For a number of weeks I have been trying to get someaction to ensure that when there are changes to bus services in our county councillors get told so that they can respond to residents concerns. I have also been trying to get some action to improve buses going to Brasside following cut backs in services.
Today councillors received details of the following big changes to services run by Arriva (good that we are finally being told in advance of it happening), however the news itself is not good at all.
The main bus companies in our county get millions of pounds in grants from the government but are still cutting back on services – some of it due to grant reductions, some to increases in fuel bills. Perhaps they should be getting more efficient buses onto routes as the number of old bangers travelling around our county is still unacceptable. Buses seem to get sent up to the North East once they are ruled too polluting to be used in London. This has to be part of the reason for cutbacks – though clearly not all. Invest in more efficient buses and it wont cost as much to run the services.
Changes:
We have just been given advanced notice by Arriva of forthcoming changes to their commercial bus services (ie services they run without subsidy from the County Council) with effect from the start of January 2012.
South west Co Durham
95/96 Middleton – Barnard Castle
To be withdrawn entirely. Currently 1 p h M-Sat daytime
84 Bishop Auckland – Cockfield – Darlington.
Cockfield – Darlington section to be withdrawn. Currently approx every 2 hrs
85 Bishop Auckland – Cockfield – Barnard Castle.
Cockfield – Barnard Castle section to be withdrawn. Currently approx every 2 hrs
86/87 Bishop A – Toft Hill – West Auckland – Bishop Auckland
Arriva still to finalise plans, but current intention is to withdraw of the Ramshaw – Toft Hill – Bishop Auckland Section. (Currently 1 ph)
19 Bishop Auckland – Woodhouse Close
To be withdrawn, but partially replaced by diversion of service 85 to run 2 ph via Woodhouse like the current eve and Sunday service.
36A Bishop Auckalnd – Coundon
To be withdrawn (currently 2 p hr)
Note the the Bishop Auckland – Ferryhill svc 35/56 continues, so Coundon will still 2 p hr to Bishop Auckland)
Spennymoor / Ferryhill / Trimdons area:
8 Spennymoor – Chilton – Darlington
Revised to include York Hill section of current svc 69; between Spennymoor and Kirk Merrington rerouted via Middlestone Moor, replacing aprt of service 56; between Kirk Merrington and Chilton rerouted to run via Ferryhill, Ferryhill Station and Chilton Lane, replacing part of service 69. Details of routing in Ferryhill to be confirmed.
55 Sedgefield – Trimdon- Cassop – Durham
To be withdrawn entirely (currently 1 p hr)
56 Bishop Auckland – Spennymoor – Ferryhill – Durham.
To be truncated to run Spennymoor – Ferryhill – Durham, and to omit Bishop Middleham; remains 1 p hr. Timetable and route in Coxhoe- Durham corridor revised to take up the slot in the 20 min frequency currently provided by service 55.
69 Tudhoe York Hill – Spennymoor – Sedgefield
To be withdrawn entirely. See service 8 for alternative local links in the Ferryhill – Spennymoor section.
Durham area:
46 Crook – Durham:
To be revised to operate as an extension of the Brandon – Durham svc 49, ie a reduction in the combined frequency in Meadowfield – Durham section by 3 ph.