| Stagecoach North East | |
| Parent: | Stagecoach Group |
| Headquarters: | Sunderland, Tyne and Wear England |
| Service Area: | |
| Service Type: | Bus and coach |
| Depots: | 6 |
| Fleet: | 437 (at April 2019) |
Stagecoach North East operates both local and regional bus services in County Durham, Cumbria, Northumberland, North Yorkshire and Tyne and Wear, England. It is a subsidiary of the Stagecoach Group, which operates bus, coach, rail and tram services across the United Kingdom.
In July 1994, Busways Travel Services was acquired by Stagecoach Group, in a deal valued at £27.5 million.[1] Busways Travel Services Limited is now a holding company for the group's operations in the cities of Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland and town of South Shields.
In spring 2003, a new depot was opened in Walkergate, at a cost of £6.5 million. It replaced the former depot of Newcastle Corporation Tramways in Byker – the site of which has subsequently been redeveloped.[2] [3]
In July 2005, the company commenced operation of a five-year contract for the QuayLink network of services in Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne. Award of the contract saw the introduction of a fleet of ten single-deck Designline Olymbus turbine-electric hybrid buses – a project costing £7.7 million.[4]
In October 2011, a total of 26 double-deck diesel-hybrid Alexander Dennis Enviro400H buses were introduced in Newcastle on high-frequency services 39 and 40. Investment totalled £7.2 million, with £2.2 million from the Government's Green Bus Fund.[5] [6] [7]
From February 2014, a fleet of 40 gas-powered Alexander Dennis Enviro300 were introduced on a series of routes in Sunderland – a project totalling £8 million.[8] [9] [10]
In September 2018, weekend night bus services were introduced on five routes (N1, N30, N39, N40 & N88) in Newcastle upon Tyne.[11] In July 2019, the services were withdrawn due to low usage.
In September 1994, Stagecoach Group purchased operator Cleveland Transit for £7.7 million.[12] [13] [14] Cleveland Transit Limited is now a holding company for the group's operations in the towns of Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Stockton-on-Tees.
In the same month, the company registered a small network in Darlington, with operations commencing in November 1994. The company became a key participant in the Darlington Bus War. The following month, Stagecoach Group acquired Hartlepool Transport.
Darlington Transport Company refused to sell to Stagecoach Group, with a subsequent inquiry by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission concluding that the actions of Busways were a "contributing factor" in the company's collapse.
In August 2007, the group's operations in Darlington were transferred to Arriva North East. Following the takeover, a total of 28 vehicles and 78 drivers were transferred.[15] [16] [17]
In January 2022, with subsidy from the Tees Valley Combined Authority, Stagecoach launched a service between Middlesbrough and Teesport, which aims to assist with employment opportunities in the area.[18] [19]
In September 2023, Stagecoach returned to Darlington, following the award of the contract for services 6 & 6A, linking Hurworth-on-Tees, Yarm and Stockton-on-Tees with Darlington and Teesside International Airport. The services provide a replacement for Arriva North East's 12 service, which was withdrawn the month prior.[20] [21]
Since February 2020, the boroughs of Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees have been served by the Tees Flex demand-responsive network – a three-year project valued at £3 million. Passengers can pre-book a bus by app, website or telephone, requesting pick-up and drop-off points within the serviced area, as well as destinations such as hospitals and train stations outside of the area. The network is served by a dedicated fleet of nine 16-seater Mercedes-Benz Sprinter minibuses, branded in a blue livery.[22] [23] [24] [25]
, the company operates from six bus depots across the region: Hartlepool, Slatyford, South Shields, Stockton-on-Tees, Sunderland and Walkergate.
As of April 2019, the fleet consists of 437 buses. The fleet consists mainly of diesel-powered single and double-deck buses manufactured by Alexander Dennis.
The current standard fleet livery was revealed in January 2020, and consists of vehicles branded in a white base with blue, green and orange swirls, featuring the company's updated logo.[26] [27] The former standard fleet livery was introduced over twenty years prior, and consisted of vehicles painted in a white base, with a blue skirt, and red and orange swoops.[28]