Go North East starts bus 'skeleton service' as strike continues

Most of Go North East bus services, with the exception of contracted school bus services, have been cancelled as a result of the indefinite walkout from bus drivers, engineers and other staff who are part of the Unite workers union.

But a skeleton service is set to begin on Tuesday (November 13), it was announced on Monday. 

Go North East said: "Due to the ongoing industrial action, we are unfortunately unable to provide a normal service.

"We are running all school services, certain contracted services, and we are aiming to restore a skeleton service on as many routes as possible.

"These duties are being covered by office workers and managers with bus driving licences, as well as regular drivers who have opted to return to work to keep essential services moving.

"These services may be subject to delay due to reduced frequencies in operation - please be kind to our team who are providing them.

"We apologise for the disruption during this time, and we remain committed to reaching a solution that will bring an end to the industrial action."

Reacting to the announcement of a skeleton bus service Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This attempt by Go North East to run a skeleton service shows a company grasping at straws as it loses more sympathy with the public every day.

 “Asking office workers to operate bus services is at best unwise and at worst unsafe as the drivers will be utterly unused to undertaking the highly demanding responsibility of driving a crowded bus on congested roads.

"Unite also has concerns about the maintenance of the buses themselves given our engineer members are on strike.

 “Instead of playing games and scraping barrels, Go North East should come up with a reasonable new offer our members can accept and bring this dispute to an end.”

Go North East said that, following consultation with Nexus and Durham County Council, from Tuesday November 14, Go North East will begin to offer a skeleton service from around 9:30am to 2:30pm on the following routes:

• Service 1: Gateshead to Metrocentre - every 30 minutes
• Service 20: Sunderland to Durham - every 30 minutes
•  Service 21: Gateshead to Chester-le-Street - every 20 minutes
• Service 29: Gateshead to Chester-le-Street - every 60 minutes
• Service 60: Sunderland to Seaham - every 60 minutes
• Service 65: Seaham to Hetton-le-Hole - every 60 minutes
• Service 78: Stanley to Consett - every 60 minutes
• Service 79: Barnwell to Hall Lane Estate - special timetable
• Service 84 85: Concord to The Galleries - special timetable
• Service R7: Blackhall Mill to Crawcrook - special timetable to replace service
• Service V5: The Dene to Crookhall - every 60 minutes
• Service X5: Lanchester to Consett - every 60 minutes
• Service X45: Consett to Newcastle - every 60 minutes
• All school bus services (including services 18A, 28S and 85A) - normal service
• 91 Newcastle to Team Valley - normal service
• 335 Killingworth to Hadrian Park - normal service 351 Newcastle to Whitley Bay - normal service (Monday - Saturday only) until approximately 7pm
• The last departures are 19:20 from Whitley Bay to Newcastle and 20:25 from Newcastle to Whitley Bay.

Unfortunately, service 351 will not run on Sundays.

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• 359 Killingworth to Whitley Bay - normal service
• 392 Marden Estate to HMRC Benton View - normal service
• 553 Wallsend to Freeman Hospital - normal service
• 680 Hexham to Bellingham - limited service operated by Howard Snaith under contract to Northumberland County Council
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• 683 Hexham Town Service - limited service operated by Rural Link under contract to Northumberland County Council
• 684 Hexham to Heddon-on-the-Wall - limited service operated by Howard Snaith and Rural Link under contract to Northumberland County Council
• Connections can be made at Heddon-on-the-Wall to/from Stagecoach service 685 to/from Newcastle
• 687 Hexham to Newbrough - limited service operated by Howard Snaith and Go North East under contract to Northumberland County Council
• 688 Hexham to Allenheads - limited service operated by Howard Snaith under contract to Northumberland County Council
• 689 Hexham to Consett - limited service operated by Rural Link under contract to Northumberland County Council
• 794 Stanley to DWP Tyneview Park - normal service
• 933 Rowlands Gill to Team Valley - normal service
• 941 Stanhope Street to Team Valley - normal service
• S2 Team Valley Sainsbury's Free Bus - normal service
• X62 Peterlee to Durham - normal service