Service changes from 30 January

The number of people returning to places of work and needing to travel has and continues to change as a result of the pandemic, affecting both the demand for our services, and where and when we see congestion on our road network.

From 30 January, we will be implementing some service changes to better match service capacity to long-term demand expectations, and continuing our work to adjust schedules in response to new traffic congestion issues.

From the same date, Durham County Council are working on partially closing Consett Bus Station on an evening to try and reduce anti-social behaviour, with some services using different stands from 6pm each night.

A full summary of the changes and timetables can be viewed below.

Service changes

X-lines X1

• The timetable will be revised to improve reliability
• Times between Peterlee and Houghton-le-Spring will be revised to provide more evenly spread departures from Peterlee with service 55, with buses now operating up to every 15 minutes.
• View new timetable

X-lines X5 | X15

• All journeys will be revised to operate via Bridgehill.
• View new timetable

X-lines X9 | X10

• Service X9, which is currently suspended, will be permanently cancelled due to poor recovery from the pandemic.
• X-lines X10 will additionally run via Peterlee and Billingham to replace service X9, every hour.
• Following customer feedback regarding accessibility; the coaches on this service will be replaced by high-specification nearly new double-deck buses, with free Wi-Fi, comfy seats, USB charging, and seats around tables upstairs. The buses will also have two spaces for wheelchair users, and storage space for two bicycles.
• X-lines X10 will be reinstated at Eldon Square, departing from Stand D.
• View new X10 timetable

X-lines X20

• The timetable will be revised to improve reliability.
• Times between Sunderland and Houghton-le-Spring will be revised to provide more evenly spread departures from Sunderland, with buses on Durham Road now operating up to every 7-8 minutes.
• View new timetable

X-lines X45 | X46

• These services will be revised to run every 20 minutes – two per hour as service X45, and one per hour as service X46.
• To replace service X46 towards Consett, all journeys on X-lines X5 and X15 will be revised to operate via Bridgehill.
• There will be minor changes to the Sunday timetable to improve reliability.
• View new timetable

Service X84

• This service will be renumbered 684.
• It will be retimed and will operate between Corbridge and Hexham via Corchester Lane and Hexham Rail Station to replace service 682.
• Times from Newcastle will be revised to provide more evenly spread departures with the Cross Pennine 685, with buses now running up to every 30 minutes between Newcastle and Heddon-on-the-Wall.
• The Monday-Friday 7.10am journey from Eldon Square will depart from stand B.
• View new 684 timetable

X-lines X85

• This service will be cancelled due to poor recovery from the pandemic.
• Alternatives are available on services 10 and 684 between Hexham, Corbridge and Newcastle.
• As part of the new 684 service, there will also be two Monday-Friday express X85 journeys to help students and those commuting – click the 684 timetable link below to view the full journeys.
  • 7.22am from St Andrew’s Cemetery and 7.30am from Hexham Bus Station, arriving at Newcastle Eldon Square at 8.25am.
  • 5.20pm from Newcastle Eldon Square, reaching Hexham Bus Station at 6.02pm and St Andrew’s Cemetery at 6.09pm.
• View new 10 timetable
• View new 684 timetable

Connections 4

• Some journeys will be retimed to improve reliability.
• On a Sunday, there will be an additional journey at 6.40pm from Follingsby to Heworth, with the 5.53pm journey from Heworth retimed to 5.58pm.
• View new timetable

Service 6

• Saturday evening journeys at 6pm and 7pm from Newcastle will be retimed to avoid arriving at the stand at the same time as other services.
• View new timetable

Tyne Valley 10 | 10A | 10B

• The timetable will be revised to improve reliability.
• View new timetable

Durham Diamond 16 | 16A

• Weekday afternoon peak journeys will be retimed to avoid arriving at stands in bus stations and interchanges at the same time as other services.
• View new timetable

Red Kite Ranger 47 | 47A

• The timetable will be revised to improve reliability.
• View new timetable

Sunderland District Violet 55

• New timetable to improve reliability.
• Times between Sunderland and Houghton-le-Spring will be revised to provide more evenly spread departures from Sunderland, with buses on Durham Road now operating up to every 7-8 minutes.
• To provide faster journey times between Houghton-le-Spring and Sunderland, Doxford Park will now only be served at Monday-Saturday peak times.
• Service 39 will continue to run from Doxford International to Sunderland during off-peak hours.
• View new timetable

Tynedale Links 680

• The timetable will be revised to improve reliability.
• View new timetable

Tynedale Links 682

• This service will be cancelled and replaced by the new 684 service (see X84 section).
• View new timetable

Tynedale Links 683

• The timetable will be revised to run hourly.
• View new timetable

Tynedale Links 686

• In partnership with Northumberland County Council, the timetable will be revised to run hourly between Wylam, Crawcrook and Prudhoe.
• As such, one journey to and from Ovington and Ovingham has been cancelled.
• View new timetable

Tynedale Links 687

• In partnership with Northumberland County Council, a new timetable will be introduced with the service additionally running via Hellpool Lane and Whetstone Bridge Road.
• View new timetable

Tynedale Links 688

• The timetable will be revised to improve reliability.
• View new timetable

Tynedale Links 689

• In partnership with Northumberland County Council, an additional journey will be added between Hexham and Slaley Hall in each direction.
• View new timetable

Evening stand changes at Consett Bus Station

Durham County Council are working on partially closing Consett Bus Station on an evening to try and reduce anti-social behaviour.

Daytime stands will remain as they are now, with some services using different stands from 6pm each night. View our summary below.

Stand B

• 78 to Sunderland (remains the same as the daytime stand)
• X5 and X15 to Durham (remains the same as the daytime stand)
• V1 and V2 (moves from daytime Stand A)

Stand C

• 16 to Durham (remains the same as the daytime stand)
• V3 (moves from daytime Stand G)
• X5 and X15 to Shotley Bridge (moves from daytime Stand G)

Stand D

• 78 to Castleside (moves from daytime stand H)

Stand E

• X45 and X46 (remains the same as the daytime stand)
• 47 and 47A (moves from daytime Stand F)
• 16 to Templetown (moves from daytime Stand F)