Nexus has confirmed that two bus routes in North Tyneside – the 51 and W2 services – will benefit from ongoing public funding following a detailed local consultation.
The routes had been under review by Nexus as the contracts to operate both came to an end, because of the increase costs and demand the public body faces to provide bus routes across Tyne and Wear.
Nexus has had to double the scale of the bus services it provides through public subsidy in the last 12 months as a result of cuts by commercial bus operators to their own routes in the wake of the pandemic. At the same time contract prices have risen by 20% this year.
Nexus had proposed to withdraw the 51 and change the route of the W2 from the end of March as part of measures to make sure it could afford its whole network.
It has now decided to maintain both routes, with the exception of lightly used evening journeys on the 51, following a strong response from local residents to its public consultation.
Carl Johnson, Deputy Mayor of North Tyneside Council, welcomed the decision, saying: “As a council we have made sure Nexus’ funding for local bus routes is protected despite huge financial pressures, and that has allowed it to respond to the strong voice of residents.
“I am very pleased to see both the 51 and W2 maintained. I know how much people value their local bus services and we have fought hard to maintain local links wherever we can.”
Huw Lewis, Customer Services Director of Nexus, said: “Nexus is spending more than ever before to support local bus routes across Tyne and Wear - more than £14 million a year - thanks to the support of North Tyneside Council and the other local authorities in the area.
“The whole bus industry is under enormous financial pressure, however. Commercial bus operators have already made significant cuts last year and we fear there is more to come as the Government reduces the subsidy it pays to these companies.
“At the same time the cost of each contract we let is going up faster than the rate of inflation. As a result our budget is being squeezed from two sides as we seek to support more routes at ever higher costs.”
There will be slight changes to the 51 route when new contracts come into effect from Sunday, 26 March.
Buses will run to a revised hourly daytime service between Newcastle and Whitley Bay, following the current route. Arriva, who operate the route as a private commercial company as far as Holystone Park, will continue to operate the whole route with Nexus paying it to do this between Holystone Park and Whitley Bay.
Daily late evening trips on service 51 will operate between Newcastle and Holystone Park only, these trips will be operated by a different company and will be funded by Nexus, but Arriva tickets and passes will continue to be accepted.
The W2 will continue to operate with the same route, timetable and operator as now.