(29 Oct 2025, 8:58 pm)Kimlfixit wrote True enough. No disrespect to Stockton, but I would think Darlington would be a bigger draw. One assumes at the time they withdrew the X21 they thought about either Darlington or Stockton and plumbed for Stockton and now Stockton is a building site and Darlo is upwardly mobile

Yeah, to be honest, the Trimdons are probably partially moaning because Arriva are attacking them again. Seems every time they're doing service changes they're getting something cut from the area; with Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Durham, Newton Aycliffe, Darlington, Hartlepool and now Stockton all lost over the past 10 year or so. 

Obviously some links are kept with the 59 being ran by the council though and they're regaining the Aycliffe / Darlington links, potentially but I'd be pretty annoyed aswell to be honest.

(57A (https://api.arrivabus.co.uk/routes/servi...r-2021.pdf) and the X21 heading to Sunderland being those routes for reference)

The X22 when I used to drive it (10 years ago now…) used to carry decent numbers and especially on market day would be full & standing. I’m told it’s effectively dead now though. As Jimmi says they need to be able to do it with 4 buses though and the extra mileage to Darlington won’t allow this I don’t think.

(29 Oct 2025, 8:12 pm)Jimmi wrote Views are very mixed on the proposed changes, some want the Aycliffe & Darlo link back, but understandably there's opposition to the removal of the current X22 to North Tees Hospital and Stockton, more for North Tees as is often the way when hospital links are removed.

Biggest issues with the routes are the fact it's essentially dead south of Sedgefield, not helped by the gaps of anywhere to pick up/drop off passengers for about 15 minutes, current X22 not being helped by the fact it largely dupes the X12 for the remainder of the route for Stockton aside from Thorpe Thewles which risks losing its bus service as a result and North Tees which is typically not a daily link for most aside from people who work there and the X12 stops close by. At very least the X21 provides a link which is now a nightmare to undertake, especially from Newton Aycliffe.

Comments are still being made wishing for the X12 to additionally serve Fishburn which Arriva suggested about doing in a survey a few year back but was left as it was.

If it was going to be running to/from Darlington again, not sure how it would work resource wise given the extra time it takes to run to Darlo via Aycliffe vs the current X22 to Stockton which requires 4 buses, unless it somehow got worked in with the 22/23/24 cycle.

Sorry I missed this, yeah I could imagine that would be the case to be honest but I guess it depends how many people are really using it or if it's people moaning for the sake of moaning. 

Wonder if there might be additional changes coming to Darlington as part of this, mainly involving the 8/17 as it could easily work with one of them, if say the 8 was changed in some way.

Not sure sending the X12 through Fishburn would be good though as it'd extend it badly.

imo if Durham wanted to make changes, the best thing would be to split the 59 in half, the extreme double back via Trimdon pretty much makes it two bus routes anyway, with one side of it being extended South to Stockton and the other just terminating short somewhere. They might actually have some passengers then as they're rather quiet right now whenever I've seen them.

(Yesterday, 9:08 am)Storx wrote Sorry I missed this, yeah I could imagine that would be the case to be honest but I guess it depends how many people are really using it or if it's people moaning for the sake of moaning. 

Wonder if there might be additional changes coming to Darlington as part of this, mainly involving the 8/17 as it could easily work with one of them, if say the 8 was changed in some way.

Not sure sending the X12 through Fishburn would be good though as it'd extend it badly.

imo if Durham wanted to make changes, the best thing would be to split the 59 in half, the extreme double back via Trimdon pretty much makes it two bus routes anyway, with one side of it being extended South to Stockton and the other just terminating short somewhere. They might actually have some passengers then as they're rather quiet right now whenever I've seen them.

The 8/8A currently interworks with the 17, although I suspect that's now more so only one double decker has to be allocated to one board to do the school service 865 at both ends of the school day, can't imagine Arriva have anything major planned for the 8/8A at least, as likely would have to be a survey for that too - being in Tees Valley, don't think surveys would need to be made for the likes of the 16/17/18 although lord knows what's planned for all the Tees Valley contract services when the contracts are currently expected to end in the spring.

I would imagine that the X12 would require an extra 5 minutes if it were to serve Fishburn en route to Sedgefield.

Pretty much all the routes in that part of County Durham have been cut to within an inch of their lives that many are now of little use to many people, area needs a whole overhaul but given the levels services have been reduced to, I can only see further cuts and changes like what's currently being consulted on with the X22.

(Yesterday, 10:26 pm)Jimmi wrote The 8/8A currently interworks with the 17, although I suspect that's now more so only one double decker has to be allocated to one board to do the school service 865 at both ends of the school day, can't imagine Arriva have anything major planned for the 8/8A at least, as likely would have to be a survey for that too - being in Tees Valley, don't think surveys would need to be made for the likes of the 16/17/18 although lord knows what's planned for all the Tees Valley contract services when the contracts are currently expected to end in the spring.

I would imagine that the X12 would require an extra 5 minutes if it were to serve Fishburn en route to Sedgefield.

Pretty much all the routes in that part of County Durham have been cut to within an inch of their lives that many are now of little use to many people, area needs a whole overhaul but given the levels services have been reduced to, I can only see further cuts and changes like what's currently being consulted on with the X22.

Aye definitely, guess it depends if it was an extension though I suppose - don't think they need to do a survey for positive changes.

The 113 is the one which is standing out though, unsure when the tender is up though.

8 -> 8A/113 -> X21 -> X21 -> 17 (and vice versa) would pretty much work on paper and I know Arriva were looking at expanding their services so who knows? Agreed with the cuts in that part though.

(Today, 12:10 am)Storx wrote Aye definitely, guess it depends if it was an extension though I suppose - don't think they need to do a survey for positive changes.

The 113 is the one which is standing out though, unsure when the tender is up though.

8 -> 8A/113 -> X21 -> X21 -> 17 (and vice versa) would pretty much work on paper and I know Arriva were looking at expanding their services so who knows? Agreed with the cuts in that part though.

Durham contracts are up for renewal in 2026, providing extentions are applied to the current tenders.

Times work although the 8 & X21 would be running around 10-15 minutes apart which isn't ideal but then again, the withdrawal of the X21 left a gap in what was previously a roughly 7/8 minute combined frequency between Darlington and Aycliffe, although the 7 running a 20 minute frequency on a Saturday had already impacted that.

(6 hours ago)Jimmi wrote Durham contracts are up for renewal in 2026, providing extentions are applied to the current tenders.

Times work although the 8 & X21 would be running around 10-15 minutes apart which isn't ideal but then again, the withdrawal of the X21 left a gap in what was previously a roughly 7/8 minute combined frequency between Darlington and Aycliffe, although the 7 running a 20 minute frequency on a Saturday had already impacted that.

Had a feeling they were up soon, the 10-15 minutes could be an issue.

Who knows, but definitely wouldn't be surprised to see some changes around there personally - hopefully positive for once though. It's been awhile tbh.