Nexus is making a change to bus services in the west of Newcastle this month, with a new local route launched next month.
The new 71A will connect Throckley, Newburn, Walbottle, Chapel Park, Westerhope and Newbiggin Hall with Kingston Park.
From Sunday, 23 March, it will run every hour on evenings as well as all day Sundays, connecting with frequent buses and Metro to the city centre along its route.
Contractor Gateshead Central Taxis will operate the 71A on behalf of Nexus, using a modern wheelchair-accessible 23-seater bus. Timetables will be available on this website shortly.
As a result the current 71 bus, which Nexus has been paying Stagecoach to operate round Newburn and Throckley during evenings and Sundays, will from 23 March terminate at North Walbottle at these times.
Stagecoach will continue to operate the 71 on its existing route during the day, Monday to Saturday.
The 33 bus route from Gosforth and West Jesmond to Newcastle city centre also has a new operator from 23 March, but the service will be unchanged. Local firm Kingsley has won the contract from Nexus to operate the service for the next three years.
Stagecoach season tickets will not be usable on the 71A or 33 but Network One and concessionary travel passes will be valid, as well as tickets bought on the buses.
The changes have been made as a result of a competitive tendering process for publicly-funded routes, with Nexus seeking the best value for money from contractors operating services on its behalf.