First time seeing a 558 being ran with a Northstar model !

Spotted a Mellor Strata 558 model number 13 at Whitburn Front Street

Was the 558 anything before GCT or had multiple companies ?

(22 Jul 2026, 12:41 pm)EastGatesheadRider wrote Was the 558 anything before GCT or had multiple companies ?

It's been a Nexus contract for as long as I can remember, think it was Veolia for years before GCT.

(22 Jul 2026, 12:44 pm)deanmachine wrote It's been a Nexus contract for as long as I can remember, think it was Veolia for years before GCT.

Think Redby had it at one point. Didn't run its current route then, though.

(22 Jul 2026, 12:41 pm)EastGatesheadRider wrote Was the 558 anything before GCT or had multiple companies ?

Yes this service has been running well since the early 90s by Go North East, ( known then as Go ahead Northern ) prior to that it was the 528 Newcastle to Seaburn (1980s),, the Route has been the same more or less, (via Calf Close instead of Fellgate)

(22 Jul 2026, 12:47 pm)F114TML wrote Think Redby had it at one point. Didn't run its current route then, though.

Redby had a 557 from Boldon Colliery, (Cotswold Lane) to Seaburn,  same route

(22 Jul 2026, 12:47 pm)F114TML wrote Think Redby had it at one point. Didn't run its current route then, though.

Even Stagecoach have operated it - from South Shields using 346xx Dennis Darts.

(22 Jul 2026, 4:57 pm)pbjd wrote Even Stagecoach have operated it - from South Shields using 346xx Dennis Darts.

Yes Stagecoach ran on Evenings and Sundays when it ran from Heworth to Seaburn via Calf Close then i back to Boldon ASDA then back to Seaburn then back to Heworth, so it was Hourly from Heworth and half hourly from Seaburn as one every hour terminated at Asda Boldon, this was how it ran when it was run by Go ahead Northern back in the 90s

(22 Jul 2026, 5:23 pm)Retro Nero wrote Yes Stagecoach ran on Evenings and Sundays when it ran from Heworth to Seaburn via Calf Close then i back to Boldon ASDA then back to Seaburn then back to Heworth, so it was Hourly from Heworth and half hourly from Seaburn as one every hour terminated at Asda Boldon, this was how it ran when it was run by Go ahead Northern back in the 90s

The 558 also has a service from Fellgate Limecroft to Whitburn Academy at 08:00

(22 Jul 2026, 6:20 pm)EastGatesheadRider wrote The 558 also has a service from Fellgate Limecroft to Whitburn Academy at 08:00

There also used to be a 958 from Seaburn to Team Valley in the 80s  to  early 00s via the 558 route then from Heworth up through Felling Square and the QE hospital then down to Low Fell to Team Valley,

Never ran as the 557, for a while that was used on number 57s that was extended from Heworth to South Shields after South Shields depot closed (https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...4178710837), though the 558 would eventually replace the section of the 557 from Boldon School to Heworth Interchange.

For a while in the early noughties, the 558 only ran on Sundays between Heworth and Seaburn operated by Jayline using various Mercedes Minibuses and Dennis Dart SLF / Plaxton MPD (sadly before I had a decent camera). As on Monday to Saturday daytimes, Go North East operated the X97 which ran from Newcastle to Seaburn. (Back then the 558 ran via the dual carriageway from Heworth to Testos and didn't bother with Fellgate Estate.) This all changed when the Metro was extended to Sunderland. The X97 bit the dust and was kind of partly replaced briefly by the X98 which went from Boldon to Southwick via Downhill and Red House Estate. The 558 then went to daily operation between Seaburn Dene Estate and Boldon Asda, though I think it was extended to do a loop around the Cotswold Estate. After Jayline it was operated by Stanley, then Redby got the contract usually using a Merc at first before going Low Floor with Darts or Solos, at one point Redby also ran the school run on the 558.

Stagecoach may have ran the long one briefly around 2002/2003 before the contract passed to Stanley Travel, but prob didn't use the 04 plated Darts.

