A multi-million pound rescue package to save “vital” bus routes in Gateshead, Sunderland, and South Tyneside has been unveiled.
Bus operator Go North East announced last month that it was planning cuts to dozens more routes across the region in July, after already slashing services in Newcastle and North Tyneside earlier in the year. The company said it was “clear some services won’t recover to the point of being viable” after passenger numbers took a huge hit because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tyne and Wear Metro operator Nexus has now confirmed that it will put up £4.3m to rescue some of the routes under threat. However, there are warnings that the cash will not be enough to save every service and that there may be more cuts yet to come, with Arriva and Stagecoach still to announce their plans.
Read More: New blow for North East bus passengers as operator reveals cuts to dozens more routes across region
A full list of all of the affected routes in Gateshead, Sunderland, and South Tyneside and what Nexus is doing to respond is below, plus some services that cross into County Durham.
Gateshead Council leader Martin Gannon said: “The bus network is something local people rely on every day and it is vital that services are available for them when they need them. Unfortunately bus ridership is still way below pre-pandemic levels and with government Covid-19 funding support due to end in October, the operators are making cuts in response.
“It is great news that Nexus is able to step in and make sure that communities stay connected. We knew this was coming when we set last year’s transport budget at the North East Joint Transport Committee, and so we took the very difficult decision to increase council contributions to make sure that Nexus had a fighting fund it could use to safeguard as many services as possible.
“I fear that there may be more difficult choices ahead for bus operators and local authorities, but we remain committed to making sure that people who rely on the bus can keep vital local connections.”
Nexus, which also spent £4.5m to rescue some services in Newcastle and North Tyneside in March, said the latest intervention would “mitigate the worst effects” of the latest cutbacks, due to come into force on July 24. The publicly-owned body also pledged to announce extra funding after a consultation with passengers.
It had been hoped that the decision to slash more commercial bus services would be put on hold until October, after the Government bowed to pressure to extend Covid emergency grant funding until then.
Huw Lewis, customer services director for Nexus, said: “The scale of the changes means we are not able to provide a like-for-like replacement to every route being cut, but we can do a lot to keep local people connected. The rescue package we have published is a first step as we are consulting on further measures we could take to protect and recast local services to best meet local needs.”
Full list of cuts being made by Go North East and Nexus responses
Service 2/2A - Silksworth, Grangetown, Sunderland, Barnwell (2A), Shiney Row (2), Washington Galleries
Cuts: Sunday daytime frequencies reduced to every 60 minutes, offering a combined 30 minute frequency on common sections. Evening frequencies will be reduced to every hour and short trips between Silksworth and Sunderland are planned to be withdrawn.
Nexus response: No action taken “as a minimum level of service has been maintained”.
Service 5 - Jarrow, Fellgate, Boldon, South Tyneside Hospital, Chichester and South Shields
Cuts: Some early morning, evening and Sunday journeys will no longer operate.
Nexus response: Nexus will step in to support additional morning, evening and Sunday journeys to maintain links to South Tyneside Hospital and other local amenities. On a Sunday, the current plan is to operate a new service 5A every 60 minutes to help cover Sunday trips from the service 5 and also part-replace the 558. The 5A will operate South Shields - Chichester - South Tyneside Hospital - Whiteleas - Cleadon - Boldon - Fellgate – Jarrow.
Service - 12/12A Winlaton, Blaydon, Newcastle
Cuts: This service would be revised to operate every 20 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes between Newcastle and Winlaton, with all journeys operating via Shibdon Bank, Parkhead Estate, Winlaton, returning via Hanover Estate, Snook Hill Estate, Parkhead Estate, Shibdon Bank and to Blaydon. Some north parts of Winlaton (Blaydon Bank, Wylam View, Heddon View, Back Lane) lose a direct bus to/from Newcastle. Alternative options will be available via the 49/49A and interchange at Blaydon Bus Station. Evening and Sunday service would operate hourly. Some early morning, evening and Sunday journeys will no longer operate on a commercial basis.
Nexus response: Nexus will step in to support early morning, evening and Sunday journeys.
Service - 20/X20 South Shields, Sunderland, Houghton Le Spring, Durham
Cuts: The section of route between South Shields and Sunderland will be replaced by a new Go North East service, 24, following the same route. Service 20 will continue, operating between Sunderland and Durham. Evening trips will no longer serve Doxford International, but service X20 will be revised to additionally serve Doxford International during AM and PM peak trips. Sunday service on X20 will be withdrawn. Some early morning trips can no longer be operated on a commercial basis.
Nexus response: Nexus is working with Durham County Council to step in to support early morning journeys.
Service 25 - Langley Park, Chester Le Street, Birtley, Eighton Banks, Wrekenton, Gateshead, Newcastle
Cuts: Go North East will no longer operate service 25, with the section between Newcastle, Harlow Green and Eighton Banks replaced by an extended service 1 that will operate hourly. The rest of the route will not be replaced.
