(20 May 2025, 9:22 pm)benji123 wrote Teesflex could just move to Hartlepool, is their an outstation for the Redcar ones? 

It's been mentioned about the 1 and 2, I believe the PVR will increase so buses do less runs. Dare I say the teesflex vehicles could also jump in if needed?

No, as it stands, the R&C ones go back to Stockton.

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(20 May 2025, 11:04 pm)S830OFT wrote I've seen that now the duty's have changed on the 1/2, there is also lots of drivers route training aswell. It must be costing for all of this, including all the dead mileage sending buses back & fourth throughout the day.

The bus at 17:56 was brought over to Saltburn for 2 hours to just carry near enough fresh air, then dead back to Stockton. There's a few like that, where the bus comes all the way from Stockton, does a few round trips, then replaced by service different bus & goes back to Stockton.

It worked so much better when the same two buses stayed at Saltburn for the whole day, with drivers travelling in cars to changeover. No doubt Stagecoach will be claiming all the dead mileage back that all these buses have been making...

It would make sense if the 1/2 could use Merc Sprinters, considering they are never anywhere near busy, and with Arriva having improved their reliability on the X4 now, it would make sense to run the service sustainably, so that it has a better chance to survive into the future...

I've noticed the 1 and 2 and the dead runs/driver changeovers.
Was wondering what was going on. 

Mind, the X4 isn't very reliable. Noticed them running in pairs quite regularly.

Tees Flex will still be ran as it is not until the end of the contract in August - using fuel cards. IF it is extended beyond August it’ll be interesting to see what happens!

As discussed in the meeting with senior management and all the staff when it was announced about Stockton going electric management confirmed that they weren’t expecting to keep the 1/2, X40/41 and RP1. They would bid for the service if they where to keep running but at a price to include and EV + then changes to how services operate.

Does anybody know how many Yutong E12s have been delivered for Stockton that are being stored at other Depots? Just lost count as I believe there's a few stored at quite a couple of the Depots. Also if there's enough to form a full electric allocation, whenever that will happen...

(24 May 2025, 3:25 pm)S830OFT wrote Does anybody know how many Yutong E12s have been delivered for Stockton that are being stored at other Depots? Just lost count as I believe there's a few stored at quite a couple of the Depots. Also if there's enough to form a full electric allocation, whenever that will happen...

Seems to be 58 so far, from a total of 68 new buses coming.
73089-106 and 73132-171

36463 Has been painted into new Blue Livery

27176 is at the back sunderland depot

Tomorrow is the suspected date for all Electric buses to be switched on and used at Stockton

With 68 new electric buses coming in total, but only 58 accounted for so far (73089-106 and 73132-171) does anyone know anything about the other 10 (apart from 1 being a double decker U11DD and the rest another 9 E12s).

The Stockton 64 68 new buses are get 58 are all right here and the rest wil be
well Deliver in Between august and October that I read if am right ?

(21 May 2025, 8:29 pm)Teessider2014 wrote Tees Flex will still be ran as it is not until the end of the contract in August - using fuel cards. IF it is extended beyond August it’ll be interesting to see what happens!

As discussed in the meeting with senior management and all the staff when it was announced about Stockton going electric management confirmed that they weren’t expecting to keep the 1/2, X40/41 and RP1. They would bid for the service if they where to keep running but at a price to include and EV + then changes to how services operate.

Wouldn't it work if arriva bid for the service 1/2 and utilise a couple of solos for the route

(25 May 2025, 10:28 pm)Scottish city buses wrote Tomorrow is the suspected date for all Electric buses to be switched on and used at Stockton

Incorrect - another week until switch-on, as confirmed to many by the depot's Assistant Operations Manager during the Teesside Park launch on Saturday.

I’m soo sorry unrelated question but what’s happening with slatyford bc I read the post in this Chanel (I cba to try and attach it) and I just want to ask what’s happening to it and who it will be going to(sorry I don’t want to be an arse and ask stupid questions I just want to know to be honest)

The chargesing the new Electric buses at Stockton that want I mean mate.

(27 May 2025, 8:15 pm)Glen1974 wrote When are switching on this it this week ? At Stockton.

It literally says above your post in another reply, and I quote


"Incorrect - another week until switch-on, as confirmed to many by the depot's Assistant Operations Manager during the Teesside Park launch on Saturday"

By Kuyoyo.

Thank mate

What will happen to the current buses at Stockton when all of the EV arrive?

(28 May 2025, 6:03 pm)Bus Lad Roy wrote What will happen to the current buses at Stockton when all of the EV arrive?

