What are we consulting about?
We are seeking customer feedback on our proposal to cancel TaxiBus services TB1, TB14, TB22, TB23, TB29, TB90, TB92 and TB933.
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 several 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 May 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?
We are proposing to cancel all secured TaxiBus services after 13th May 2023.
Service TB1
This service currently operates one AM and one PM trip on a Monday – Saturday between Ryhope Mariville Estate, Roker and Sunderland City Centre. During September 2022 an average of 2 customers travelled on each trip.
Service TB14
This service currently operates hourly (0917 – 1719) on a Monday – Saturday between Kibblesworth, Birtley, Northside Estate, Portobello and Barley Mow. During September 2022 an average of 1 customer travelled on each trip. This reduces further after 1435.
Services TB22 and TB23
These services currently operate hourly (0935 – 1733) on a Monday – Saturday between Wrekenton, Eighton Banks, Springwell, Donwell, Blackfell and Washington Galleries. During September 2022 an average of 2 customers travelled on each trip. This reduces further to 1 customer after 1535.
Service TB29
This service currently operates hourly (0934 – 1524) on a Monday – Friday between Gateshead Interchange and Bensham Hospital. During September 2022 an average of 2 customers travelled on each trip. This reduces further to 1 customer after 1434.
Service TB90
This service currently operates one PM trip on a Monday – Friday between Team Valley and Winlaton. During September 2022 no customers travelled on this trip.
Service TB92
This service currently operates one PM trip on a Monday – Friday between Team Valley and Wardley. During September 2022 an average of under 1 customer travelled on this trip.
Service TB933
This service currently operates one PM trip on a Monday – Friday between Team Valley and Winlaton. During September 2022 an average of under 1 customer travelled on this trip.
How would customers be affected by our proposed changes?
Those travelling on these services currently would require an alternative service as follows in the table below dependent upon boarding/alighting location:
Service TB1
Location | Alternative |
Mariville Estate | Walk to Stockton Road Ryhope Hospital (500m) for Go North East services 60/61 or Arriva services 22/23. |
Arthur Avenue / Ethel Avenue / Richardson Terrace / Station Road / Robson Place | Walk to Stockton Road Ryhope Village (350m) for Go North East services 60/61 or Arriva services 22/23. |
Leechmere Road | Walk to either Tunstall Road (500m) for Stagecoach service 12 or Toll Barr Road (650m) for Go North East service 2A. |
Mowbray Road / Azalea Terrace South | Walk to either Ryhope Road (300m) for Go North East services 60/61, Arriva services 22/23 or Tunstall Road (300m) for Stagecoach services 12/23. |
Roker Marina (Wheatsheaf Court) | Walk to Harbour View (450m) for Stagecoach service E1. |
Haven Court (Beacon Drive) | Walk to Harbour View (550m) for Stagecoach service E1. |
Topcliff | Walk to Liberty Way National Glass Centre (220m) for secured Go North East service 702. |
Service TB14
Location | Alternative |
Kibblesworth | Bus Stops for secured service 29 (would require interchange in Low Fell for Go North East service 21 for customers travelling to Birtley) |
Fell Bank | Walk to Birtley Lane (140m) for secured service 82. |
Blackfell Way | Walk to either Mount Pleasant Road (600m) for secured service 82 or Mount Pleasant (650m) for secured service 25. |
Northside Estate (Malone Gardens) | Walk to Durham Road (500m) for Go North East service 21, secured service 28 or Arriva service X12. |
Highridge | Walk to Mount Pleasant Road (400m) for secured service 82. |
Birtley Lane (Leafield House / Manor House) | Walk to Portmeads Road (350m) for either secured service 25 or 82. |
Glenluce | Walk to either Birtley Lane (350m) or Portobello Road (350m) for secured service 25 or 82. |
Barley Mow (Kirkstone / Laxford / Renfrew Place / Pembroke Avenue) | Walk to The Drive (300m) for secured service 82. |
Barley Mow (Dorset Avenue) | Towards Birtley; Walk to Durham Road (350m) for Go North East service 21 or Arriva service X12. Towards Washington Galleries; Walk to Bedford Avenue (600m) for secured service 82. |
Services TB22 and TB23
Location | Alternative |
Wrekenton | Bus Stops for Go North East services 25, 56 and X1 or secured services 28 and 82. |
Black Lane Estate | Walk to Long Bank (280m) for either secured service 28 or 82. |
Rugby Gardens | Walk to Old Durham Road (400m) for either secured service 28 or Go North East service 56. |
Tanfield Place / The Rowans / Southlands | Walk to Rockcliffe Way (400m) for secured service 25. |
Galloping Green Road | Walk to either Rockcliffe Way (500m) for Go North East service 25 or Springwell Road (550m) for Go North East services 51/52 and 56. |
Sandy Lane (Waggon Inn) | Walk to Rockcliffe Way (200m) for Go North East service 25. |
Mount Lane | Walk to Rockcliffe Way (230m) for Go North East service 25. |
Shelley Avenue / Windsor Road | Walk to Springwell Road (350m) for Go North East services 56 and X1. |
Heugh Hill Estate (Uplands Way) | Walk to either Springwell Road (270m) for Go North East services 56 and X1 or Peareth Hall Road (400m) for Go North East service 56. |
Donvale Road | Walk to either Peareth Hall Road (500m) for Go North East service 56 or Parsons Road (500m) for Go North East services 84 and 85. |
London Avenue / Oxford Avenue / St Andrews Avenue | Walk to Blue House Lane (500m) for Go North East services 84 and 85. |
