3 of Stockton's new Yutongs in storage at Slatyford earlier today, NL25FGG/FFP/FGD. At least 12 were visible in total: 4 inside, 5 at the side and these 3 round the back.

E200 37318 has appeared in Stockton’s yard today, was parked in the line up with a ticket machine tonight.

37318 is at Stockton for route learning purposes only. Being used to assist with route learning 160 drivers the routes currently on select rotas ahead of changes in may

When all new Electric yutongs enter service at Stockton is Stockton getting one decker for l School work or single deckers going do it?

(10 Apr 2025, 1:00 am)Glen1974 wrote When all new Electric yutongs enter service at Stockton is Stockton getting one decker for l School work or single deckers going do it?

Yes there will be at least 1 decker - with additional services now being operated on behalf of the TVCA that weren’t expected to be running now they have bid for additional funding from stagecoach group for more vehicles to cover the shortfall. Deckers have been asked for.

Thank mate

Changes to fares in Sunderland from Sunday 20 April 2025

https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-up...:04:08:274


Haven't checked but probs see increases elsewhere in the NE too.

(10 Apr 2025, 5:02 pm)Michael wrote Changes to fares in Sunderland from Sunday 20 April 2025

https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-up...:04:08:274


Haven't checked but probs see increases elsewhere in the NE too.

10% increase there, quickly comparing. Quite a steep increase considering inflation is nowhere near that.

(10 Apr 2025, 6:02 pm)Storx wrote 10% increase there, quickly comparing. Quite a steep increase considering inflation is nowhere near that.

Just greed.

Price goes up for a shite service.

They're not willing or able to take the hit with the NI increase, basically. It fell to either the drivers feel it with reduced or non-existent pay rises this year, or passengers feel it with higher fares.

You choose.

(10 Apr 2025, 6:53 pm)F114TML wrote They're not willing or able to take the hit with the NI increase, basically. It fell to either the drivers feel it with reduced or non-existent pay rises this year, or passengers feel it with higher fares.

You choose.

The irony being, that passenger numbers may be affected by the increase in ticket costs, routes get cancelled, fleets get smaller and ultimately, staff get made redundant or not replaced due to natural attrition.

(10 Apr 2025, 7:00 pm)Hv Andreos1 wrote The irony being, that passenger numbers may be affected by the increase in ticket costs, routes get cancelled, fleets get smaller and ultimately, staff get made redundant or not replaced due to natural attrition.

They blame NICs but the employers rate 2022-23 was 15.05%. I guess at that time, SNE were soaking up the tax payers subsidies so didn’t notice the NICs . Anyway, with massive increases in NHS funding, people will get treated. Many hundreds of thousands of them will be bus users and fare paying passengers. Anyway, I suspect DWS are rerouting UK income to other shores. It happened when German UK owned energy companies took the profits back to Frankfurt.

So by the sounds of things Slatyford are no longer getting any Yutongs. We were originally meant to have them in March, then it got pushed back to September but now it could be next year but there’s a chance of it not happening at all as company haven’t arranged for the depot to be done and sounds like they’re not going to bother until they find out what’s happening with the mayor taking control of buses in the near future.

73092 enter service today at Stockton depot.

With the 3 and 17 being effectively merged in Shields next month. Does anyone know if these services will still be E200 operated mainly, or if plans have been decided to ensure bigger E300 are deployed.

People of Biddick not happy that they wont get seats, buggy or wheelchair bays as the Whiteleas bound passengers will still be on board. Similarly those Whiteleas passengers boarding for Shields not happy for same as passengers from Biddick will already be on board

Going to be fun and games but our lovely Kim has only raised concerns about Sunderland 18 and Newcastle 6. Is this a sign of favouritism from Kim and co?

(11 Apr 2025, 1:26 pm)LVK 404L wrote With the 3 and 17 being effectively merged in Shields next month. Does anyone know if these services will still be E200 operated mainly, or if plans have been decided to ensure bigger E300 are deployed.

People of Biddick not happy that they wont get seats, buggy or wheelchair bays as the Whiteleas bound passengers will still be on board. Similarly those Whiteleas passengers boarding for Shields not happy for same as passengers from Biddick will already be on board

Going to be fun and games but our lovely Kim has only raised concerns about Sunderland 18 and Newcastle 6.  Is this a sign of favouritism from Kim and co?

Must be something that's she's bothered about the service changes made by Stagecoach withdrawn 2 routes & an evening service yet she was so very quite when gne did there January changes. Wasn't a word of her. Goes to show who she has the hots for

(11 Apr 2025, 1:26 pm)The LVK 404L wrote With the 3 and 17 being effectively merged in Shields next month. Does anyone know if these services will still be E200 operated mainly, or if plans have been decided to ensure bigger E300 are deployed.

People of Biddick not happy that they wont get seats, buggy or wheelchair bays as the Whiteleas bound passengers will still be on board. Similarly those Whiteleas passengers boarding for Shields not happy for same as passengers from Biddick will already be on board

Going to be fun and games but our lovely Kim has only raised concerns about Sunderland 18 and Newcastle 6.  Is this a sign of favouritism from Kim and co?

To be fair, there is an alternative to the SS17, but in the case of the SUN18, there are gaps . No buses through Roker eg Park Avenue, no buses on Thompson Road, parts of Grindon left with no bus, the school kids of Aidans and Southmoor (18A).

(11 Apr 2025, 2:02 pm)Aaron21 wrote Must be something that's she's bothered about the service changes made by Stagecoach withdrawn 2 routes & an evening service yet she was so very quite when gne did there January changes. Wasn't a word of her. Goes to show who she has the hots for 

Me apparently. 
Mrs C doesn't know yet.

