(25 May 2023, 6:48 am)RMF1254 wrote Wallsend already has a bus station.

There's no need for a bus station at Bishop Auckland, Wallsend or North Shields imo. 

Just put some bus stops at both ends of the main street instead then you can get off at one end, do your shopping and get on at the other end.

Bus stations should only exist where a lot of people interchange to another method of transport ie. Gateshead or a major city connected to a major shopping centre etc where bus stops wouldn't work ie. Eldon Square or Metro Centre.

As I said earlier NECA councils are obsessed with them. Darlington isn't exactly dying because it doesn't have one infact it's one of the strongest areas for buses.

(27 May 2023, 12:49 am)omnicity4659 wrote Wallsend Interchange also isn't the most well used either. majority of our passengers board at the forum.

But that hasn’t always been the case. When Metro Integration was in full swing, almost all buses called at the bus station, I think the 301 was the one that didn’t. The PTE, if I remember correctly had the 21/22/34/35/49 and Northern 312/313/314/318/319/320/321/329/330/331/340/341. Mainly double deckers for use of local passengers to the Forum as well as longer distance passengers changing to the Metro. The bus station was built for that reason but of course that has all changed. For many reasons sadly, that has all changed, GNE only running the 41/41a daytimes plus GCT 342 and Stagecoach 12 and 40.

(27 May 2023, 8:22 am)RMF1254 wrote But that hasn’t always been the case. When Metro Integration was in full swing, almost all buses called at the bus station, I think the 301 was the one that didn’t. The PTE, if I remember correctly had the 21/22/34/35/49 and Northern 312/313/314/318/319/320/321/329/330/331/340/341. Mainly double deckers for use of local passengers to the Forum as well as longer distance passengers changing to the Metro. The bus station was built for that reason but of course that has all changed. For many reasons sadly, that has all changed, GNE only running the 41/41a daytimes plus GCT 342 and Stagecoach 12 and 40.

The election of a "Metro Mayor" for Durham/Northumberland/Tyne & Wear in 2024 might well change the dynamics of public transport provision in the North East.

(23 Feb 2023, 8:20 am)NEbushopper wrote imo the bishop line should have been half hourly for a long time. Also pre 2017 it was every 2 hours! that was attrocious.

Does anyone know about the plans for the bishop auckland bus station and its timescales or is that to be realeased soon?

I wish that northern could do more routes between bishop, Darlington and Middlesbrough via the ecml, but the scheduling will be too full, even if someone just did Newcastle to york back and forth maybe with every 2 hours to bishop or Middlesbrough instead. It seems useless to me how the mainline trains always get blocked with people doing short journeys between york and Newcastle

Bishop Auckland Bus Station will close after last service on Sunday September 10th, services will depart from temporary stops located on Newgate Street & Tenters Street from the following day.

(26 Aug 2023, 8:03 pm)Jimmi wrote Bishop Auckland Bus Station will close after last service on Sunday September 10th, services will depart from temporary stops located on Newgate Street & Tenters Street from the following day.

Info on where the services will stop, while work is happening:


Go North East: https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/bishop-auc...dvelopment

Arriva: https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/latest-news/...re-sept-23

(05 Sep 2023, 9:54 am)Michael wrote Info on where the services will stop, while work is happening:


Go North East: https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/bishop-auc...dvelopment

Arriva: https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/latest-news/...re-sept-23

Can imagine the top of Newgate Street and Newgate shopping centre dying even faster now, I certainly won't be trekking from the bottom end where the 6/X21 stop all the way up!

Sent from my SM-F721B using Tapatalk

I am considering postponing my next trip to Durham to coincide with the opening of the new bus station at Bishop Auckland.

Have they given an approximate timeframe as to how long it will take to build then open?

First morning of the bus station being closed and none of the temporary facilities have been sorted in time. You can guess how well it's going this morning

(11 Sep 2023, 8:34 am)cainebj wrote First morning of the bus station being closed and none of the temporary facilities have been sorted in time. You can guess how well it's going this morning

That's Durham Council for you!

I expected nothing less

Sent from my SM-F721B using Tapatalk

(11 Sep 2023, 8:34 am)cainebj wrote First morning of the bus station being closed and none of the temporary facilities have been sorted in time. You can guess how well it's going this morning

Did GNE manage to get the broken down decker shifted? 
Passed through late Saturday night, and although it had it's engine open, I'd imagine it had wingmirror issues or something.

Bishop Auckland passengers confused over 'missing' bus stops

A council has apologised after temporary stops were not in place following the closure of Bishop Auckland bus station for redevelopment.
Passengers and drivers said there were no signs to show where buses should stop along unmarked pavements on Tenters Street and Newgate Street.
The bus station closed on Sunday, with services relocated from Monday.
The council said work was "under way" to make the stops "more identifiable".
Bus services have been transferred to several stops in the town centre while contractors prepare to redevelop the now disused site on Saddler Street.
Durham County Council, which is carrying out the project, previously said temporary bus stops would be installed before the closure.
But Jack Short, who lives in the town, said it had been a "shambles", with other passengers unable to find their stop and "worried about missing work".
He said there were plastic cones in some areas which suggested it could be a bus stop, but nothing obvious to confirm that.
"I wouldn't like to think older passengers were getting the earlier buses as the temporary stand is in a rather dark location so could easily be missed," he said.
A bus driver, who asked not to be named, said temporary stops had not been put in place in time, prompting confusion among staff.
The Go North East worker said: "We were issued with a diversion notice which told us where we would have to pick up and drop off passengers but when we got there, passengers were all over the place.
"They were sticking their hand out wherever because they had no idea where they were supposed to be."
They added that the council should have been "prepared" for the bus station's closure.
Mark Jackson, the council's head of transport and contract services, said: "We would like to apologise for the confusion caused on Monday.
"We can confirm that work is under way to complete the temporary stops which will assist in making them more identifiable to passengers."
He added that passengers were encouraged to visit its website to check on bus stop locations before they travel.
A date on when the redevelopment will be completed has not yet been announced.

Article posted by BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-66789831

(16 Sep 2023, 7:50 am)cainebj wrote Article posted by BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-66789831

The incredible part is the council mandarin asking passengers to check the council website before hand. I assume there are no posters up around town?

(16 Sep 2023, 9:12 am)DeltaMan wrote The incredible part is the council mandarin asking passengers to check the council website before hand. I assume there are no posters up around town?

There's signs and posters up all over the place, doesn't mean people will take notice though! 

I was on the 6 to West yesterday afternoon and someone was wanting to change to the 1 to Crook. When we got past the traffic lights and on the south part of Newgate Street she asked the driver where Stand F was, she had seen Stand E and thought F would be further down.
Obviously all the stands have changed now and there is no Stand F, and the driver wasn't exactly helpful and had never even heard of the 1 to Crook.