Every Go North East route in County Durham being scrapped

The major bus operator has unveiled the full list of services and routes it plans to either withdraw or reduce due to the "costs" facing the company.

Well-known routes such as the Angel 21, X21 and 28 are among dozens of services that have been named by the firm ahead of a consultation over the next fortnight.

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The bus operator runs services across the area including Chester-le-Street, Durham, Bishop Auckland, Consett, Stanley, Peterlee and Seaham.

It also runs dozens of services into neighbouring Tyne & Wear and Teesside, some of which may also be affected.

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In a statement, the company blamed the proposed cuts on their viability, saying that while work continues to rebuild passenger numbers, some services would not recover.

It means thousands of people across the county could be forced to amend their transport plans within a matter of weeks.

The online consultation, which can be accessed here, will remain open until May 31, with the operator making a final decision after the results have been analysed.

The operator has said once this is complete, any changes will come into effect later this year on July 24. See the full list of planned bus changes in County Durham below.

X-lines X5 & X15

Go North East said there are some journeys, particularly early morning, in the evening and on Sundays which do not carry enough customers to cover the costs of operating them.

It said it is working closely with local authorities on any possible replacement options, noting budget challenges.

It wants to operate to Castleside, replacing the 78, instead of running to Shotley Bridge.

The service to Bridgehill and Shotley Bridge Hospital would then be replaced by Red Kite Ranger 47.

X-lines X10

The operator said there are not enough people travelling to cover the costs of an hourly service on a Sunday, so it is proposing that the Sunday frequency will be revised to every two hours.

X-lines X20

The operator said there are some journeys, particularly early morning, in the evening and on Sundays which do not carry enough customers to cover the costs of operating them.

It said it is working closely with local authorities to determine what alternatives may be able to be put in place on these affected journeys.

As a result, it proposes that the Sunday service would operate between Durham and Langley Park only. 

X-lines X21

Go North East said that due to low passenger numbers travelling to and from the Eden Garage in West Auckland, this service would be revised to terminate and start from West Auckland Club.

Metrocentre Express X22

This route will be scrapped due to reduced demand. Customers will have to travel to the  Metrocentre by travelling on the Angel 21 or X21 to Gateshead and then the X66.

X-lines X30 & X31

Go North East said the service would be revised to operate every 30 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes, once per hour as service X30 and once per hour as service X31.

Extra journeys would operate at peak times on Monday to Friday, maintaining a 20-minute service at the busiest times of the day.

The operator said there are some journeys, particularly early morning, in the evening and on Sundays which do not carry enough customers to cover the costs.

It said it is working closely with local authorities on any possible replacement options, noting budget challenges.

X-lines X45 & X46

Go North East said it has proposed that service X45 would continue to operate every 30 minutes between Consett and Newcastle, coordinating with Red Kite Ranger 47 between Rowlands Gill and Newcastle to provide a bus every 15 minutes on this section of route.

It said that service X46 would no longer operate, due to the lower numbers of customers using this service. 

Peterlee Purples X62

It said it proposes that this service is cancelled entirely, with the majority of journeys still reportedly possible by using other services and/or changing buses.

X-lines X70, X71 and X72

Go North East proposes that services X71 and X72 continue to operate on the same route as now, with service X70 withdrawn due to "low passenger" numbers.

Country Ranger 8

The service would operate to Teal Farm on all journeys and Brady Square would now instead be served by the revised 84/85.

Sunday journeys would be revised to operate between Chester-le-Street and Stanley only.

It proposes that evening journeys would onlu operate between Chester-le-Street and Stanley due to low passenger numbers on the rest of the route.

Durham Diamond 16 & 16A

Go North East said there are some journeys, particularly early morning, in the evening and on Sundays which do not carry enough customers to cover the costs of operating them.

As with others, it said it is working closely with local authorities on any possible replacement options, noting budget challenges.

Prince Bishops 20

Go North East is proposing that this service will be split into two services.

The northern section of route between Sunderland, Cleadon, Harton Nook and South Shields would operate as service 24.

This would continue to run every 15 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes and every 30 minutes on Sunday daytimes, with evening frequency reduced to hourly.

The southern section of route between Sunderland, Houghton-le-Spring, The Raintons and Durham would continue to operate as service 20 every 15 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes and every 30 minutes on evenings and Sundays. Late evening journeys would operate hourly.

Evening journeys would no longer serve Doxford International due to low demand.