I imagine they will be cascaded to other depots within Stagecoach, hopefully some stay in the North East. The oldest vehicles will likely be withdrawn.

Mod note: I've removed a handful of posts which go against the forum rules.

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Likewise, it's not acceptable to pile on posters for doing the above. Use the 'Report' button instead. No one wants to see bad language, nor do they want to see members banned when it could be avoided.

Cheers.

(28 May 2025, 6:14 pm)GrahamD83 wrote I imagine they will be cascaded to other depots within Stagecoach, hopefully some stay in the North East. The oldest vehicles will likely be withdrawn.

The plan was to send a majority of the fleet to Hartlepool to help with capacity and get rid of the less reliable and older buses in the fleet but from what a driver told they will be going to Slatyford with some of there buses going to Hartlepool which doesn’t really help much as your replacing knackered buses with more knackered buses. Saying that I don’t think the managers have much of a clue most of the time as things seem to constantly be getting changed.

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I would personally hold fire on all movements though and concentrate on Hartlepool since Stagecoach know for sure they will continue to have the depot and services there in the long term which can not be said with any certainty for South Shields or the Two Newcastle depots or Sunderland. Rebuild the pits and invest in Hartlepool with full size buses and invest in the network and you could make a nice profit especially as since Arriva don’t seem interested they are gaps in the market especially to areas like Dalton Park and likes of Easington Village and Hordon

(29 May 2025, 10:24 pm)col87 wrote The plan was to send a majority of the fleet to Hartlepool to help with capacity and get rid of the less reliable and older buses in the fleet but from what a driver told they will be going to Slatyford with some of there buses going to Hartlepool which doesn’t really help much as your replacing knackered buses with more knackered buses. Saying that I don’t think the managers have much of a clue most of the time as things seem to constantly be getting changed.

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I would personally hold fire on all movements though and concentrate on Hartlepool since Stagecoach know for sure they will continue to have the depot and services there in the long term which can not be said with any certainty for South Shields or the Two Newcastle depots or Sunderland. Rebuild the pits and invest in Hartlepool with full size buses and invest in the network and you could make a nice profit especially as since Arriva don’t seem interested they are gaps in the market especially to areas like Dalton Park and likes of Easington Village and Hordon

Very optimistic given that franchising hasn’t even been confirmed & be at least 2027 if it is. At least 4 of the 64 plate e300’s are destined for South Shields to see off the pointer darts still in service. Hartlepool will likely receive displaced e200s from across the region when the electrics have seen off the e300s to there respective depots

(26 May 2025, 8:09 am)Kuyoyo wrote Incorrect - another week until switch-on, as confirmed to many by the depot's Assistant Operations Manager during the Teesside Park launch on Saturday.

One of the drivers told me today they still not ready so the long enviros and man’s might be getting another month or 2 yet.  Apparently they are still getting the chargers sorted and even then you would think it will be common sense to keep some diesels in a reserve capacity.

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(30 May 2025, 6:40 pm)Youngymmv wrote Very optimistic given that franchising hasn’t even been confirmed & be at least 2027 if it is. At least 4 of the 64 plate e300’s are destined for South Shields to see off the pointer darts still in service. Hartlepool will likely receive displaced e200s from across the region when the electrics have seen off the e300s to there respective depots

yes as usual Hartlepool gets the knackered buses from elsewhere, instead of them actually investing in the depot.

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(26 May 2025, 8:09 am)Kuyoyo wrote Incorrect - another week until switch-on, as confirmed to many by the depot's Assistant Operations Manager during the Teesside Park launch on Saturday.

One of the drivers told me today they still not ready so the long enviros and man’s might be getting another month or 2 yet.  Apparently they are still getting the chargers sorted and even then you would think it will be common sense to keep some diesels in a reserve capacity.

Aren't Hartlepool (and South Shields) low cost depots because they simply don't make much money? Sure it was mentioned years ago hence the E1/E2/E6 being moved to Sunderland as they were 'too good' to be there.

Would explain the lack of investment, at both. The 23/24/36 are the money makers in Hartlepool imo and all 3 quite regularly get investment, admit the 22/23/24 have been awhile now but that's the same for all Arriva routes.

(29 May 2025, 10:24 pm)col87 wrote The plan was to send a majority of the fleet to Hartlepool to help with capacity and get rid of the less reliable and older buses in the fleet but from what a driver told they will be going to Slatyford with some of there buses going to Hartlepool which doesn’t really help much as your replacing knackered buses with more knackered buses. Saying that I don’t think the managers have much of a clue most of the time as things seem to constantly be getting changed.