Knoulberry Road | Walk to Thirlmoor (450m) for Go North East services 84 and 85. |
Washington Galleries | Bus Stops for Go North East services 84/85 and X1. |
Service TB29
Location | Alternative |
Gateshead Interchange | Bus Stops for Go North East services 53/54/93/94/96/97/X71/X72 and secured service 29. |
Whitehall Road | Bus Stops secured service 29. |
Victoria Road | Walk to Lobley Hill Road (350m) for Go North East services 93/94/96/97/X71/X72 |
Armstrong Street | Walk to Saltwell Road (350m) for Go North East services 53 and 54 or secured service 29. |
Bensham Hospital (Racecourse Estate / Fontwell Drive) | Walk to Saltwell Road (500m) for Go North East services 53 and 54 or secured service 29. |
Service TB90
Location | Alternative |
Team Valley | Bus Stops for Go North East services 93 and 94 requiring the following interchange: Towards Bensham: Secured service 67 or Go North East services 49 and 49A. Towards Dunston and Metrocentre: Go North East services 49 and 49A. Towards Swalwell: Secured service 69 or Go North East services 49 and 49A. Towards Blaydon and Winlaton: Secured service 69 or Go North East service 49. |
Service TB92
Location | Alternative |
Team Valley | Bus Stops for Go North East services 93 and 94 requiring the following interchange: Towards Wrekenton: Go North East services 51/52/56 and X1. Towards Leam Lane Estate and Fewster Square: Go North East services 51 and 52. Towards Wardley: Go North East service 57. |
Service TB933
Location | Alternative |
Team Valley | Bus Stops for Go North East services 93 and 94 requiring the following interchange: Towards Lobley Hill and Whickham: Secured service 69 or Go North East service 97. Towards Sunniside and Burnopfield: Go North East services X71 or X72. Towards Rowlands Gill and High Spen: Go North East services 49, 49A, then 47 at Metrocentre. Towards Winlaton: Secured service 69 or Go North East service 49. |
Some customers may qualify for membership of the TaxiCard scheme. Eligibility details can be found on the website or by contacting customer relations as per below.
Your views?
This consultation was open from Wednesday 15 February – Wednesday 8 March 2023. All feedback received on or before Wednesday 8 March 2023 was taken into consideration.
Service TB1
During this consultation we received 13 responses from customers. 1 customer was supportive of our proposal and 12 customers were strongly opposed.
In view of the feedback received we have decided not to progress with our planned changes to cancel this service.
We would like to thank everyone who took the time to provide us with their views.
Service TB14
During this consultation we received 4 responses from customers. 1 customer was supportive of our proposal and 3 customers were strongly opposed.
In view of the feedback received we have decided not to progress with our planned changes to cancel this service. However, we will be revising the operating hours of the service to better reflect customer demand levels. This will see implementation of the current timetable operating between the hours of 0935 and 1433 only, trips at 0917, 1435, 1535 and 1635 will be withdrawn due to extremely low usage.
We would like to thank everyone who took the time to provide us with their views.
Service TB22 and TB23
During this consultation we received 26 responses from customers. 1 customer was supportive of our proposal and 25 customers were strongly opposed.
In view of the feedback received we have decided not to progress with our planned changes to cancel this service. However, we will be revising the operating hours of the service to better reflect customer demand levels. This will see implementation of the current timetable operating between the hours of 0935 and 1533 only, trips at 1535, 1607, 1635 and 1707 will be withdrawn due to extremely low usage.
We would like to thank everyone who took the time to provide us with their views.
Service TB29
During this consultation we received 6 responses from customers. 1 customer was supportive of our proposal and 5 customers were strongly opposed.
In view of the feedback received we have decided not to progress with our planned changes to cancel this service. However, we will be revising the operating hours of the service to better reflect customer demand levels. This will see implementation of the current timetable operating between the hours of 0934 and 1424 only, trips at 1434 and 1504 will be withdrawn due to extremely low usage.
We would like to thank everyone who took the time to provide us with their views.
Service TB90
During this consultation we received 1 response from a customer that was supportive of our proposal to cancel this service.
In view of the feedback received we have decided to progress with our planned changes to cancel this service.
We would like to thank everyone who took the time to provide us with their views.
Service TB92
During this consultation we received 1 response from a customer that was supportive of our proposal to cancel this service.
In view of the feedback received we have decided to progress with our planned changes to cancel this service.
We would like to thank everyone who took the time to provide us with their views.
Service TB933
During this consultation we received 2 responses from customers. 1 customer was supportive of our proposal and 1 customer was opposed.
In view of the feedback received we have decided to progress with our planned changes to cancel this service.
We would like to thank everyone who took the time to provide us with their views.
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.