Nexus response: Nexus will step in to provide a new service 81/82 to maintain and provide links lost from commercial withdrawals of services 28, 25 and 82. However, a section of the current 25 route will remain unserved on Portobello Road in Barley Mow and Nexus says it will “consider further provision” there.
Service 28/28A/28B - Chester Le Street, Ouston, Beamish, Kibblesworth (28A/28B), Wrekenton (28), Gateshead, Newcastle
Cuts: Go North East is withdrawing this service.
Nexus response: Nexus is currently working on plans with Durham County Council to provide a new service through Kibblesworth also serving Ouston. In addition, Nexus is exploring options to retain links between Gateshead and Birtley as part of wider proposals to also cover lost links in the Washington area as a result of the withdrawal of service 82.
Service 29 - Kibblesworth, Low Fell, Gateshead
Cuts: Go North East is withdrawing this service.
Nexus response: Nexus is currently working on options with Durham County Council to provide a new service to Kibblesworth.
Service 35/35A - Low Moorsley, Hetton Le Hole, Houghton Le Spring, Silksworth (35A), Sunderland, Southwick, Castletown, Town End Farm, Boldon
Cuts: The section of route between Town End Farm and Boldon will no longer be provided commercially by Go North East, while some early morning and evening trips are no longer commercially viable too.
Nexus response: Nexus will step in to save the section of route between Town End Farm and Boldon and also provide support for early morning and evening journeys on the wider routes, in order to protect a “unique link on the bus network”.
Service 38/38A/38C - Sunderland Docks, Sunderland, Ashbrooke, Leechmere, Hollycarrside, Tunstall Bank Estate
Cuts: Go North East is withdrawing this service, but will maintain the link between the Docks and Sunderland City Centre with a new service 38, operating an anticlockwise loop every 60 minutes. Whilst most areas of the 38 route have access to alternative services within 400m, some parts of Tunstall Bank Estate and Myrella Crescent will fall outside of that.
Nexus response: Nexus will step in to ensure there is still a bus serving Tunstall Bank Estate by rerouting its own service 37.
Service 49/49A - Winlaton, Shibdon Bank (49A), Blaydon (49), Swalwell, Metrocentre, Dunston, Gateshead
Cuts: Sunday service revised to operate every 20 minutes. Service 49C Monday to Friday early morning trips will now operate as service 49, operating via Bolam Street Flats instead of Rose Street, and Redheugh. Some early morning, evening and Sunday journeys will no longer operate on a commercial basis.
Nexus response: Nexus will step in to support morning, evening and Sunday journeys.
Service 51/52 - Gateshead, Wrekenton, Fewster Square, Heworth, Gateshead, Newcastle
Cuts: Sunday daytime frequency reduced to every 30 minutes from every 20 minutes and evening frequencies reduced to every 60 minutes, from every 30 minutes. Some early morning journeys will no longer operate on a commercial basis.
Nexus response: Nexus will step in to support morning, evening and Sunday journey to ensure that customers “will continue to have reasonable options for travel outside busier times”.
Service 55 - Peterlee, Easington Lane, Hetton Le Hole, Houghton Le Spring, Doxford International, Sunderland
Cuts: Go North East is withdrawing this service. Links to Sunderland can continue to be made, albeit with interchange in Houghton Le Spring.
Nexus response: Nexus is working with Durham County Council to see how best to protect local links, including those between Houghton/Hetton and South Hetton, on an evening at a reduced frequency.
Service 57 - Wardley, Heworth, Fewster Square, QE Hospital, Gateshead, Newcastle
Cuts: Go North East is planning to operate between Wardley and Heworth only on evenings, with trips interworked with service 58 to allow for onward connections. Some early morning journeys will no longer operate on a commercial basis.
Nexus response: Nexus will step in to provide morning trips.
Service 58 - Heworth, Fewster Square, Felling, Gateshead, Newcastle
Cuts: Service will be extended to Follingsby to co-ordinate with the revised service 4 frequency and offer a combined frequency of every 7/8 minutes between Heworth and Follingsby. A new service, X58, will be introduced at peak times to operate more direct limited stop journeys between Newcastle/Gateshead and Follingsby.
Nexus response: Nexus is not taking any action.
Service 62/62A - Sunderland, Ryhope, Seaham, Easington Lane, South Hetton, Peterlee
Cuts: Go North East is withdrawing this service. This will mean a loss of service on Sea View, but alternative options are available on alternative services within 400m, including services 22, 23, 39, 39A, 60, and 61 from Ryhope Village.
Nexus response: Nexus is not taking any action.
Service 67 - Metrocentre, Dunston, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Wardley
Cuts: Go North East planned to withdraw this service in its entirety.