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I would personally hold fire on all movements though and concentrate on Hartlepool since Stagecoach know for sure they will continue to have the depot and services there in the long term which can not be said with any certainty for South Shields or the Two Newcastle depots or Sunderland. Rebuild the pits and invest in Hartlepool with full size buses and invest in the network and you could make a nice profit especially as since Arriva don’t seem interested they are gaps in the market especially to areas like Dalton Park and likes of Easington Village and Hordon

Stagecoach is a business and will certainly have long term plans. Hartlepool doesn't need single deck buses, midi buses are just fine. They run local town routes, which are going to get busy at peak times but that's part of the course. Why rebuild a depot to replace 10-15 year old buses with slightly bigger (4 extra seats if that) 10-15 year old buses? 

Hartlepool won't get investment until it's needed, which will likely be electric vehicles when the 63/15 E200 darts need replacing. 

As mentioned, the 36 serves a fair bit of Hartlepool and will soon run brand new fully electric buses with air con and high back leather seating - it's not like the town is getting nothing.

(29 May 2025, 10:24 pm)col87 wrote The plan was to send a majority of the fleet to Hartlepool to help with capacity and get rid of the less reliable and older buses in the fleet but from what a driver told they will be going to Slatyford with some of there buses going to Hartlepool which doesn’t really help much as your replacing knackered buses with more knackered buses. Saying that I don’t think the managers have much of a clue most of the time as things seem to constantly be getting changed

Stocktons buses can’t go to Slatyford we literally had to give them back the 271**’s and 272**’s due to them being Euro 5 and swapped them with the 262**’s.

(31 May 2025, 5:03 pm)benji123 wrote Stagecoach is a business and will certainly have long term plans. Hartlepool doesn't need single deck buses, midi buses are just fine. They run local town routes, which are going to get busy at peak times but that's part of the course. Why rebuild a depot to replace 10-15 year old buses with slightly bigger (4 extra seats if that) 10-15 year old buses? 

Hartlepool won't get investment until it's needed, which will likely be electric vehicles when the 63/15 E200 darts need replacing. 

As mentioned, the 36 serves a fair bit of Hartlepool and will soon run brand new fully electric buses with air con and high back leather seating - it's not like the town is getting nothing.

Actually Hartlepool does need better full sizes along with some smaller buses.  The 1 6/7 can all get full at various times of the day, i know this because I regularly see it happening and use them services.  Some smaller could be handy for some but not all areas of the town.  You could actually use the same excuse to downgrade Stockton considering it’s mostly town services why do they need full size buses ?  
Why rebuild the depot you ask because if you did and made the pits your making it better for the future, full size buses could actually be used not just on town services but a few more out of town services as well.  The bus users in Hartlepool are sick of getting knackered midi buses and want to see better services.

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(31 May 2025, 5:03 pm)benji123 wrote Stagecoach is a business and will certainly have long term plans. Hartlepool doesn't need single deck buses, midi buses are just fine. They run local town routes, which are going to get busy at peak times but that's part of the course. Why rebuild a depot to replace 10-15 year old buses with slightly bigger (4 extra seats if that) 10-15 year old buses? 

Hartlepool won't get investment until it's needed, which will likely be electric vehicles when the 63/15 E200 darts need replacing. 

As mentioned, the 36 serves a fair bit of Hartlepool and will soon run brand new fully electric buses with air con and high back leather seating - it's not like the town is getting nothing.

Actually Hartlepool does need better full sizes along with some smaller buses.  The 1 6/7 can all get full at various times of the day, i know this because I regularly see it happening and use them services.  Some smaller could be handy for some but not all areas of the town.  You could actually use the same excuse to downgrade Stockton considering it’s mostly town services why do they need full size buses ?  
Why rebuild the depot you ask because if you did and made the pits your making it better for the future, full size buses could actually be used not just on town services but a few more out of town services as well.  The bus users in Hartlepool are sick of getting knackered midi buses and want to see better services.

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(31 May 2025, 7:53 pm)ReDemPTiion wrote Stocktons buses can’t go to Slatyford we literally had to give them back the 271**’s and 272**’s due to them being Euro 5 and swapped them with the 262**’s.

Was going by what a driver said I would actually prefer if they did come to Hartlepool myself.

