(19 Feb 2026, 10:52 am)col87 wrote I know they are going out to tender and Stagecoach have more or less got the 51 as they have the route planned and timings already to go. I mean unless City or Northstar decide to expand down onto Teesside I don’t see who else it would be as really only Stagecoach who could do it as things stand.  Compass Royston maybe but they don’t seem to have any interest at getting back into service work either.

As stated earlier - Stagecoach will at least be operating the 51 from the start on the 30th March until July when they are formally tendered (alongside all the TVCA-funded work). I believe the routes and timetables are all now locked in.

(19 Feb 2026, 11:45 am)Kuyoyo wrote As stated earlier - Stagecoach will at least be operating the 51 from the start on the 30th March until July when they are formally tendered (alongside all the TVCA-funded work). I believe the routes and timetables are all now locked in.

https://teesvalley-ca.gov.uk/travel/wp-c...ice-51.pdf

https://teesvalley-ca.gov.uk/travel/wp-c...ce-X86.pdf

Timetables are now out

Stagecoach changes are out

Some timetable improvements

18 will be under same timetable & route and 787 will have a new route and timetable which tells you to check the Nexus website

12/32/32A/62/63/X63 all moving stands on Blackett Street with it here

12 (current 62/63 Stand)
32/32A (believe the same stand as the 12)
62/63 (current 12/32/32A stand)
X63 (stop outside of Greggs where the 100 used to stop)

(02 Mar 2026, 3:40 pm)Nerd4321 wrote Stagecoach changes are out

Some timetable improvements

18 will be under same timetable & route and 787 will have a new route and timetable which tells you to check the Nexus website

12/32/32A/62/63/X63 all moving stands on Blackett Street with it here

12 (current 62/63 Stand)
32/32A (believe the same stand as the 12)
62/63 (current 12/32/32A stand)
X63 (stop outside of Greggs where the 100 used to stop)

I've also noticed the 18s have a grace period for Stagecoach tickets yet the 787's do not.

Says alot about Go North East.

They did the same with the 317s. When Stagecoach first won it, they accepted GNE tickets for the first few weeks but GNE didn't do the same in return.

(02 Mar 2026, 4:19 pm)SN69 ZRC wrote I've also noticed the 18s have a grace period for Stagecoach tickets yet the 787's do not.

Says alot about Go North East.

They did the same with the 317s. When Stagecoach first won it, they accepted GNE tickets for the first few weeks but GNE didn't do the same in return.

Stagecoach tickets will be vaild on the 787 for the first four weeks after the change in operator.

(02 Mar 2026, 3:40 pm)Nerd4321 wrote Stagecoach changes are out

Some timetable improvements

18 will be under same timetable & route and 787 will have a new route and timetable which tells you to check the Nexus website

12/32/32A/62/63/X63 all moving stands on Blackett Street with it here

12 (current 62/63 Stand)
32/32A (believe the same stand as the 12)
62/63 (current 12/32/32A stand)
X63 (stop outside of Greggs where the 100 used to stop)

Interesting the 39/40 are the only ones not moving stands

(02 Mar 2026, 8:19 pm)V514DFT wrote Interesting the 39/40 are the only ones not moving stands

It's because they are grouping the services together. The stands East of the Zebra Crossing are for the Killingworth services, whilst those West of the Zebra all go to Walker.

(02 Mar 2026, 8:42 pm)Rapidsnap wrote It's because they are grouping the services together. The stands East of the Zebra Crossing are for the Killingworth services, whilst those West of the Zebra all go to Walker.

I think this is sensible as the 62/63/X63 stand gets backed up and blocks the 39/40. However, I feel they should've done it the opposite way around as the 62/63s will be blocking the Zebra crossing now as the 12/32s already do and they are less frequent and better with timekeeping. 

I think it should be 62/63 outside greggs and X63 behind as any late stacked services can go across the two bus stops that way with the X63 only being half hourly won't cause issues with this.

But time will tell... positive overall though. 


My own hypothetical scenario would be to remove the X24/X34 off of that awful stand on Pilgrim St (where they back onto the junction) they only moved across the road due to the building works which are just about done anyways and swap them to the old 100 stop on Blackett St and move the X63 to terminate at Central (providing separate links from the slower counterparts). Interested to know if people have other suggestions...

(02 Mar 2026, 9:31 pm)logidoodah wrote My own hypothetical scenario would be to remove the X24/X34 off of that awful stand on Pilgrim St (where they back onto the junction) they only moved across the road due to the building works which are just about done anyways and swap them to the old 100 stop on Blackett St and move the X63 to terminate at Central (providing separate links from the slower counterparts). Interested to know if people have other suggestions...