(11 Apr 2025, 2:02 pm)Aaron21 wrote Must be something that's she's bothered about the service changes made by Stagecoach withdrawn 2 routes & an evening service yet she was so very quite when gne did there January changes. Wasn't a word of her. Goes to show who she has the hots for

Probably believed all the marketing blurb at the start about it being an improvement with new connections and they did so many changes she probably didn't notice any reductions. Stagecoach are a lot more on the nose.

(10 Apr 2025, 9:29 am)Teessider2014 wrote Yes there will be at least 1 decker - with additional services now being operated on behalf of the TVCA that weren’t expected to be running now they have bid for additional funding from stagecoach group for more vehicles to cover the shortfall. Deckers have been asked for.

Plenty of deckers cutting about, especially the ex Manchester E400s

(11 Apr 2025, 5:14 pm)toward6931 wrote Plenty of deckers cutting about, especially the ex Manchester E400s

Is there actually any ex Manchester E400's around? As far as I'm aware everything stalled because of the electric disaster at Stockport hence all hybrids ending up there to get at least some other buses out to other areas.

Stagecoach are apparently in talks with Nexus about funding for the 7 on an evening in Newcastle in hopes that the service will continue to run every night. That service is very quiet on a night time, nexus have apparently told them there is no funding they can give them. Just a waiting game now as the changes come in 11th May. Unsure if they’re planning to do the same with the Sunderland 18 & 18A or not.

(11 Apr 2025, 8:41 pm)ReDemPTiion wrote Stagecoach are apparently in talks with Nexus about funding for the 7 on an evening in Newcastle in hopes that the service will continue to run every night. That service is very quiet on a night time, nexus have apparently told them there is no funding they can give them. Just a waiting game now as the changes come in 11th May. Unsure if they’re planning to do the same with the Sunderland 18 & 18A or not.

Speaking to a few Slatyford drivers, you're lucky to pick more than a couple of people up for the rest of your shift after about half 9.

Much better doing something with the 18/A if any funding was to be used.

(11 Apr 2025, 4:19 pm)F114TML wrote Probably believed all the marketing blurb at the start about it being an improvement with new connections and they did so many changes she probably didn't notice any reductions. Stagecoach are a lot more on the nose.

I agree but she hasn't said anything even though nobody in the area down Sunderland or South Tyneside seems to be happy about the changes

(11 Apr 2025, 1:22 pm)Glen1974 wrote 73092 enter service today  at Stockton depot.

According to bustimes it's named "Bus Lightyear"

(11 Apr 2025, 8:50 pm)F114TML wrote Speaking to a few Slatyford drivers, you're lucky to pick more than a couple of people up for the rest of your shift after about half 9.

Much better doing something with the 18/A if any funding was to be used.

It's Gosforth. Literally every local (not express) bus service through there, excluding the 43(not counting Morpeth)/44/45 has some form of subsidy or BSIP enhancement now. 

Place always seems to get everything. Electric buses being much of the same with 3 main routes due them.

(11 Apr 2025, 8:50 pm)F114TML wrote Speaking to a few Slatyford drivers, you're lucky to pick more than a couple of people up for the rest of your shift after about half 9.

Much better doing something with the 18/A if any funding was to be used.

I do the 6&7 most days and they’re right after 9pm you’re normally driving around empty the only people you really get are older people going to/from the pub with their concession passes. Apparently we only get 50p from the concession pass scans so it’s not very profitable.

(11 Apr 2025, 10:24 pm)Storx wrote It's Gosforth. Literally every local (not express) bus service through there, excluding the 43(not counting Morpeth)/44/45 has some form of subsidy or BSIP enhancement now. 

Place always seems to get everything. Electric buses being much of the same with 3 main routes due them.

From what I understand for the BSIP funding for the electrics, Arriva had to go with the 43/44/45 as to be successful the fact those routes cover Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland put them in a very good position. Nothing to do with Gosforth which is well covered. But the likes of Dinnington etc are cut off completely without funding on certain services.

(12 Apr 2025, 9:21 am)Shrek wrote From what I understand for the BSIP funding for the electrics, Arriva had to go with the 43/44/45 as to be successful the fact those routes cover Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland put them in a very good position. Nothing to do with Gosforth which is well covered. But the likes of Dinnington etc are cut off completely without funding on certain services.

Aye no arguments, the BSIP funding is the 30/31 not those routes. They were the exception as the only commercial routes in the area. It's the Q3 I really don't understand why has the electrics personally and never did. Unpopular service, service neither nowhere or anywhere mostly, in terms of the pollution hotspots.

The 30/31/36 similar argument really, some of the 37/38/39/40/62/63 would be a better route imo and also serve more areas which go through some very populated areas; West Road, Byker, Chillingham Road, Wallsend, Coast Road etc depending on route. Seem like the corridors ideal for them aswell really as they're all bloody busy as an understatement.

(12 Apr 2025, 10:34 am)Storx wrote Aye no arguments, the BSIP funding is the 30/31 not those routes. They were the exception as the only commercial routes in the area. It's the Q3 I really don't understand why has the electrics personally and never did. Unpopular service, service neither nowhere or anywhere mostly, in terms of the pollution hotspots.

The 30/31/36 similar argument really, some of the 37/38/39/40/62/63 would be a better route imo and also serve more areas which go through some very populated areas; West Road, Byker, Chillingham Road, Wallsend, Coast Road etc depending on route. Seem like the corridors ideal for them aswell really as they're all bloody busy as an understatement.

This is a very unpopular opinion and some people might disagree but I would feel like there should be an express on 39/40 as it is practically the most busiest bus service in the whole city and the express should at least operate during peak hours between chapel house/dumpling hall west road city centre shields road welbeck road and the terminuses(wallsend/walker).I know this is the wrong thread but i decided to say it here.Opinions are always welcome