(01 Jun 2025, 4:50 pm)col87 wrote Actually Hartlepool does need better full sizes along with some smaller buses.  The 1 6/7 can all get full at various times of the day, i know this because I regularly see it happening and use them services.  Some smaller could be handy for some but not all areas of the town.  You could actually use the same excuse to downgrade Stockton considering it’s mostly town services why do they need full size buses ?  
Why rebuild the depot you ask because if you did and made the pits your making it better for the future, full size buses could actually be used not just on town services but a few more out of town services as well.  The bus users in Hartlepool are sick of getting knackered midi buses and want to see better services.

Out of town services do not exist though, and they won't. 

The whole point of a bus is to get full at various points of the day, I bet the 1, 6 and 7 run empty at times too. And again, all this money for what buses that can carry a few extra people? You're missing the point, the investment will come in the years to come. For now, they decided to focus on Stockton and Sunderland and in the future Slatyford. A refit of the depot will come in the form of electric buses and the chargers. 

Stockton has midi buses, the new E12s have less seats than the E300s, but as long as the bus turns up it's already done its job. 

95% of passengers just want a bus that turns up, people are not having conversations on the bus because a 2009 E200 turned up rather than at 2015 E200...

I’d like to share some observations and suggestions regarding local and regional bus services in the Hartlepool area.
Hartlepool currently operates the 59 service to Durham, which functions as an out-of-town route. In contrast, the No. 1 service serves as a more direct intercity connection, particularly compared to the 36. The 36 passes through a number of areas including Teesside Park, Stockton, Norton, Billingham, and Greatham before reaching the upper parts of town such as Owton Manor Lane and Catcote Road. Due to its frequent stops, the 36 operates more as a regional, all-stops service, which often leads to overcrowding.
The No. 1 route experiences higher strain because passengers prefer a quicker, more direct service over one with numerous detours. To alleviate this, consideration could be given to increasing the frequency or vehicle size on this route, particularly during peak hours.
Similarly, the 59 to Durham shows strong potential and could benefit from larger buses and more regular service. This route is a revenue opportunity for the Hartlepool depot, especially when compared to Stockton's 6 to Darlington, which follows a more circuitous path and may be less efficient.
To manage congestion and improve passenger experience—especially during the summer months—it may be worth considering a small reserve fleet of double-decker buses (5–6 units) to be deployed on high-demand services. Overcrowding leads to discomfort and potential loss of ridership, so proactive planning is essential.
Additionally, Hartlepool could see financial and service-level benefits by exploring new or reinstated routes, such as:

• A modern replacement for the former GNE X6 service.
  
• Revived services similar to the old X35/X55 routes, potentially serving Sunderland and Doxford Park.
  

When strategically planned, bus routes—like train services—can be financially sustainable and even profitable. Smart investment and planning can drive growth, meet passenger demand more effectively, and enhance regional connectivity.
Thank you for considering these points. I’d be happy to discuss these ideas further.

(01 Jun 2025, 5:10 pm)benji123 wrote Out of town services do not exist though, and they won't. 

The whole point of a bus is to get full at various points of the day, I bet the 1, 6 and 7 run empty at times too. And again, all this money for what buses that can carry a few extra people? You're missing the point, the investment will come in the years to come. For now, they decided to focus on Stockton and Sunderland and in the future Slatyford. A refit of the depot will come in the form of electric buses and the chargers. 

Stockton has midi buses, the new E12s have less seats than the E300s, but as long as the bus turns up it's already done its job. 

95% of passengers just want a bus that turns up, people are not having conversations on the bus because a 2009 E200 turned up rather than at 2015 E200...

Right well from your posts you certainly don’t live or use the services in Hartlepool where as I do and I am a member of a local transport forum I know that people are definitely not happy  about the age of the buses, about overcrowding, about areas without a service and about the bus network in general so please don’t pretend you know what passengers want.  It’s no good the bus turning up if it’s full and no one can get due to how busy it is, so yes buses with a few extra seats as you put would be very nice.  Hartlepool do actually have 3 out of town services in the 1, 59 and UCG all could probably do with bigger buses.  
Every service has a journey or 2 where it don’t carry many passengers, that includes Newcastle where they have Deckers on some routes going round empty.  
You’re right in that the Yutongs  have less seats and I have already posted about that as they are going to have capacity issues on busier services.  
All Stagecoach really have to do in Hartlepool is extend the pits, even being a small depot they is plenty of space to do that. Bigger buses means more passengers, more out of town services either commercial or contract means opening up places and getting more profit it’s not difficult to understand.

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(01 Jun 2025, 5:10 pm)benji123 wrote Out of town services do not exist though, and they won't. 