Do you mean the stop outside of Greggs?  How would the X24/X34 get there without doing a massive detour to enable them to head east on that bit of Blackett Street?  They stop where they do as it's straight up Pilgrim Street off the Tyne Bridge, then straight out via Hole in the Wall.

I believe once JDS re-opens, they're planning on returning the X24/34 to going in via Hole in the Wall and out via Pilgrim Street. Don't quote me on it though.

(Yesterday, 3:16 am)F114TML wrote I believe once JDS re-opens, they're planning on returning the X24/34 to going in via Hole in the Wall and out via Pilgrim Street. Don't quote me on it though.

Yeah it's probably same difference whichever direction you run that loop in - just can't see how you could usefully use the Blackett St stop for those services.

(Yesterday, 10:39 am)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Yeah it's probably same difference whichever direction you run that loop in - just can't see how you could usefully use the Blackett St stop for those services.

Ideally the X24/X34 should be in Eldon Square with all the other expresses. But obviously Sunderland and South Tyneside buses go from Market Street, not Eldon Square. So Market Street or Pilgrim Street makes sense. Realistically, the X24/X34 aren't needed as the Metro exists. 27 and 56 serve places along the way, an express just duplicates the Metro.

(Yesterday, 11:17 am)OrangeArrow49 wrote Ideally the X24/X34 should be in Eldon Square with all the other expresses. But obviously Sunderland and South Tyneside buses go from Market Street, not Eldon Square. So Market Street or Pilgrim Street makes sense. Realistically, the X24/X34 aren't needed as the Metro exists. 27 and 56 serve places along the way, an express just duplicates the Metro.

Hmm, you wouldn’t get the 56 from Sunderland , as it goes via Washington, the moon and Pluto before it reaches Newcastle. Also have you heard of Chester Road and the Grindon Broadway? Nowhere near the 56!

(Yesterday, 11:49 am)Economic505 wrote Hmm, you wouldn’t get the 56 from Sunderland , as it goes via Washington, the moon and Pluto before it reaches Newcastle. Also have you heard of Chester Road and the Grindon Broadway? Nowhere near the 56!

No, that was my point. The 56 and 27 serve places along the route, they are not end-to-end Newcastle to Sunderland/South Shields routes. X24/X34 are designed for end-to-end journeys, which is covered by the Metro.

I have actually done the full 56 and 27 routes, and they aren't bad. But I wasn't saying to do that, I was saying get the Metro.

imo Blackett Street should be closed, same as the areas around the new HMRC. 

Vehicles should not be travelling through the city core.

All buses going around the outside of Newcastle with everything terminating in the same place around Haymarket / Eldon Square.

(Yesterday, 11:17 am)OrangeArrow49 wrote Ideally the X24/X34 should be in Eldon Square with all the other expresses. But obviously Sunderland and South Tyneside buses go from Market Street, not Eldon Square. So Market Street or Pilgrim Street makes sense. Realistically, the X24/X34 aren't needed as the Metro exists. 27 and 56 serve places along the way, an express just duplicates the Metro.

I live in Harton, where is my metro station? The reason why the X24/X34 exist is precisely because there's no metro connection for the areas served. The 27 doesn't go anywhere near me either.

(Yesterday, 2:27 pm)deanmachine wrote I live in Harton, where is my metro station? The reason why the X24/X34 exist is precisely because there's no metro connection for the areas served. The 27 doesn't go anywhere near me either.

Exactly this - same true for those living along Chester Road/The Broadway - why would they want to travel in the wrong direction to get a Metro?  This is exactly the kind of gap bus services should fill.  The idea they shouldn't exist on the basis there is a Metro at either end of the route is nonsense, taking into account everyone who lives or works on the route not served by the Metro.  As is apparent when you consider the success Stagecoach have had with the X34 in particular, introducing it commercially as a totally new midibus route in (I think) 1996 - still going strong at the same frequency with deckers.  X24 is obviously newer but still sees decent loadings in line with expected passenger flows.

(Yesterday, 2:55 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Exactly this - same true for those living along Chester Road/The Broadway - why would they want to travel in the wrong direction to get a Metro?  This is exactly the kind of gap bus services should fill.  The idea they shouldn't exist on the basis there is a Metro at either end of the route is nonsense, taking into account everyone who lives or works on the route not served by the Metro.  As is apparent when you consider the success Stagecoach have had with the X34 in particular, introducing it commercially as a totally new midibus route in (I think) 1996 - still going strong at the same frequency with deckers.  X24 is obviously newer but still sees decent loadings in line with expected passenger flows.

