What were we consulting about?
We were seeking customer feedback on our proposal to withdraw the 0655 and 1638 trips on a Monday to Friday.
Why are we considering changes to services?
In July 2022 Nexus carried out a widespread review of local bus services in Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland 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 Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland are due to end in July 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?
Service 939 currently operates on a Monday – Friday connecting Sunderland – Southwick/Waterview Park/Concord/Washington Galleries/Team Valley. Trips depart at 0610 from Concord, 0635, 0655 from Sunderland and 1608, 1638, 1708 from Team Valley.
We are proposing to cancel the Monday – Friday 0655 trip from Sunderland towards Team Valley. During September/October 2022 an average of 6 customers travelled on this trip.
We are proposing to cancel the Monday – Friday 1638 trip from Team Valley towards Sunderland. During September/October 2022 an average of 6 customers travelled on each of this trip.
How would customers be affected by our proposed changes?
The first morning bus on a Monday – Friday from Sunderland towards Team Valley would depart at 0635. There is an evening bus at 1608 from Team Valley towards Concord and a bus at 1708 from Team Valley towards Sunderland.
Customers wishing to travel outside of the new 939 operating hours would be required to use alternative bus services (Go North East 56/93/94/X1) that may additionally require an interchange at Gateshead. Some customers may be required to walk further distances to access these alternative services.
Your views?
This consultation was open from Thursday 09 November – Monday 27 November 2023.
Following a review of all feedback received, we have decided to progress with our planned changes in full.
Currently, service Q3 provides customers in the Jesmond area links to Great Park, Gosforth, the City Centre, Quayside, Walker and Wallsend. Revised service 35 will be replacing the Q3 along Osborne Road and maintain links to Gosforth, the City Centre and provide new improved links to Central Station, Kenton Park and Fawdon. Interchange between service 35 and Q3 within Gosforth on the High Street would be required to access Regent Centre and Great Park. Interchange between service 35 and Q3 within the City Centre on John Dobson Street would be required to access the Quayside and St Peters Basin. The revised service 35 will operate every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime and in response to representation made, operate hourly on a daily evening and Sunday. The revised service Q3 will be removed from Osborne Road reducing journey times from Great Park for faster bus travel to/from Newcastle which was a key point from the consultation. The frequency of revised service Q3 will remain unchanged.
We appreciate that where services are changed it may cause difficulty to some customers to access alternative transport, if you are concerned you will not be able to make a journey contact us at [email protected] or on 0191 20 20 747 so we may offer advice and support.
We would like to thank everyone who took the time to provide us with their views.