The whole point of a bus is to get full at various points of the day, I bet the 1, 6 and 7 run empty at times too. And again, all this money for what buses that can carry a few extra people? You're missing the point, the investment will come in the years to come. For now, they decided to focus on Stockton and Sunderland and in the future Slatyford. A refit of the depot will come in the form of electric buses and the chargers. 

Stockton has midi buses, the new E12s have less seats than the E300s, but as long as the bus turns up it's already done its job. 

95% of passengers just want a bus that turns up, people are not having conversations on the bus because a 2009 E200 turned up rather than at 2015 E200...

Right well from your posts you certainly don’t live or use the services in Hartlepool where as I do and I am a member of a local transport forum I know that people are definitely not happy  about the age of the buses, about overcrowding, about areas without a service and about the bus network in general so please don’t pretend you know what passengers want.  It’s no good the bus turning up if it’s full and no one can get due to how busy it is, so yes buses with a few extra seats as you put would be very nice.  Hartlepool do actually have 3 out of town services in the 1, 59 and UCG all could probably do with bigger buses.  
Every service has a journey or 2 where it don’t carry many passengers, that includes Newcastle where they have Deckers on some routes going round empty.  
You’re right in that the Yutongs  have less seats and I have already posted about that as they are going to have capacity issues on busier services.  
All Stagecoach really have to do in Hartlepool is extend the pits, even being a small depot they is plenty of space to do that. Bigger buses means more passengers, more out of town services either commercial or contract means opening up places and getting more profit it’s not difficult to understand.

(02 Jun 2025, 8:18 pm)I’m col87 wrote Right well from your posts you certainly don’t live or use the services in Hartlepool where as I do and I am a member of a local transport forum I know that people are definitely not happy  about the age of the buses, about overcrowding, about areas without a service and about the bus network in general so please don’t pretend you know what passengers want.  It’s no good the bus turning up if it’s full and no one can get due to how busy it is, so yes buses with a few extra seats as you put would be very nice.  Hartlepool do actually have 3 out of town services in the 1, 59 and UCG all could probably do with bigger buses.  
Every service has a journey or 2 where it don’t carry many passengers, that includes Newcastle where they have Deckers on some routes going round empty.  
You’re right in that the Yutongs  have less seats and I have already posted about that as they are going to have capacity issues on busier services.  
All Stagecoach really have to do in Hartlepool is extend the pits, even being a small depot they is plenty of space to do that. Bigger buses means more passengers, more out of town services either commercial or contract means opening up places and getting more profit it’s not difficult to understand.

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Right well from your posts you certainly don’t live or use the services in Hartlepool where as I do and I am a member of a local transport forum I know that people are definitely not happy  about the age of the buses, about overcrowding, about areas without a service and about the bus network in general so please don’t pretend you know what passengers want.  It’s no good the bus turning up if it’s full and no one can get due to how busy it is, so yes buses with a few extra seats as you put would be very nice.  Hartlepool do actually have 3 out of town services in the 1, 59 and UCG all could probably do with bigger buses.  
Every service has a journey or 2 where it don’t carry many passengers, that includes Newcastle where they have Deckers on some routes going round empty.  
You’re right in that the Yutongs  have less seats and I have already posted about that as they are going to have capacity issues on busier services.  
All Stagecoach really have to do in Hartlepool is extend the pits, even being a small depot they is plenty of space to do that. Bigger buses means more passengers, more out of town services either commercial or contract means opening up places and getting more profit it’s not difficult to understand.

And yet we have services in Newcastle that are single deckers that should be double deckers particularly 62/63 , 38 some journeys and you have 3 double deckers going around on the 18 carrying fresh air (yes it’s a contract ) but even so …

(02 Jun 2025, 10:44 pm)tCoastliner700 wrote And yet we have services in Newcastle that are single deckers that should be double deckers particularly 62/63 , 38 some journeys and you have 3 double deckers going around on the 18 carrying fresh air (yes it’s a contract ) but even so …

Simple solution really is get more double deckers, I think some might become surplus soon as I think Manchester could be losing services and order maybe 20 odd next year 10 for Newcastle and 10 for Stockton. That means some of the Enviro 300s could go to Hartlepool to replace the enviro 200s, most of which need scrapping as they are completely unreliable, Hartlepool could maybe even get some older enviro 400s ( double deckers will be needed for service 7 for at least two weeks over the summer holidays for the Carnival which does see nearly every service 7 completely full ) as well as service 1 which is often full from both Middlesbrough and Hartlepool as it is.