Nexus response: Nexus is stepping in to ensure that the section of route between Metrocentre, Dunston and the QE Hospital continues. Alternative services are available between the QE Hospital and Wardley, albeit with interchange.
Service 69 - Winlaton, Blaydon, Swalwell, Whickham, Lobley Hill, Bensham, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Wardley
Cuts: Go North East is withdrawing this service.
Nexus response: Nexus is “considering the best way to protect the unique links service 69 provides”, including access to the QE Hospital, but hopes to save it.
Service 78/78A - Castleside, Consett, Stanley, Chester Le Street, Shiney Row, Sunderland
Cuts: This service will no longer serve Castleside in County Durham and some early morning and evening trips will no longer be commercially viable.
Nexus response: Nexus is working with Durham County Council to consider supporting additional morning and evening journeys to maintain links.
Service 82 - Birtley, Portmeads, Portobello, Barley Mow, Ayton, Lambton, Galleries, Washington Village, Barmston Court, Teal Farm, Waterview Park
Cuts: Go North East is withdrawing this service, with a loss of bus service for Barmston Court, Washington Village, Barley Mow, Portobello and Portmeads. A revised service 8 will continue to cover links to Teal Farm.
Nexus response: Nexus will step in to provide a new service 81/82. This will maintain and provide links lost from commercial withdrawals of service 28, 25 and 82. As part of this change Nexus will withdraw local services 23 and TB10.
Service 84/84A/85 - Concord, Barmston, Biddick, Galleries, Ayton, Rickleton, Harraton
Cuts: Go North East plan to completely revise these routes, replacing them with the following:
- 84: Concord - Barmston - Brady Square - Biddick - Galleries - Oxclose - Blackfell – Concord
- 85: Concord - Blackfell - Oxclose - Galleries - Biddick - Brady Square - Barmston - Concord
- 85A: Oxclose – Springwell
The new route of service 84 will mean that Lambton, Ayton, Rickleton and Harraton will now be served by a revised service 50 at a reduced frequency of every 30 minutes. Brady Square will now be served, replacing current service 8 in this area and one journey per hour will extend to serve Coach Road Estate, replacing current Nexus secured service provision in this area (Services 37/73).
Nexus response: Nexus and Go North East have discussed the best way to preserve local links throughout the day and, in order to do this, Nexus will step in to fund further evening trips in addition to its current level of support for these services.
Service X45/X46/47 - Consett, Rowlands Gill, Metrocentre and Newcastle
Cuts: Go North East is withdrawing the X46 service. Sunday service on service 47 will be revised to hourly. Some early morning and evening journeys will no longer operate on a commercial basis.
Nexus response: Nexus will step in to support morning and evening trips on the X45 and 47 services.
Service X70/X71/X72 - Stanley (X72), Consett (X70/X71), Burnopfield, Sunniside, Lobley Hill, Gateshead, Newcastle
Cuts: Go North East is withdrawing the X70 service, which will result in a reduction in service frequency to every 30 minutes in Tyne and Wear. Some early morning, evening and Sunday journeys will no longer operate on a commercial basis, leaving residents along the A692 corridor without access to a bus service during these hours.
Nexus response: Nexus is working with Durham County Council to consider supporting additional morning, evening and Sunday journeys.
Early morning, evening and Sunday journeys on various routes
Cuts: Go North East are reducing various trips on the following services, often early morning, evening and/or Sunday journeys. Where demand levels are reasonable, Nexus says it will step in to fund trips that are no longer deemed to be commercially viable. They are:
- 6 between Lanchester, Stanley, Burnopfield, Sunniside, Whickham, Metrocentre, Newcastle
- 8/8A between Stanley, Beamish, Chester Le Street, Washington Galleries, Teal Farm, Castletown (8), Grindon (8A), Sunderland
- 9 between Jarrow, Boldon, East Boldon, Fulwell, Sunderland
- 10/10A/10B between Hexham, Prudhoe, Ryton, Blaydon, Metrocentre, Newcastle
- 26 between Lukes Lane Estate, Hebburn, Jarrow, South Leam, South Tyneside Hospital, South Shields
- 27 between South Shields, Chichester, Jarrow, Hebburn, Heworth, Felling, Gateshead, Newcastle
- 39/39A between Houghton Le Spring, Doxford, Esdale Estate (39A), Ryhope, Grangetown, Sunderland Royal Hospital, Pennywell
- 93/94 between Gateshead, Heworth, Felling, QE Hospital, Low Fell, Team Valley, Gateshead
- 96 between Metrocentre, Dunston, Lobley Hill, Bensham, Gateshead
- 97 between Metrocentre, Whickham, Lobley Hill, Bensham, Gateshead
- X30/X31 between Stanley, Sunniside, Whickham, Dunston and Newcastle
Changes to Nexus services
The rescue package Nexus has put together also includes the following changes to Nexus’ existing services:
Service 23 - Barley Mow, Birtley, Lansbury Drive, Wrekenton, Eighton Banks, Springwell, Donwell, Blackfell, Galleries
Cuts: This service is being withdrawn by Nexus as part of our wider plans based around a new service 81/82. The section of route between Barley Mow – Portobello – Birtley – Lansbury Drive – Wrekenton is to be replaced in part by service 81/82 and in part by a revised service TB14, both will operate Monday to Saturday daytime, operating every hour. The section between Wrekenton – Eighton Banks – Washington Galleries is to be replaced by new services TB22/TB23 replacing the Nexus secured service TB10 in parts. Homes on Garsdale/Eskdale and Portobello Road in Barley Mow will lose their closest bus route but be within 400m walking distance of alternative services from Vigo Lane.
