personally wouldn't be surprised if Hartlepool came an outstation of Stockton at some point with a full fleet of electrics.

Would solve out all the issues with the buses not being able to be maintained at Hartlepool.

It's not like they're a million miles away from each other.

Similar discussion with South Shields and Wheatsheaf

Cannot see it happening with Shields and Sunderland 

They attempted it a few years back when the 
E1, E2, E6, 30, X20 and X34 all got transferred to Sunderland along with half the depot and 30, X20 and X34 all got transferred back 

If franchising went ahead I can see the likes of the 24, 25 and 26 becoming part of same group of Shields franchises as the Stagecoach routes and if that happens this would mean expansion.  But on the other hand remember that depot is ancient now.  I know the public transport started in 1883, was that when the depot opened also, it's still got the tramlines inside so possibly.  That would make it 143 year old ......REALLY!!!!!

(22 Feb 2026, 10:16 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote To be fair, perhaps they do! But it's disappointing expecting a GCT service just for it go back to Stagecoach. More importantly, it's not good value for taxpayers with the higher cost of paying Stagecoach to run it compared to GCT.

Especially ridiculous 2 years running.

Strange there was already rumour of  Stagecoach getting EVs for the 32/32A, so it was predicted they would keep it and presumably expected it would be awarded to GCT and given back. At least positive to see GCT have retained the 35 which has largely been operated well this year by GCT.

You were upset about Northstar losing the 599 to GCT, but now seem bothered about GCT not winning the 32/32A? . GCT were much cheaper than Northstar, but now you question SNE’s higher costs than GCT. The best option IMO is that the no services ever go to the cowboys of Gateshead.

(Yesterday, 6:52 pm)citaro5284 wrote And apparently the Depot Manager of Stockton already oversees Hartlepool

Didn't know that makes even more potentially likely then.

(Yesterday, 7:35 pm)LVK 404L wrote Cannot see it happening with Shields and Sunderland 

They attempted it a few years back when the 
E1, E2, E6, 30, X20 and X34 all got transferred to Sunderland along with half the depot and 30, X20 and X34 all got transferred back 

If franchising went ahead I can see the likes of the 24, 25 and 26 becoming part of same group of Shields franchises as the Stagecoach routes and if that happens this would mean expansion.  But on the other hand remember that depot is ancient now.  I know the public transport started in 1883, was that when the depot opened also, it's still got the tramlines inside so possibly.  That would make it 143 year old ......REALLY!!!!!

That was a merger last time wasn't it rather than an outstation?

Must admit I haven't looked into how EV buses work but I know with EV cars there's very few moving parts so there's no changing the oil, fuel filters and all that sort of stuff.

Just not sure they'll actually need the engineering there bar basic stuff like changing a tyre.

If they're similar to cars, there's just nothing to really do unless it has severe issues. It's one of the pros of EV vehicles.

Wouldn't be surprised to see the same with others either with one major place dealing with all the big issues then everywhere else being down to the bare minimum. Any £££ they'll jump at it.

(21 Feb 2026, 8:34 pm)Busesinnewcastle wrote They were knackered within the first few months of having them. Drivers up here just abuse them

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19673 is now at Slatyford

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And 10639 to walkergate

10642 back at Slatyford and 10639 not out from walkergate. Supprised Slatyford have not had to borrow a walkergate bus considering all there’s off the road. 26072 was pulled from the 685 and replaced with 10643 that’s 5 days in a row a bus have broke down on that route

(Yesterday, 8:48 pm)Economic505 wrote You were upset about Northstar losing the 599 to GCT, but now seem bothered about GCT not winning the 32/32A? . GCT were much cheaper than Northstar, but now you question SNE’s higher costs than GCT. The best option IMO is that the no services ever go to the cowboys of Gateshead.

They are two completely different situations.

GCT was only marginally cheaper than Northstar for the 599 tender, as Northstar have operated it for longer than 12 months. Stagecoach lost the 32/32A to GCT last year and this year, but have ended up with it back, which costs more (I'm not sure how much difference between the bids in either case).

I think Northstar losing the 599 to GCT will probably result in a decline in passenger numbers as some customers intentionally choose the Northstar service over the alternatives. Very likely the same result with the 32/32A if GCT had taken on those services, as Stagecoach tickets wouldn't be valid on them. My point was that for two consecutive years GCT have won the contract to operate the 32/32A, and still don't have the drivers or buses at the second opportunity. Particularly strange there was already talk of Stagecoach putting EVs on the 32/32A before the Nexus tenders went out, suggesting it was likely a foregone conclusion they were keeping it.

(Yesterday, 9:02 pm)Storx wrote Didn't know that makes even more potentially likely then.


That was a merger last time wasn't it rather than an outstation?

Must admit I haven't looked into how EV buses work but I know with EV cars there's very few moving parts so there's no changing the oil, fuel filters and all that sort of stuff.

Just not sure they'll actually need the engineering there bar basic stuff like changing a tyre.

If they're similar to cars, there's just nothing to really do unless it has severe issues. It's one of the pros of EV vehicles.

Wouldn't be surprised to see the same with others either with one major place dealing with all the big issues then everywhere else being down to the bare minimum. Any £££ they'll jump at it.