Classic ran a weird variation known as the 559 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...0932321736

Operators I've managed to photograph on the normal 558 with my camera are....
Compass Community Transport - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...2987518893
Gateshead Central - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...6544670559
Go North East - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...1142403582
Northstar - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...5408118780
Redby - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...9424322247
Stanley Travel - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...2791528258
Veolia Durham - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...0612629863

(22 Jul 2026, 7:56 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Never ran as the 557, for a while that was used on number 57s that was extended from Heworth to South Shields after South Shields depot closed (https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...4178710837), though the 558 would eventually replace the section of the 557 from Boldon School to Heworth Interchange.

For a while in the early noughties, the 558 only ran on Sundays between Heworth and Seaburn operated by Jayline using various Mercedes Minibuses and Dennis Dart SLF / Plaxton MPD (sadly before I had a decent camera). As on Monday to Saturday daytimes, Go North East operated the X97 which ran from Newcastle to Seaburn. (Back then the 558 ran via the dual carriageway from Heworth to Testos and didn't bother with Fellgate Estate.) This all changed when the Metro was extended to Sunderland. The X97 bit the dust and was kind of partly replaced briefly by the X98 which went from Boldon to Southwick via Downhill and Red House Estate. The 558 then went to daily operation between Seaburn Dene Estate and Boldon Asda, though I think it was extended to do a loop around the Cotswold Estate. After Jayline it was operated by Stanley, then Redby got the contract usually using a Merc at first before going Low Floor with Darts or Solos, at one point Redby also ran the school run on the 558.

Stagecoach may have ran the long one briefly around 2002/2003 before the contract passed to Stanley Travel, but prob didn't use the 04 plated Darts.

Classic ran a weird variation known as the 559 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...0932321736

Operators I've managed to photograph on the normal 558 with my camera are....
Compass Community Transport - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...2987518893
Gateshead Central - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...6544670559
Go North East - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...1142403582
Northstar - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...5408118780
Redby - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...9424322247
Stanley Travel - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...2791528258
Veolia Durham - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...0612629863

Def was operated by Redby as the 557 with Ok Travel also doing similar with 559 as I mentioned previously elsewhere.   Think this was early 90s 

The 557 Redby was Mon to Sat Daytimes

Seaburn to Fellgate Estate

The 559 OK Travel was Seaburn to South Shields (one hour round trip) Mon to.Sat Daytimes 

The 558 at same time was Seaburn to Heworth Evening and Sundays, again OK Travel

Also incorporated was the 526 OK Travel evening and Sundays Seaburn to Jarrow (always remember this hitting news at time as a 526 driver was stopped and arrested in Whitburn area for driving whilst under influence of alcohol 

The 526, 558 and 559 were all operated out of OK Travel Hunter Road depot Peterlee using a variety of single and double deck, buses, coaches and anything else at the time

(22 Jul 2026, 8:12 pm)LVK 404L wrote Def was operated by Redby as the 557 with Ok Travel also doing similar with 559 as I mentioned previously elsewhere.   Think this was early 90s 

The 557 Redby was Mon to Sat Daytimes

Seaburn to Fellgate Estate

The 559 OK Travel was Seaburn to South Shields (one hour round trip) Mon to.Sat Daytimes 

The 558 at same time was Seaburn to Heworth Evening and Sundays, again OK Travel

Also incorporated was the 526 OK Travel evening and Sundays Seaburn to Jarrow (always remember this hitting news at time as a 526 driver was stopped and arrested in Whitburn area for driving whilst under influence of alcohol 

The 526, 558 and 559 were all operated out of OK Travel Hunter Road depot Peterlee using a variety of single and double deck, buses, coaches and anything else at the time

Yes definitely Redby 557, I remember getting on one of their ex Darlington Corporation Dennis's in their Green and Black livery in Boldon Colliery in the early 80s.

Ah that goes well further back that what I was thinking. I was more or less thinking of the 558 since 2000. Was still in school in the 90s and most of my knowledge then was confined to mainly Coastline buses around Tyneside. And trips to exotic locations like Sunderland (don't laugh, it was a far away location for a 9 year old) on the 319 with my Nana and Grandad.

