Bus operator Arriva has announced a swathe of cuts to services across the area set to come in next month.

Arriva said the decision to cut services was “difficult” and came as a “very last resort” but blamed reimbursement rates for concessionary travel from local authorities.

The English National Concessionary Fares Scheme reimburses operators for carrying passengers eligible for free travel, but Arriva has said rates being offered by Durham County Council and the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) “fall well below” those offered in other parts of the region, and that continuing without cuts would be unsustainable.

Read more: Police cordon in place and three teens arrested after serious early-morning crash

But TVCA has hit back at the claims saying it offered a “fair settlement” and that the cuts are a “commercial decision made by Arriva”.

Services across the area including from Middlesbrough to Guisbrough, Stockton to Yarm, and Middlesbrough to Ingleby Barwick will all face either cuts to hourly services, altered or shortened routes, or earlier ends to service in the evenings.

An Arriva document detailing the proposed cuts seen by The Northern Echo says, “Unfortunately, the rates at which both Durham County Council and Tees Valley Combined Authority have felt able to reimburse Arriva for their respective ENCTS schemes for this new financial year has been cut by up to 28 per cent in comparison to levels of reimbursement provided before Covid‐19.

At the same time Arriva are operating about 94 per cent of service miles in comparison across both areas in total. These reimbursement rates fall well below the levels paid by other authorities within the region and, in our view, are not in line with the latest concessionary guidance issued by the Department for Transport.

“Of course, we appreciate the financial constraints that both authorities are working under, particularly amidst inflationary pressures and the cost‐of‐living crisis. However, the reimbursement rates proposed will not continue to cover the costs of running a significant number of our services and has regrettably led to this decision.”

Earlier this month the Government extended the £2 single care cap in England until the end of October, which Transport Minister and North West Durham MP Richard Holden told the Commons was part of a “long-term approach to protect bus services, keep travel affordable and support the bus sector’s long term recovery.”

To get more stories direct to your email basket go here 

A spokesperson for the TVCA said: “These route changes are a commercial decision made by Arriva, which the Combined Authority has no say in.

“We have worked collectively with all our Local Authorities and operators to try to reach agreement.

“We put forward a fair settlement fully in line with our previous methodology and entirely within the scope of Government guidance, which Arriva refuse to accept. Arriva is the outlier, as deals based on the same approach have been accepted by both Go North East and Stagecoach.

“As we emerge from the pandemic, it is unreasonable to expect us to continue to reimburse them as before, especially considering the unprecedented financial challenges across a range of Local Authority services.

“The funding that operators receive for carrying concessionary bus passengers is only one income stream and therefore for Arriva to suggest that these service changes are solely the result of a fair concessionary fares reimbursement offer is disingenuous.”

Here are all the services set for cuts in Teesside

Service 3 – Skerne Park to Darlington

The Service 3/3A will be revised to operate as the Service 3 between Skerne Park and Darlington only, up to every 15 minutes on weekdays and 30 minutes on Saturdays. There will be no service to Mowden, bar one school journey in each direction on schooldays.

Sunday and evening journeys will be scrapped.

Service 4 – Darlington to Minors Crescent

Evening and Sunday journeys will be fully withdrawn.

Service 5/5A – Middlesbrough to Easington & Guisborough/Lingdale

The Service 5/5A will be reduced to three buses an hour between Middlesbrough and Guisborough, with two operating as the 5 and one as the 5A. There will also be changes to the routes on both services.

Service 7 – Stockton to Yarm

The Service 7A will no longer run in the evenings with the last Service 7 at around 9pm from Stockton. The Service 7A on Sundays and Bank Holidays will operate as the Service 7 and no longer serve Kingsmead or Allens West.

Service 17/17A – Middlesbrough to Stockton/Ingleby Barwick

The Service 17 will be stopped at Ingleby Barwick twice an hour and no longer extend to Yarm and Kingsmead. The X17 will be replaced by the Service 17. Service will now end around 9pm or 7.30pm on Sundays.

Service 28/28A – Middlesbrough to Guisborough & Stokesley

The 28 will no longer service Lingdale with the 5A servicing Guisborough and Lingdale instead. The route of both services will be totally revised along with the timetable.

Service 29 – Middlesbrough to Easterside

The Service 29 will no longer serve Marton or Cypress Road and will be totally withdrawn on evenings and Sundays. It will operate every 30 minutes on weekdays and hourly on Saturdays.

Read next:

Get more from The Northern Echo with a Premium Plus digital subscription from as little as only £1.50 a week. Click here

Service 62 – Middlesbrough to New Marske

The Service 62 will now terminated at the Redcar Centre and no longer continue to New Marske or go via the Ings Farm estate. No busses will operate on Sundays and service will finish around 6pm when running.

Service 81 – Guisborough to New Marske

Sunday service will be scrapped with some early morning services withdrawn on Saturdays.

Service X3/X3A/3 – Middlesbrough to Lingdale & Brotton

The Service X3A will be withdrawn between Marske, Saltburn, Skelton and Brotton.

The X3 will be rerouted through Redcar and school day duplication of services between Skelton and Saltburn will be stopped.

The Service 3 will not operate on Sundays.