Must admit I never really understand why the X24, serves Sunderland. There's tonnes of the South of the city which has no bus services towards Newcastle, they should keep it away like the X34 stays away from South Shields; there's more than enough services along Chester Road for Sunderland itself.

Something like:


Just throwing a random route from nowhere, there's arguably a few local links on it aswell, especially to the hospital which is also as awkward to get to since stuff like the 35 were pulled from the areas.

(Yesterday, 3:19 pm)Storx wrote Must admit I never really understand why the X24, serves Sunderland. There's tonnes of the South of the city which has no bus services towards Newcastle, they should keep it away like the X34 stays away from South Shields; there's more than enough services along Chester Road for Sunderland itself.

Something like:


Just throwing a random route from nowhere, there's arguably a few local links on it aswell, especially to the hospital which is also as awkward to get to since stuff like the 35 were pulled from the areas.

I think it is probably because once you're as far as the Hospital area, you pretty much may as well make the run into the City Centre as it will generate fares (hospital, uni etc) and fits into the 3 bus rota (and operationally convenient re layovers, changeovers).  I'd guess from your example map that doing something more ambitious along those lines would mean adding in an extra resource which might then not stack up commercially.  Definitely agree though that there are chunks of Sunderland South that are lacking useful cross links since the likes of 6, 18, 19 were all pulled over the years in favour of the managed decline of the 'change in the city centre' mindset.

(Yesterday, 3:39 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote I think it is probably because once you're as far as the Hospital area, you pretty much may as well make the run into the City Centre as it will generate fares (hospital, uni etc) and fits into the 3 bus rota (and operationally convenient re layovers, changeovers).  I'd guess from your example map that doing something more ambitious along those lines would mean adding in an extra resource which might then not stack up commercially.  Definitely agree though that there are chunks of Sunderland South that are lacking useful cross links since the likes of 6, 18, 19 were all pulled over the years in favour of the managed decline of the 'change in the city centre' mindset.

Aye can't disagree really.

It's a shame though as it could be an opportunity to link those links together with a service which is actually useful for people going to a place they can't get to (Newcastle). It's where BSIP should've been used rather than upping the 56 imo. Even better if it somehow done parts of North Sunderland away from the 56 aswell.

There are many people who go city centre to city centre on the X24, presumably because it's much cheaper than the Metro, and not that much slower. Fair few also get on in the University/Western Hill/Chesters area.

The issue is coming the other way - until you get to The Broadway, the X24 is the only bus going into Fawcett Street since they pulled the 2. This has a knock-on effect with delays. I've just moved to doing them permanently and there's been a few times I've had only one or two on at Gateshead yet dropped off half a bus load in Fawcett Street. It's even worse when the 16's late as they're due within a few minutes of each other.

---

(Yesterday, 3:49 pm)Storx wrote Aye can't disagree really.

It's a shame though as it could be an opportunity to link those links together with a service which is actually useful for people going to a place they can't get to (Newcastle). It's where BSIP should've been used rather than upping the 56 imo. Even better if it somehow done parts of North Sunderland away from the 56 aswell.

Like the X36 did?

(Yesterday, 4:44 pm)F114TML wrote There are many people who go city centre to city centre on the X24, presumably because it's much cheaper than the Metro, and not that much slower. Fair few also get on in the University/Western Hill/Chesters area.

The issue is coming the other way - until you get to The Broadway, the X24 is the only bus going into Fawcett Street since they pulled the 2. This has a knock-on effect with delays. I've just moved to doing them permanently and there's been a few times I've had only one or two on at Gateshead yet dropped off half a bus load in Fawcett Street. It's even worse when the 16's late as they're due within a few minutes of each other.

---

Like the X36 did?

yeah some fair point, be interesting to see if people are connecting to it from Sunderland, as there's not many people living in the centre. Arguably would give you data where people want the bus really.

Must say GoNorthEast made a right cock up along Chester Road mind, surprised Stagecoach haven't looked at upping services along there to compensate for it tbh. 

Btw, the X36 took ages and pissed around in Boldon didn't it, if I remember right? Plus cost an arm and a leg.

(Yesterday, 4:44 pm)F114TML wrote Like the X36 did?

When I first started we were still doing the X36, probably the least used bus service I've ever driven short of something like the 237. The only time it ever got busy was when you got to Redhouse School before a 16 at 3:15.