The EV buses do require coolant like a diesel bus, guessing to help cool the battery’s so they do need that topped up only engineers trained on the EV’s can do that same with unplugging them from charge (at least at Slatyford). Apart from that the EV’s are lot better. I wonder when all depots go fully electric what will happen to engineers, there’ll be no need for them at least on a scale of how they’re used now.

(Yesterday, 7:35 pm)LVK 404L wrote Cannot see it happening with Shields and Sunderland 

They attempted it a few years back when the 
E1, E2, E6, 30, X20 and X34 all got transferred to Sunderland along with half the depot and 30, X20 and X34 all got transferred back 

If franchising went ahead I can see the likes of the 24, 25 and 26 becoming part of same group of Shields franchises as the Stagecoach routes and if that happens this would mean expansion.  But on the other hand remember that depot is ancient now.  I know the public transport started in 1883, was that when the depot opened also, it's still got the tramlines inside so possibly.  That would make it 143 year old ......REALLY!!!!!

How would routes be grouped together if we do get franchising in the future? All of the routes into South Shields would be grouped together and operated by South Shields depot? So the 27 would leave Riverside and be grouped with the 24, 25, 26 and Stagecoach routes? What about the 50? Just interested how it will all move around. I thought everything stayed at the current depot and operators bid for them which gives them an operating area. Operators will bid for groups of routes and they will be moved into the nearest depot?

Presumably that means whoever gets Riverside will operate all of the Metrocentre routes? Be a huge change if that was Arriva! Except the 6/7 being operated by Slatyford and Northstar operating the X22 and X43, which presumably would still be ran by a different company than all of the Riverside services? 3 operators would still operate Metrocentre services, for example?

(11 hours ago)OrangeArrow49 wrote How would routes be grouped together if we do get franchising in the future? All of the routes into South Shields would be grouped together and operated by South Shields depot? So the 27 would leave Riverside and be grouped with the 24, 25, 26 and Stagecoach routes? What about the 50? Just interested how it will all move around. I thought everything stayed at the current depot and operators bid for them which gives them an operating area. Operators will bid for groups of routes and they will be moved into the nearest depot?

Presumably that means whoever gets Riverside will operate all of the Metrocentre routes? Be a huge change if that was Arriva! Except the 6/7 being operated by Slatyford and Northstar operating the X22 and X43, which presumably would still be ran by a different company than all of the Riverside services? 3 operators would still operate Metrocentre services, for example?

Probs not for this thread but it's all purely speculation so I wouldn't even bother to try and overthink which would routes would be operated from where and by whom. In the NE due to the amount of cross-over between depots and patches it would be quite complex, or not if they just kept all the depots the same, though you would argue there'd be lots of inefficiencies with that. The 50 for example could technically be operated from a depot in Durham, Washington, South Shields or Sunderland or a new depot altogether. Nobody knows how it would work. Having said all that if franchising did ever happen here wouldn't hold your breath on Arriva winning big given their lack of success elsewhere!

(11 hours ago)peter wrote Probs not for this thread but it's all purely speculation so I wouldn't even bother to try and overthink which would routes would be operated from where and by whom. In the NE due to the amount of cross-over between depots and patches it would be quite complex, or not if they just kept all the depots the same, though you would argue there'd be lots of inefficiencies with that. The 50 for example could technically be operated from a depot in Durham, Washington, South Shields or Sunderland or a new depot altogether. Nobody knows how it would work. Having said all that if franchising did ever happen here wouldn't hold your breath on Arriva winning big given their lack of success elsewhere!

No, I'm actually curious if Arriva will disappear completely if franchising comes in. That was just an example as they've only ran a handful of Metrocentre services over the years and could suddenly run all of them bar the 6/7 and X22/X43 if they got Riverside. Currently, Arriva has GNR/Gosforth up to Ashington/Blyth/Cramlington and the 306/308 along the Coast Road to Marden/Tynemouth/North Shields/Whitley Bay/Blyth. Easy to wipe out. Dare I go into who gets the Coast Road?!...

Apologies if this is the wrong thread, just interested how it works. Looks complex to me! Gosforth is mainly Arriva, but has 4 operators currently. Whoever gets Ashington/Blyth will presumably get all of the Gosforth/South Gosforth/High Heaton stuff?

(11 hours ago)ReDemPTiion wrote The EV buses do require coolant like a diesel bus, guessing to help cool the battery’s so they do need that topped up only engineers trained on the EV’s can do that same with unplugging them from charge (at least at Slatyford). Apart from that the EV’s are lot better. I wonder when all depots go fully electric what will happen to engineers, there’ll be no need for them at least on a scale of how they’re used now.

Yeah that's fair had a feeling there might have been something slightly different.

Be interesting though, if I had to speculate I'd guess they'll just consolidate all the major work into hubs, then everyone else just does the bare basics to the stage they can change a tyre and replace a window but it won't be much more. 

Stockton, I guess, is the one to watch since it's getting rebuilt soon. 

Like using existing depots and ignoring franchising, personally wouldn't be surprised if it's down to engineering wise:

GNE:
Riverside (Percy Main)
Consett (Hexham)
Deptford (Washington)

SNE:
Walkergate or Slatyford
Stockton (Hartlepool)
Wheatsheaf (South Shields)

Arriva:
Teesside (Redcar / Stockton)
Darlington
Durham
Blyth or Ashington

It's not like they're miles apart and they all have operations which are linked between the depots anyway. If there's £££ on offer they'll jump at it tbh. I believe there's already shared management between a fair few anyway.