A bus operator which announced plans to axe dozens of key services has said it hopes more can be saved after several routes were handed a lifeline. 

Residents have told of their relief after plans to cut Arriva bus services in Darlington and County Durham were reversed following renegotiations with local authorities. 

Last month, Arriva North East announced widespread changes to its 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).

However, some services have now been saved after campaigns from passengers, and there is hope that further deals can be reached to protect rural communities isolated from public transport networks. 

The Northern Echo: Passengers in County Durham and Darlington said they would be isolated if their local services were cut Passengers in County Durham and Darlington said they would be isolated if their local services were cut (Image: The Northern Echo)

For Arriva services in Darlington, the breakthrough came earlier this week after the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) agreed a deal with the operator. Up to £425,000 has been invested by TVCA to support some of the threatened services and keep them on the road. And while Conservative mayor Ben Houchen says he welcomes the deal he remains critical of Arriva and its treatment of loyal passengers who use the services. 

“The decision to cut services was a surprise to everyone – and it was even more surprising given all the support Arriva have received in the past, especially during Covid to keep them afloat,” said Mayor Houchen. 

“I'm extremely frustrated that Arriva and the trade unions are unable to find a way to avoid a gap in some bus services over the summer, but they will return in September and it’s fair to say this is a big improvement on no service at all.

“Arriva’s decision to cut a whole host of bus services, after the council’s agreed a fair offer to them, is reckless and completely disregards how important these services can be for local people.

Agreements have been reached for the following services

 

· Service 12 between Hurworth and Middleton St George, will continue to operate to a broadly similar timetable until 2 September 2023.

· Service 3 between Darlington and Mowden, will be replaced by NEW Service 17, operating to a broadly similar timetable as current Service 3, until 2 September 2023.

· Service 3A between Darlington and Harrowgate Farm, will be replaced by NEW Service 18, operating to a broadly similar timetable as current Service 3A, until 2 September 2023.

· Service 28A between Middlesbrough and Stokesley will continue to operate via Nunthorpe Village/Nunthorpe Hall.

Arriva is currently working with TVCA on additional service improvements likely from September 2023, which include the reinstatement of:

· Service 29 on a Monday to Saturday to serve Marton Manor, Marton Shops and Marton, Cypress Road.

· Sunday Service 3 between Lingdale and Redcar Centre.

· Evening and Sunday services on Service 3 between Darlington and Skerne Park and Service 4 between Darlington and Minors Crescent.

No other agreements have been reached, but Arriva says it continues to be open to any further discussions with Tees Valley Combined Authority.

Elsewhere, Durham County Council has renegotiated deals regarding four services throughout the county and Arriva hopes more can be secured in the future. 

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“We’re doing all we can to work with Tees Valley Combined Authority and Durham County Council to use the funding available to them, so that we can continue to connect communities and protect our services,” an Arriva spokeswoman said. 

“We fully appreciate how important our bus services are to our passengers – they tell us this every day – and we want to be able to run services for them. We also appreciate there is an agreement process that must be done in order for those services to be reinstated and we’re working to try and achieve this.

“Until then, all other network changes put forward to start on July 9, will remain in place.”