(14 Apr 2026, 4:59 pm)Rob44 wrote I was looking at a day ticket to get me from wreckenton to Sunderland royal hospital then a scenic route back via maybe shilds and the ferry ( bus) and metro to town but there doesnt seem to be one for tyne and wear only?  Only a one that adds in co durham and northumberland which I wont be going anywhere near.  It looks like GNE dont even do there own tyne and wear ticket.

Tyne and Wear Day Rover was withdrawn on 1st April, with users told to get the £7.50 TNE Day Saver instead.

(14 Apr 2026, 10:10 am)deanmachine wrote £3 million between six CAs isn't exactly a load of money mind.

It's more to support achieving the goal of franchising, rather than the operational cost of delivering it.

The £500,000 will be more than handy in paying for the consultancy and other services they'll need to get the first bus on the road. I suspect there'll be a lot of associated project spend for that.

With Sunderland and, any moment now, Gateshead gone turquoise (Gannon is gone) this could get interesting. I can't see the new guard having much time for bringing services back into public management.

Without turning this into a political debate, perhaps notable is that Martin Gammon has lost his seat in the Deckham ward of Gateshead. As he's no longer Councillor and Council leader, he's no longer the Transport Portfolio lead at NECA.

Presumably a new lead will be appointed at the cabinet meeting, as they'll play a key role in the delivery of bus franchising, not to mention other transport projects.

I'll try my best to be tight lipped. But based on my own experiences, the internal workings of that party is the most compromised, incompetent, bigoted, toxic, hostile and undemocratic operating environment. The likes of Gammon are the product of that

(Yesterday, 4:28 pm)BusLoverMum wrote With Sunderland and, any moment now, Gateshead gone turquoise (Gannon is gone) this could get interesting. I can't see the new guard having much time for bringing services back into public management.

South Tyneside will be Reform too, I suspect? Newcastle situation unclear. Only N Tyneside remain Labour ( as it was not an "all out" election there). So seems at least 4 of the 7 councils in NECA now led by Reform, plus 1 Conservative. And next year ethey will hope to take N Tyneside too, on current form.
So I think you are right to speculate that proceeding with franchising may not the foregone conclusion that it has been until now. Could be a real mess, as I don't think it would end the long-term wish for franching that exists in plenty of the political parties (Lab, LD, Green)

(Yesterday, 4:29 pm)Adrian wrote Without turning this into a political debate, perhaps notable is that Martin Gammon has lost his seat in the Deckham ward of Gateshead. As he's no longer Councillor and Council leader, he's no longer the Transport Portfolio lead at NECA.

Presumably a new lead will be appointed at the cabinet meeting, as they'll play a key role in the delivery of bus franchising, not to mention other transport projects.

Autocarrot strikes again

As busadvocate pointed out, South Tyneside looks like it will change hands, too. I really can't imagine Kim McGuinness receiving much support in her ambitions for Franchising, to be honest.

(Yesterday, 5:15 pm)Busadvocate wrote South Tyneside will be Reform too, I suspect? Newcastle situation unclear. Only N Tyneside remain Labour ( as it was not an "all out" election there). So seems at least 4 of the 7 councils in NECA now led by Reform, plus 1 Conservative. And next year ethey will hope to take N Tyneside too, on current form.
So I think you are right to speculate that proceeding with franchising may not the foregone conclusion that it has been until now. Could be a real mess, as I don't think it would end the long-term wish for franching that exists in plenty of the political parties (Lab, LD, Green)

I think it has to come back to the NECA cabinet, but I suspect they're too far invested financially, that it coming back to the cabinet is nothing more than a formality.

The NECA Cabinet make up will be at least 4 Reform, 2 Labour, 1 Conservative and 1 other, so the real power play is going to be with Northumberland's Conservative leader. The Mayor doesn't have a casting vote per the constitution.

(Yesterday, 5:25 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Autocarrot strikes again

As busadvocate pointed out, South Tyneside looks like it will change hands, too. I really can't imagine Kim McGuinness receiving much support in her ambitions for Franchising, to be honest.