Service 37/73 - Coach Road Estate, Concord, Waterview Park, Teal Farm, Biddick, Galleries, Doxford / Castletown, Hylton Retail Park, Sunderland
Cuts: Service 73 will be withdrawn by Nexus. In future, alternative buses will be available on most sections of route between Waterview Park, Castletown, Hylton Retail Park and Sunderland through Go North East service 8. Coach Road Estate will be served by a revised services 84/85. Some lightly used stops on Spire Road and Colima Avenue will no longer be served. A new service 37 will operate between Galleries and Tunstall Bank Estate via Biddick Woods, Shiney Row, East Herrington, Doxford International and Doxford Park.
Service 68 - Wrekenton, QE Hospital, Felling, Heworth, Bill Quay
Cuts: Service 68 will be withdrawn by Nexus and replaced by new Nexus services 515 and 568 between Heworth and Bill Quay. The 568 will operate between Heworth and Bill Quay via Gosforth Terrace and Woods Green. Revised service 515 will operate between Heworth and Hebburn via Lakes Estate, Bill Quay (Marian Drive), Hebburn, (anti-clockwise loop serving Mountbatten Avenue, Black Lane). Both will operate every 60mins Monday to Saturday daytime. Nursery Lane will see a loss in bus service.
Service 79A - Barnwell, Shiney Row, Fencehouses, Houghton Le Spring, Hall Lane Estate, Hetton Le Hole, Easington Lane, South Hetton
Cuts: The 79A will operate every two hours Monday to Saturday only. The route will be extended to serve South Hetton to partly replace the service 55 that is being withdrawn by Go North East.
Service 515 - Heworth, Hebburn
Cuts: Revised service 515 to replace service 68 in the Lakes Estate and Bill Quay (Marian Drive). The revised service will also replace the TB529 in the area of Glen Street/Toner Avenue/Mountbatten Avenue/Monkton Lane Estate, whilst continuing to serve Black Road/High Lane Row and Argyle Street in Hebburn. The service will operate every 60mins Monday - Saturday daytime.
Service 558 - Heworth - Fellgate - Boldon - Cleadon - Whitburn - Dene Estate
Cuts: Sunday service withdrawn and replaced by service 5A, providing alternative provision for East Boldon and Cleadon on a Sunday.
Service 592 and 593 - Roker, north Sunderland, Doxford International and Pallion, Pennywell, Doxford International
Cuts: Both services are withdrawn and amalgamated into a new single 594. Route combines services 592 and 593 along all sections and additionally serves Castletown between Hylton Castle and Pallion. Will operate one AM peak trip from Roker to Doxford International arriving at 0848, the one PM trip will depart Doxford International at 1735.
Service R5 - Sherburn Park Estate, Rowlands Gill, Burnopfield
Cuts: Due to low demand, Monday to Friday 0815, 1515 and 1613 trips are cancelled with the Saturday timetable now adopted Monday to Saturday.
Service TB10 - Fewster Square, Wrekenton, Felling
Cuts: Service withdrawn by Nexus. Links between Fewster Square and Wrekenton/Felling can be made with Go North East services 51/52. New proposed services TB22/TB23 will replace sections of route in unique areas of Black Lane Estate, Rugby Gardens and Galloping Green Road.
Service TB14 - Birtley, South Portobello
Cuts: A new route will additionally operate between Kibblesworth and Birtley (replacing withdrawn service 28A) and between Birtley and Barley Mow (replacing withdrawn services 23/82). The route will also be extended to serve Blackfell Way. The service will operate every hour, Monday to Saturday, between 0900-1700. This will mean a frequency reduction for some areas of Birtley, which currently benefit from the TB14 operating every 30 minutes.
Service TB529 - Heworth, Hebburn, Lukes Lane Estate
Cuts: Service withdrawn by Nexus and replaced in parts by new service 568 and revised service 515.
Service TB20/TB21 - Houghton Le Spring, Dairy Lane Estate, Fencehouses
Cuts: Service replaced by new service 520/521 operating the same route but now operated with a low floor, easy access bus.