I live in the North of Sunderland and used the X36 a fair bit. It saved a trek to Southwick Green to get the 56 and was also quicker (or at least seemed quicker) than the 56 to Newcastle.

The issue, in my opinion, is that the estates that it went through (Carley Hill, Withereack, Redhouse and Downhill) were dominated by Stagecoach. I think if Stagecoach ran the X36 or an alternative Newcastle express via Sunderland North Estates (or even reinstate lost links with the 7 via Newcastle Road) it would be more successful.

(Yesterday, 12:27 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote No, that was my point. The 56 and 27 serve places along the route, they are not end-to-end Newcastle to Sunderland/South Shields routes. X24/X34 are designed for end-to-end journeys, which is covered by the Metro.

I have actually done the full 56 and 27 routes, and they aren't bad. But I wasn't saying to do that, I was saying get the Metro.

I live in South Tyneside,   I use the X34 regularly as it stops top of my street.   No metro nearby and nearest metro is 20 mins walk which is also the Sunderland line not the Shields line 

The X34 exists as it serves areas the metro doesn't 

You don't know what you are talking about here.  Id swot up if I were you

(Yesterday, 5:28 pm)morritt89 wrote I live in the North of Sunderland and used the X36 a fair bit. It saved a trek to Southwick Green to get the 56 and was also quicker (or at least seemed quicker) than the 56 to Newcastle.

The issue, in my opinion, is that the estates that it went through (Carley Hill, Withereack, Redhouse and Downhill)  were dominated by Stagecoach.  I think if Stagecoach ran the X36 or an alternative Newcastle express via Sunderland North Estates (or even reinstate lost links with the 7 via Newcastle Road) it would be more successful.

To be honest, I think the £££, where you could make it work is serving Nissan, at peak times to/from Newcastle since it's against the Sunderland peak, even working with them - https://www.google.com/maps/@54.9226066,...?entry=ttu, ie. could that be a bus stop?

If you can get it down to 25-30 minutes, it's nearly half the time of the 56 and I'm sure there's plenty of people coming from Stagecoach (or Arriva) areas who'd appreciate the faster link rather than sitting on the 56 around the doors. 

Similar to how the X24A works with Doxford Park.

(11 hours ago)Storx wrote To be honest, I think the £££, where you could make it work is serving Nissan, at peak times to/from Newcastle since it's against the Sunderland peak, even working with them - https://www.google.com/maps/@54.9226066,...?entry=ttu, ie. could that be a bus stop?

If you can get it down to 25-30 minutes, it's nearly half the time of the 56 and I'm sure there's plenty of people coming from Stagecoach (or Arriva) areas who'd appreciate the faster link rather than sitting on the 56 around the doors. 

Similar to how the X24A works with Doxford Park.

I agree on a variation that serves Nissan, not sure if the road infrastructure is there for public transport but I would have the bus run along Downhill Lane/Follingsby Lane through to Follingsby Park to pick Amazon Workers etc.

(10 hours ago)Malarkey wrote I agree on a variation that serves Nissan, not sure if the road infrastructure is there for public transport but I would have the bus run along Downhill Lane/Follingsby Lane through to Follingsby Park to pick Amazon Workers etc.

Honestly agreed, I was literally seconds from typing it but thought it might not be possible.

There's also massive potential for a night time service aswell since the Nissan shifts are fixed and the night shift ends at 1am. There's plenty of Metro's and trains during the day, but past 11pm there's nothing. Surely there's some demand for a semi fast service of something between the regions two largest cities, added bonus of a huge employer in the middle of it.

If any service is going to work, it's arguably this one - even if it stopped more between Newcastle and Heworth ie. via Sunderland Road and shadow the Metro line.

(10 hours ago)Storx wrote Honestly agreed, I was literally seconds from typing it but thought it might not be possible.

There's also massive potential for a night time service aswell since the Nissan shifts are fixed and the night shift ends at 1am. There's plenty of Metro's and trains during the day, but past 11pm there's nothing. Surely there's some demand for a semi fast service of something between the regions two largest cities, added bonus of a huge employer in the middle of it.

If any service is going to work, it's arguably this one - even if it stopped more between Newcastle and Heworth ie. via Sunderland Road and shadow the Metro line.

I had this in mind including serving Team Valley.

(Yesterday, 2:27 pm)deanmachine wrote I live in Harton, where is my metro station? The reason why the X24/X34 exist is precisely because there's no metro connection for the areas served. The 27 doesn't go anywhere near me either.

Took the words right out of my mouth