Sadberge Service To Run Until Summer As String Of Bus Routes Extended To July

A bus connection to serve one of our region’s historic villages will run through spring and early summer.

The number 10 bus from Whinfield, in Darlington, will stop at Sadberge and surrounding villages from April as part of a loop east of Darlington and West of Stockton.

The extension has been agreed with Arriva to serve the village, which would otherwise be left with no service after the Tees Flex on-demand bus service halts at the end of March.

Service 10 will operate once an hour via Great Burdon, Sadberge, Little Stainton, Bishopton, Redmarshall, Carlton, Thorpe Thewles, Stillington and Great Stainton in an anticlockwise loop, returning to Sadberge and rejoining the service at Whinfield.

It will provide the opportunity to travel to Darlington town centre, as well as Stockton town centre through onward connections.

Following a decision by TVCA Cabinet in December, two new Stagecoach routes will also begin in April and run until July at the earliest.

Service X86 will connect Redmarshall to Stockton High Street via Whitton, Stillington and Bishopton, Roseworth and University Hospital of North Tees, while Service 51 will link Dalton Piercy and Elwick with Hartlepool Sixth Form College and Hartlepool Town Centre.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “If we’re serious about creating good jobs and growing our economy, then local people must be able to access new opportunities right across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.

“We’re already seeing more stops getting more frequent services, which shows progress is being made, but we want to do more across road, rail and in the air.

“With increased funding coming into our region, and big transport projects nearing completion, we’re determined to go further and build a network that genuinely supports our people, backs our businesses and helps our growth as a region.”

Cllr Steve Harker, TVCA Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure and Leader of Darlington Borough Council, added: “For Sadberge, having a regular bus service is very important.

“This service means the village stays connected to Darlington town centre, Stockton and neighbouring communities, which will help residents get to work, education, healthcare and shops.

“While we’re seeing some positive trends in service coverage across Tees Valley, what really matters is how people experience those services day-to-day.

“We want to look at how we can strengthen and improve the network in the longer-term as part of a wider review with increased investment in our transport system.”

Richard McGowan, Arriva North East’s Head of Commercial, said: “We’re delighted to be able to extend Service 10, directly connecting Sadberge, Bishopton, Redmarshall, Carlton, Thorpe Thewles and Stillington with Darlington, while also delivering local improvements passengers have asked for.

“It’s a great example of what operators and local authorities can achieve when they work together.”

No fewer than 13 routes that the Combined Authority has already supported have been extended until July, which can be seen here.

From April, Service 29 in Middlesbrough will run twice per hour to Cypress Road, with one of those journeys now stopping at the Coulby Newham Parkway Centre.

David Parker, Commercial Director of Stagecoach North East, said: “Stagecoach is delighted to collaborate with Tees Valley Combined Authority.

“We recognise the positive impacts which increased connectivity can bring, and we look forward to bringing brand new bus routes to the communities of Elwick, Dalton Piercy, Bishopton, Redmarshall and Stillington in the coming weeks.”

The extensions come as figures show since April 2025, on the back of the Combined Authority’s investment on the network, there’s been a rise of almost one-fifth in the number of our region’s bus stops now getting at least one service per day.

The statistics also revealed:

• A 5% increase in bus stops with at least one service every 15 minutes
• A 7% increase in bus stops with at least one service every 30 minutes
• An 18% increase in bus stops with at least one service every 60 minutes

Officers are continuing to work on a wider review of services and the bus network which is set to publish its findings in July.

For more information on bus services in the region, go to: Service Updates – Travel – Tees Valley