Lifeline Bus Routes Rolled Out Across Region For Better Connections To Jobs, Education And Health Facilities

New bus routes connecting people to hospitals, colleges, jobs and town centres are being rolled out across our region this week as part of a £8.6million investment.

Passengers will benefit from a raft of new and improved bus services from today (28 September) delivering better connections to healthcare, education, employment and shopping destinations.

Backed by Tees Valley Combined Authority, they include the new Stagecoach Service 31 linking Port Clarence with Billingham and University Hospital North Tees, a new Stagecoach service X60 connecting Long Newton and Elton with Stockton, Teesside Park and Darlington, and enhanced links to James Cook University Hospital from Park End and North Ormesby via Service 39 and 39A.

Arriva’s Service 19 is also being extended to improve access to Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, connecting Newton Aycliffe with Darlington via Faverdale, West Park and School Aycliffe.

The new routes and service enhancements follow a comprehensive review of the supported bus network and form part of more than £8.6million committed by Tees Valley Combined Authority to secure services until at least March 2028.

The investment has been made possible through increased Government funding for buses, with almost £26million available across the Tees Valley until April 2029.

Passengers aged 21 and under will also continue to benefit from the region’s £1 fare cap, alongside the £3 day ticket offer.

In addition, a further string of bus services across the Tees Valley have been secured through Combined Authority funding, helping protect vital connections for communities across the region.

They include:

Services secured until at least March 2028

• Service 17/18/18A – Darlington (West Park & Mowden) to Harrowgate Farm and Darlington Arena.
• Service 6/6A/6B – Darlington, Stockton, Ingleby Barwick, Yarm, Eaglescliffe, Middleton St George and Morton Park.
• Service 1 & 2 – Saltburn, Skelton, East Cleveland Hospital, Carlin How, Skinningrove, Loftus, Easington, Liverton Mines, Moorsholm and Lingdale.
• Service RP1 – Middlesbrough, Riverside Park and Middlesbrough College.
• Service X40/X41 – Stockton, Billingham, Wolviston and Wynyard.
• Service 29 – Middlesbrough, Cypress Road, Nunthorpe and Parkway Centre.
• Service 13/13B – Coulby Newham, Hemlington, Middlesbrough, Portrack, Stockton and Salters Lane.
• Service 35 – Stockton, Norton Grange, Billingham and Wolviston Court.
• Service 3/3A – Hartlepool (Hartwell Park, Bishop Cuthbert, Town Centre, Owton Manor and South Fens).
• Service 51 – Hartlepool to connect Elwick, Dalton Piercy and West Park to Hartlepool Town Centre.
• Service 86/87 – Rural communities across Stockton and Darlington including Sadberge, Stillington and Bishopton.

Services extended until at least March 2027

• Service 101 – Middlesbrough to Teesport, supporting access to employment.
• Sunday Service 3 – Sunday extension of Arriva’s Service 3 in Redcar.
• Sunday and Evening Service 3 & 4 – Sunday and evening extensions of Arriva’s Services 3 and 4 in Darlington

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “We’re introducing new services and improving existing routes because we want people across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool to have better access to opportunities on their doorsteps.

“Whether it’s getting to work, college, the hospital or the shops, reliable bus services are important, and these new links will help connect more people to the places that matter most.

“We’ve listened, worked closely with operators and councils, and made sure these new routes target the areas where they can make the biggest difference.”

Cllr Steve Harker, TVCA Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure and Leader of Darlington Borough Council, added: “These improvements will strengthen the bus network across the Tees Valley and support communities in both urban and rural areas.

“Good public transport helps people access education, employment, healthcare and leisure opportunities and is an important part of creating a connected network.

“From The Clarences to Long Newton, Elton and School Aycliffe, we’re securing existing services and introducing new routes to provide greater choice and better links between our towns, villages and key destinations.”

Steve Walker, Managing Director for Stagecoach North East, said: “We’re pleased to be working with Tees Valley Combined Authority to introduce these new and improved services, helping people across the region get to the places that matter to them.

“From connecting communities in Port Clarence and Long Newton with key destinations including North Tees Hospital, Stockton and Teesside Park, to strengthening links to jobs, education and essential services, these changes will make a real difference to local communities.

“We know how important reliable bus services are to the people we serve, and we’re proud to play our part in delivering better connections across the Tees Valley.”

Richard McGowan, Head of Commercial at Arriva North East and Yorkshire, added: “We’re pleased to be working with the Combined Authority to deliver a number of new and improved services, helping to improve connectivity for local communities.

“We look forward to welcoming customers on board and continuing to work in partnership with the Combined Authority to identify further opportunities to improve the local bus network.”

Matt Neligan, University Hospitals Tees Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Strategy Officer, said: “This increase in public transport investment is very much welcomed.

“Bus services provide vital transport for thousands of patients, relatives and staff to access our hospitals. This investment should make it quicker and easier for local people to get to our services at the University Hospital of North Tees and the James Cook University Hospital.”

For a full list of bus service updates, go to: Service Updates – Travel – Tees Valley