The March 2026 contracts have been awarded in the majority of cases work is retained by the current operators. 
With the following changes:

18 from Stagecoach (Newcastle) to Northstar. 
32/32A from Stagecoach to GCT.
333 new service to GNE.
599 Northstar to GCT.
787 Stagecoach to GNE (route extended to Byker).
X46 GCT to Stanley Travel.

(4 hours ago)GuyParkRoyal wrote The March 2026 contracts have been awarded in the majority of cases work is retained by the current operators. 
With the following changes:

18 from Stagecoach (Newcastle) to Northstar. 
32/32A from Stagecoach to GCT.
333 new service to GNE.
599 Northstar to GCT.
787 Stagecoach to GNE (route extended to Byker).
X46 GCT to Stanley Travel.

How true is this? Not sure if Stagecoach are losing the 32/32A as there was talks of us getting electric buses for them routes.

(2 hours ago)ReDemPTiion wrote How true is this? Not sure if Stagecoach are losing the 32/32A as there was talks of us getting electric buses for them routes.

Surely the 342 can’t be retained by GNE since they’re the reason it has to be put out to tender!

Gutted about Northstar losing the 599.

They ran it really good.

(2 hours ago)Michael wrote Gutted about Northstar losing the 599.

They ran it really good.

Sadly it's the massive flaw with the short contracts which Nexus does. They'd be much better awarding 3/4 year contracts and give the operator a little bit of a chance to do something with their route, even if it's forced branding on some like the Durham P&R, Northumberland Connect, Durham Cathedral, Whitby P&R etc. services.

It doesn't help anyone having a route yo-yo'ing around operators and I'm sure operators like Northstar would love that opportunity.

Heck just look at City Transport and their effort on the Sunderland Connect which is the only one with a longer contract.

(2 hours ago)Coastliner700 wrote Surely the 342 can’t be retained by GNE since they’re the reason it has to be put out to tender!

Yeah 100% GNE don’t want the 342 they’ve even said they don’t want it. I’ll wait until it’s officially announced to see what’s actually happening.

Would the 333 award cover the 19 too as thought it was interworking or have I picked that up wrong?

(1 hour ago)gc802002 wrote Would the 333 award cover the 19 too as thought it was interworking or have I picked that up wrong?

The 333 is a single contract.
19, 19A & 335 part of the same contract.

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(2 hours ago)Coastliner700 wrote Surely the 342 can’t be retained by GNE since they’re the reason it has to be put out to tender!

341 & 342 are both retained by GNE as a single contract.

(2 hours ago)Michael wrote Gutted about Northstar losing the 599.

They ran it really good.

First day of operation.! Lets see what doesn't operate, and doesn't operate with a tiny minibus.

(2 hours ago)ReDemPTiion wrote How true is this? Not sure if Stagecoach are losing the 32/32A as there was talks of us getting electric buses for them routes.

Contracts were provisionally awarded yesterday, with operators now in a “standstill” period (where results can - and often do - change).

Until the back end of next week, it’s a little too early to take the above as gospel.