Yeah it was a complex mix of 557 558 and 559 in around 1991/2. Operated by go-ahead northern Redby and OK travel.

Just some quick info ive heard off the Northstar facebook

Northstar are back in Whickham and Sunniside and 644 is withdrawn by GNE

643 won back the contract for Northstar

Pre-purchased Go North East tickets and passes will be valid for four weeks until 16 August . After you'll need to purchase Nexus day and week tickets for service 643

Service 643 is unable to serve stops on Burnthouse Lane or Broadway beetween 08:00 & 16:00 while Gateshead council carry out essential maintenance .  Buses will operate via Sunniside Road serving all stops on the diversionary route , and then operate via Kingsway anti clockwise

(22 Jul 2026, 10:56 pm)DaveBB1 wrote Yeah it was a complex mix of 557 558 and 559 in around 1991/2. Operated by go-ahead northern Redby and OK travel.

Remember when the 559 went into Temple Park Leisure Centre Car park all day while the 526 & 544 on an evening and Sunday.

I have got a suggestions for Northstar service 939 so please tell me if its good

Extend the 939 to the Metrocentre during the day and keep the already existing runs to Team Valley/Concord

(Yesterday, 11:55 am)EastGatesheadRider wrote I have got a suggestions for Northstar service 939 so please tell me if its good

Extend the 939 to the Metrocentre during the day and keep the already existing runs to Team Valley/Concord

Aint ran by Northstar anymore. Its a nexus workers service contract now ran by L&G

Aww tuff luck . I used that bus to get to my families house up Swallwell , did jot down some ideas about a GCT service to the Metrocentre from Sunderland , 633

(Yesterday, 11:55 am)EastGatesheadRider wrote I have got a suggestions for Northstar service 939 so please tell me if its good

Extend the 939 to the Metrocentre during the day and keep the already existing runs to Team Valley/Concord

I think that could be quite a good commercial startup as Northstar have seen some success with their X43. As far as I’m aware the fact that it’s a contract won’t matter hugely as long as the times don’t change between Sunderland and Team valley*. It could be a good idea for it to run in the morning until like 1300, and then start again at like 1600, with the last bus towards Sunderland making the last 939 out of Team valley. Definitely something Northstar might try at some point in the future 

*various routes have sections that are contracted and sections that are not, for example GNE taking up the 319 contract as part of their service 9

(9 hours ago)Arlo400H wrote I think that could be quite a good commercial startup as Northstar have seen some success with their X43. As far as I’m aware the fact that it’s a contract won’t matter hugely as long as the times don’t change between Sunderland and Team valley*. It could be a good idea for it to run in the morning until like 1300, and then start again at like 1600, with the last bus towards Sunderland making the last 939 out of Team valley. Definitely something Northstar might try at some point in the future 

*various routes have sections that are contracted and sections that are not, for example GNE taking up the 319 contract as part of their service 9

I can think of nothing worse than going to the Metrocentre. A soulless heap of a place. However, if I was going from Sunderland, I’d get the direct train. The bus is too indirect.

(9 hours ago)Arlo400H wrote I think that could be quite a good commercial startup as Northstar have seen some success with their X43. As far as I’m aware the fact that it’s a contract won’t matter hugely as long as the times don’t change between Sunderland and Team valley*. It could be a good idea for it to run in the morning until like 1300, and then start again at like 1600, with the last bus towards Sunderland making the last 939 out of Team valley. Definitely something Northstar might try at some point in the future 

*various routes have sections that are contracted and sections that are not, for example GNE taking up the 319 contract as part of their service 9

If you were going to do that, they'd better bidding ridiculously low on the 81/82 and running the 81 route but direct by the QE all day. It's not a kick in the teeth off the 939 bar Team Valley anyway. 

It was commercial with the X25/82 until very recently anyway.

I believe there's nothing stopping you putting a bid in with more service than that's on the tender, it usually just wouldn't be cost effective.