Nexus and South Tyneside Council have signed formal Partnership Agreements with two bus companies underpinning a Better Bus Network in South Tyneside.
The separate agreements, one signed with Stagecoach North East and one with Go North East, set out the terms of two voluntary partnerships which between them have led to improved bus services in the borough.
Major changes to routes and timetables introduced earlier this summer have delivered improved bus services in many parts of the borough, including more evening and weekend journeys.
There are also improved links between local neighbourhoods, South Tyneside Hospital and other community health, shopping and leisure destinations for most people.
Cllr Alan Kerr, Deputy Leader of South Tyneside Council said: “These voluntary agreements represent the terms of partnerships the Council and Nexus have worked hard to achieve with two local bus companies. They show what can be done by working together to make people’s day-to-day lives easier.”
Cllr Tom Hanson, Vice Chairman of the Tyne and Wear Integrated Transport Authority, said: “We will continue to work closely with our transport partners to ensure the scheme evolves successfully and should it prove as effective as we hope, it could act as a model of best practice for other areas across the region.”
Cllr Jim Perry, Lead Member Environment and Transport added: “The new better bus network represents a big improvement in local transport services in South Tyneside and will make people's day-to-day travelling lives much easier. It is the result of many months of detailed consultation with local people on where and when they wanted to travel and has brought together all the parties needed to deliver better public transport services. ”
Robin Knight, Commercial Director, Stagecoach North East, said: “We believe partnerships such as this provide the best possible framework for a sustainable quality public transport system. We are committed to working with South Tyneside Council and Nexus to deliver services in South Tyneside under what we believe will be a model for best practice across the region.”
Martin Harris, Commercial Director of Go North East said: “We are looking forward to delivering the new bus network with the ongoing support of our partners at South Tyneside Council and Nexus so that the qaulity of the bus using experience can continue to be improved in every way.”
Tobyn Hughes, Director of Strategy for Nexus, said: “People are already telling us they notice the difference in bus services that we have delivered by working together with bus companies in South Tyneside. Our aim is that these partnerships will deliver a stable and sustainable network for years to come.”
The major changes to routes and timetables were introduced following detailed consultations with local people on where and when they wanted to travel, with surveys conducted both by Nexus and the council and bus companies.
The result is a network in which Nexus and operators have worked together to plan a mix of commercially-operated and publicly-funded bus services that knit together to ensure the whole community has the best possible service, meeting the local area plans South Tyneside Council has for the borough.
Information on the changes was delivered door-to-door to resident and all local travel information can be found through nexus.org.uk.
The photo shows the signing ceremony with representatives from Nexus, Go North East, Stagecoach and South Tyneside Council.