What are we consulting about?
We were seeking customer feedback on our proposal to cancel the Nexus funded extension of services 41/41a between Hadrian Park – Howdon.
This consultation has now closed, and all feedback received will be reviewed. The final decision on this proposal will be published here.
Why are we considering changes to services?
In March 2022 Nexus carried out a widespread review of local bus services in Newcastle and North Tyneside at a time when commercial companies were making cuts to their own routes. As part of this rescue package, we introduced or kept on a number of routes, including this one, with marginal customer numbers. This allowed us to continue to review the route to see if passenger numbers would grow over time. Contracts for bus services that we currently fund in Newcastle and North Tyneside are due to end in March 2023 and we have now looked in detail at how the current contracts are performing. This review has highlighted some services which we consider are no longer offering good value for money due mainly to a long-term change in travel patterns following the pandemic. Cancelling these poorly performing services would allow the limited amount of funding that we have available to be spent on maintaining or improving services in areas that are less able to access alternative bus services.
What changes are we proposing?
Most daytime trips between Wallsend – Hadrian Park on services 41/41a are operated privately by Go North East. Nexus then pays for some of these trips to be extended to/from Howdon. We are proposing to cancel the Nexus funded extension with effect from 26 March 2023.
Services 41/41a operate half-hourly Monday – Friday (0740 – 1815) and Saturday (0915 – 1705) between Hadrian Park - Howdon. This extension provides direct connections between High Farm/Battle Hill/Hadrian Park - Howdon. During September/October 2022 an average of 1 customer per trip travelled on this service.
How would customers be affected by our proposed changes?
Services 41/41a
Most sections of route along the extension are covered by alternative bus services. The nearest alternative facilities from the unique sections of route are summarised in the table below. Some customers may be required to walk longer distances to access alternative services. Some customers may be required to transfer between bus services to access their destination. Some customers may be required to purchase multi-operator tickets to allow travel on services provided by different operators. Customers wishing to travel between High Farm/Battle Hill/Hadrian Park - Howdon would be required to transfer between bus services in Wallsend.
Unique sections of route | Alternative facilities |
Howdon (Tynemouth Road between Churchill Street & Howdon Lane) | Walk to Howdon Lane/ALDI (350m) for access to service 317. This route operates half-hourly throughout each day and offers direct links to Wallsend town centre (this bus serves stops on Station Road outside the Forum Shopping Centre allowing easy interchange with services 41/41a for onward travel to/from High Farm/Battle Hill/Hadrian Park).
Alternatively, walk to Churchill Street/Tynemouth Road for access to frequent services 1 or 22. These routes travel to Wallsend Town Centre. |
Howdon (Archer Street) | Walk to Churchill Street (300m) for access to frequent services 1 or 22. These routes travel to Wallsend Town Centre.
Alternatively, walk to Shafto Street/Archer Street (300m) for access to service 317. This route travels to Wallsend town centre (this bus serves stops on Station Road outside The Forum Shopping Centre, allowing easy interchange with services 41/41a for onward travel to/from High Farm/Battle Hill/Hadrian Park). |
Your views
This consultation was open from Tuesday 3 January – Monday 30 January 2023. All feedback received on or before 30 January 2023 was taken into consideration.
During the consultation we received 11 responses from customers objecting to our planned changes. We recognise that the direct link between Howdon – Hadrian Park/Battle Hill/High Farm was valued by a small number of customers. However, the number of customers using this service between Hadrian Park - Howdon is not at a level that would justify its continued operation.
We have decided to progress our planned changes and a new timetable/route for services 41/41a will be introduced with effect from Sunday 26 March 2023.
The section of route between Hadrian Park – Howdon will no longer operate. Customers travelling between Howdon – Hadrian Park/Battle Hill/High Farm will need to interchange between services in Wallsend Town Centre.
We appreciate that where services are withdrawn or change a small number of people may have difficulty accessing alternative transport – if you are concerned you will not be able to make a journey contact us at [email protected] or on 0191 2020 747 so we may offer advice and support.
We would like to thank everyone who took the time to provide us with their views.