Arriva North East has proposed widespread changes to timetables from July 9, which would see 25 services in the County Durham and Darlington area affected, as well as changes in the wider Tees Valley area. 

The bus operator says withdrawing or making significant changes to bus services is “always a very last resort” and the difficult decision has been taken following “exhaustive efforts”, after failing to reach a funding agreement with Durham County Council and Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA). 

The full finalised list is due to be revealed next week, but documents seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service show the extent of the proposed changes, which include: Darlington to Crook & Tow Law; Darlington to Bishop Auckland; Darlington to Spennymoor & Ferryhill; Durham to Sunderland; and Hartlepool to Sunderland. 

Arriva did not comment further on the proposed changes.