Stagecoach have suspended a busy bus route serving Newcastle city centre just weeks after the service was reinstated.
The 100 shuttlebus between Metrocentre and Newcastle city centre has been suspended again this month, with Stagecoach citing an ongoing national driver shortage as the reason behind the decision. Stagecoach told its customers that the situation had become "acutely worse" in the last few weeks.
The company apologised for any inconvenience caused, adding that the driver shortage has left them "desperately short" to cover current timetables. The temporary service suspension came into effect on June 20.
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It comes just weeks after the shuttlebus was reinstated following a temporary suspension in summer 2021 due to staffing and operational issues related to Covid-19.
The busy route had previously operated a daytime service every 12 minutes between Newcastle's Blackett Street and Gateshead's Metrocentre shopping centre, as well as every 20 minutes during evenings, and half hourly during later evenings.
Anyone affected by the 100 Metrocentre shuttlebus suspension can travel on Go North East services: 6, 10/10A/10B, 47/47A, X45/X46. Go North East will be accepting Stagecoach products on those services on all trips between Newcastle and Metrocentre Bus Station.
In Newcastle, these Go North East services stop at Eldon Square bus station, Newgate Street and at Central Station.
A Stagecoach spokesperson said: "It is with deep regret to advise that there will be a temporary suspension of Service 100 between Newcastle and Metrocentre, and return. This service suspension will commence Monday 20 June 2022.
"This temporary service suspension is necessary due to the ongoing national driver shortage. In the last few weeks this has become acutely worse and has unfortunately left us desperately short to cover our current timetables. We are keen to mitigate this as much as we can and ensure we maintain a service customers can rely on elsewhere on our network."
They added: "Stagecoach would like to apologise for any inconvenience resultant from this temporary service suspension."
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