Angel 21

Go North East has said its Sunday frequency could be revised to operate every 15 minutes between Newcastle and Chester-le-Street, extending every 30 minutes to Durham.

It also said it proposes the night bus N21 will run Friday night/Saturday morning and Saturday night/Sunday morning only, due to lower numbers of passengers on other nights of the week.

Service 25

The service would continue to operate hourly on Monday to Saturday daytimes between Newcastle, Harlow Green and Eighton Banks, running as Coaster service 1.

Go North East said it is working closely with Nexus and Durham County Council regarding the provision of services to Portobello, Chester-le-Street and Langley Park, as well as evening and Sunday journeys.

Services 28, 28A & 28B

The operator said this service does not have enough customers travelling to cover its running costs and sadly that means that it can no longer sustain operating it.

Although Go North East can no longer operate this service independently, it says it is possible some journeys may remain with Nexus and Durham County Council currently considering alternative options to ensure local communities remain connected.

Service 30

Go North East said this service does not have enough customers travelling to cover its running costs and it can no longer sustain operating it.

It added that although it can no longer run this service independently, it is in discussions with Durham County Council about alternative options to ensure that Quaking Houses continues to have a bus service.

Service 34

Following "customer requests," this service would revert to its previous route through Pelton and Pelaw, which means it would go back to being direct from Perkinsville to Pelton Schools, and service Pelaw Estate.

It also said there are some journeys, particularly early morning, in the evening and on Sundays which do not carry enough customers to cover the costs of operating them.

It is working closely with local authorities on any possible replacement options, noting budget challenges, the operator said.

Red Kite Ranger 47 & 47A

Go North East proposes that all journeys would operate as service 47, via East Law and Bridgehill.

The Medomsley section of route would be replaced by an alternative service being considered by Durham County Council.

Due to "lower passenger" numbers, Sunday service would be revised to run hourly.

Service 50

The operator said the service would be diverted via Rickleton Village Centre and via Fulmar Road and Ayton Road in Ayton, to replace service 84.

Sunday and Bank Holiday journeys would be extended to the Coast in South Shields to make it "easier" to access the coastline for customers using this service to South Shields for leisure.

Drifter 60

Go North East said it has introduced night journeys on this service, however not enough customers have used these for them to continue to operate so they would be withdrawn.

Weekday afternoon timetable revised to further improve reliability.

Peterlee Purples 62 & 62A

The operator said that due to low passenger numbers, these services would be cancelled entirely, but it is in discussions with Durham County Council about alternative options available to ensure that local communities still have a bus service.

East Durham Explorer 65

Due to "low passenger" numbers, late evening journeys would be cancelled, and Sunday frequency to every two hours.

Monday to Friday daytime service would remain every 30 minutes, and Saturday would remain every 30 minutes at the busiest times between approximately 10am and 3pm.

Country Ranger 78

The service would operate to Teal Farm on all journeys. Brady Square would now instead by served by the revised 84/85.

Sunday and evening journeys would be revised to operate between Chester-le-Street and Stanley only.

It said there are some journeys, particularly early morning, in the evening and on Sundays which do not carry enough customers to cover the costs of operating them.

Service 734

The operator said the service would be replaced by reinstating service 34 to its previous route around Pelaw Estate following customer requests.

Venture V1 & V2

The service V1/V2 would be revised to operate every 20 minutes between Consett and Delves on Monday to Saturday daytimes.

Venture V3

This service does not have enough customers travelling to cover its running costs, Go North East has said it can no longer sustain operating it.

It said it is in discussions with Durham County Council regarding a potential reinstatement of service V5 to maintain access to The Dene, Leadgate and surrounding areas.

What Go North East has said

In a statement, the company blamed the proposed changes on their viability, saying that while work continues to rebuild passenger numbers, some services would not recover.

A spokesperson said: "Work continues to rebuild passenger numbers across our network, but we’re now at the point where it’s clear some services won’t recover to the point of being viable without changes or external support.

"Given the huge changes in the way many people are working and living, including things like home working and online shopping, it is only right that services are adapted to efficiently meet new patterns of demand.

"We are now in a position where we need to look at making changes to ensure that our bus network is sustainable. We are working closely with local authorities on any possible replacement options where there are reductions in services, although noting their budget challenges.

"We have analysed our services in great detail, and developed a set of proposals as outlined below. Please carefully read the information for your area, and help us shape the future of our bus network by completing our consultation survey. Your feedback is very important, as it will help us determine the final proposals which are introduced."

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