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Stagecoach North East

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Stagecoach North East
ParentStagecoach Group
Founded1986; 38 years ago (1986)
HeadquartersSunderland, Tyne and Wear
England
Service area
Service typeBus and coach
Depots6
Fleet437 (at April 2019)
Websitewww.stagecoachbus.com/about/north-east

Stagecoach North East operates both local and regional bus services in County Durham, Cumbria, Northumberland, North Yorkshire and Tyne and Wear, England. It is a subsidiary of the Stagecoach Group, which operates bus, coach, rail and tram services across the United Kingdom.

Busways Travel Services

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In July 1994, Busways Travel Services was acquired by Stagecoach Group, in a deal valued at £27.5 million.[1] Busways Travel Services Limited is now a holding company for the group's operations in the cities of Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland and town of South Shields.

In spring 2003, a new depot was opened in Walkergate, at a cost of £6.5 million. It replaced the former depot of Newcastle Corporation Tramways in Byker – the site of which has subsequently been redeveloped.[2][3]

In July 2005, the company commenced operation of a five-year contract for the QuayLink network of services in Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne. Award of the contract saw the introduction of a fleet of ten single-deck Designline Olymbus turbine-electric hybrid buses – a project costing £7.7 million.[4]

In October 2011, a total of 26 double-deck diesel-hybrid Alexander Dennis Enviro400H buses were introduced in Newcastle on high-frequency services 39 and 40. Investment totalled £7.2 million, with £2.2 million from the Government's Green Bus Fund.[5][6][7]

From February 2014, a fleet of 40 gas-powered Alexander Dennis Enviro300 were introduced on a series of routes in Sunderland – a project totalling £8 million.[8][9][10]

In September 2018, weekend night bus services were introduced on five routes (N1, N30, N39, N40 & N88) in Newcastle upon Tyne.[11] In July 2019, the services were withdrawn due to low usage.

Cleveland Transit

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In September 1994, Stagecoach Group purchased operator Cleveland Transit for £7.7 million.[12][13][14] Cleveland Transit Limited is now a holding company for the group's operations in the towns of Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Stockton-on-Tees.

In the same month, the company registered a small network in Darlington, with operations commencing in November 1994. The company became a key participant in the Darlington Bus War. The following month, Stagecoach Group acquired Hartlepool Transport.[12]

Darlington Transport Company refused to sell to Stagecoach Group, with a subsequent inquiry by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission concluding that the actions of Busways were a "contributing factor" in the company's collapse.[12]

In August 2007, the group's operations in Darlington were transferred to Arriva North East. Following the takeover, a total of 28 vehicles and 78 drivers were transferred.[15][16][17]

In January 2022, with subsidy from the Tees Valley Combined Authority, Stagecoach launched a service between Middlesbrough and Teesport, which aims to assist with employment opportunities in the area.[18][19]

In September 2023, Stagecoach returned to Darlington, following the award of the contract for services 6 & 6A, linking Hurworth-on-Tees, Yarm and Stockton-on-Tees with Darlington and Teesside International Airport. The services provide a replacement for Arriva North East's 12 service, which was withdrawn the month prior.[20][21]

Tees Flex

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Since February 2020, the boroughs of Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees have been served by the Tees Flex demand-responsive network – a three-year project valued at £3 million. Passengers can pre-book a bus by app, website or telephone, requesting pick-up and drop-off points within the serviced area, as well as destinations such as hospitals and train stations outside of the area. The network is served by a dedicated fleet of nine 16-seater Mercedes-Benz Sprinter minibuses, branded in a blue livery.[22][23][24][25]

Fleet and operations

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Depots

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As of February 2024, the company operates from six bus depots across the region: Hartlepool, Slatyford, South Shields, Stockton-on-Tees, Sunderland and Walkergate.

Vehicles

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As of April 2019, the fleet consists of 437 buses. The fleet consists mainly of diesel-powered single and double-deck buses manufactured by Alexander Dennis.

Branding

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Fleet livery: past and present

The current standard fleet livery was revealed in January 2020, and consists of vehicles branded in a white base with blue, green and orange swirls, featuring the company's updated logo.[26][27] The former standard fleet livery was introduced over twenty years prior, and consisted of vehicles painted in a white base, with a blue skirt, and red and orange swoops.[28]

References

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  1. ^ "Stagecoach continues expansion drive with purchase of Busways". The Glasgow Herald. 28 June 1994.
  2. ^ "Newcastle depot celebrates ten years". Bus & Coach Buyer. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Stagecoach invests £6.5m in new North East bus depot" (PDF). On Stage. No. 50. Spring 2003. p. 4.
  4. ^ "Backing for electric bus service". BBC News. 13 March 2006. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Stagecoach orders 520 new vehicles for UK". Stagecoach Group. 12 January 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  6. ^ "Stagecoach launches £7m eco-bus fleet". Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Executive. 3 July 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  7. ^ "Double success for Stagecoach at top bus industry awards". Stagecoach Group. 7 October 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  8. ^ Hugill, Steven (12 February 2014). "Stagecoach North East will use 17 gas buses in Sunderland". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  9. ^ Cole, David (26 February 2014). "Stagecoach launches gas fleet in Sunderland". Bus & Coach Buyer. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Sunderland gas bus proves highly popular with passengers". Coach & Bus Week. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Bus operator introduces night buses in Newcastle following customer feedback". Stagecoach. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  12. ^ a b c Monopolies and Mergers Commission (August 1995). "The supply of bus services in the north-east of England". Department of Trade and Industry. London: H.M.S.O. pp. 3–4, 92 & 182. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. ^ "Stagecoach acquisition". The Times. London. 22 October 1994. ProQuest 318184012.
  14. ^ Smithers, Rebecca (7 December 1994). "Stagecoach profits gallop ahead". The Guardian. London. ProQuest 294858806.
  15. ^ "Bus service buy-out approved". The Northern Echo. 23 August 2007. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  16. ^ "Stagecoach sells Darlington business". Bus & Coach Professional. 10 May 2007. Archived from the original on 8 November 2007. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  17. ^ "Watchdog clears bus routes sale". BBC News. 23 August 2007. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  18. ^ Arnold, Stuart (17 January 2022). "New '101' bus service to Teesport backed with public money". Teesside Gazette. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  19. ^ Nolan, Laura (15 January 2022). "New bus service launched in this part of the North East to help people get to work". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  20. ^ Edgar, Bill (25 August 2023). "Why Darlington buses will be out of service in September as mayor blames operator". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  21. ^ "New operator for vital bus service". Darlington Borough Council. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  22. ^ "New On-Demand Tees Flex Bus Service Is Unveiled". Tees Valley Combined Authority. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  23. ^ Payne, Mark (6 February 2020). "Bus services returning to cut-off Hartlepool villages in Stagecoach pilot project". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  24. ^ "New On-Demand Tees Flex bus service is unveiled". Stagecoach Group. 11 February 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  25. ^ Nolan, Laura (25 August 2020). "Tees Valley bus service expanded after popularity". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  26. ^ Deakin, Tim (2 February 2020). "Stagecoach new livery unveiled by group". Routeone. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  27. ^ "Stagecoach unveils people-powered new look buses as it marks 40 years of connecting communities". Stagecoach Group. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  28. ^ "Stagecoach mulls brand change". Routeone. 6 February 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
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