It's not. 

People do refer to him as Martin Gammon. 

Not me though, I refer to him as the end baddy from The Legend of Zelda game series, also called Gannon (though spelled differently).

(Yesterday, 5:30 pm)HMurdnunoC wrote It's not. 

People do refer to him as Martin Gammon. 

Not me though, I refer to him as the end baddy from The Legend of Zelda game series, also called Gannon (though spelled differently).

Plenty of Gammons elected across Tyne and Wear.

(Yesterday, 5:25 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Autocarrot strikes again

As busadvocate pointed out, South Tyneside looks like it will change hands, too. I really can't imagine Kim McGuinness receiving much support in her ambitions for Franchising, to be honest.

If her sums add up, then it won't be a problem......

What would worry me is many of the elected Reform types are quoted as saying they want to make savings. Savings? Local Authorities need to raise and spend money. Not cut it

After 42 years, I think he’s earned that face. I was choosing my O-level options 42 years ago!

He’s absolutely no loss.

As much as I detest the replacement, this has been a long long time coming

All depending on what happens in Newcastle, if they do what imo would be the sensible thing. Jamie Driscoll has Gannon's role written all over.

It just depends on whether he can get the leader of the coalition and/or you can have someone representing NECA who isn't the leader of the council - not sure on that one. 

Newcastle will be Lib Dem / Green, not a cat in hell chance is anyone working with Reform.

(Yesterday, 4:28 pm)BusLoverMum wrote With Sunderland and, any moment now, Gateshead gone turquoise (Gannon is gone) this could get interesting. I can't see the new guard having much time for bringing services back into public management.

Just thinking that myself .  As someone who lived in Newcastle but now resides in Gateshead I thought labour had been in too long, but to give reform so many votes... wow.  I do wonder if people read the small printer or look at how other councils under reform have gone before putting the x in the box

It's possible that Reform will support franchising. It is a pretty "populist" thing to do. But as their concern to cut "waste" really means "cut publicly provided services to lower taxes", an under-funded franchised network would be a pretty disastrous outcome for bus services and bus fares ...

(3 hours ago)Busadvocate wrote It's possible that Reform will support franchising. It is a pretty "populist" thing to do. But as their concern to cut "waste" really means "cut publicly provided services to lower taxes", an under-funded franchised network would be a pretty disastrous outcome for bus services and bus fares ...

Reform don't have a defined position on Transport other than HS2 and "war on the motorist". Farage has mentioned improving links between cities, but if you held a banana to the head of a Reform politician and ask them for a bus policy, it will be based on vibes rather than strict policy positions.

I imagine once these new councillors start getting thier inboxes full of complaints about bus services (which we are always told is one of the main complaints.....), maybe a formal position will be made public.

(4 hours ago)Storx wrote All depending on what happens in Newcastle, if they do what imo would be the sensible thing. Jamie Driscoll has Gannon's role written all over.

It just depends on whether he can get the leader of the coalition and/or you can have someone representing NECA who isn't the leader of the council - not sure on that one. 

Newcastle will be Lib Dem / Green, not a cat in hell chance is anyone working with Reform.

I wasn't sure myself, so I've checked the constitution. There's no requirement for it to be the Council leader that is appointed to NECA Cabinet, just that the Council can nominate one elected member + a substitute.

Jamie and Kim round the same cabinet table... I'd want front row seats for that one!

(20 minutes ago)Adrian wrote I wasn't sure myself, so I've checked the constitution. There's no requirement for it to be the Council leader that is appointed to NECA Cabinet, just that the Council can nominate one elected member + a substitute.

Jamie and Kim round the same cabinet table... I'd want front row seats for that one!

Yeah thought that was the case tbh.

Agreed there mind, Driscoll comes across the sort of person who'd happily be sitting there aswell. Mind taking politics aside, he's a hell of a lot stronger than Gannon tbh. Be a strong player really.

Unsure what his motives are with the Greens but I wouldn't be surprised if he's not leader come next week.