New operator for vital bus service

We are pleased to announce that from today (Wednesday 6 September), Stagecoach will take over the Arriva number 12 bus service between Hurworth, Darlington, Middleton St. George and Teesside Airport.

The bus will be renumbered as 6/6A and the new timetable will include two way buses through Hurworth – service 6A will run once an hour on a clockwise loop through the village and service 6 will run once an hour in the opposite direction.

In the town centre the service will still leave from stand K (towards Middleton St. George) and stand M (towards Hurworth).

The emergency school timed journeys operated by Hodgsons will cease to operate with effect from Thursday 7 September.

There will be further enhancements to the service from Thursday 21 September when the route will be extended to Yarm and Stockton, and Sunday services will be introduced to Middleton St. George and the Airport.

The timetable for the new service is available on the Connect Tees Valley website.

The new service will be supported by Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA), which is using government funding provided to improve bus services throughout the country.

TVCA went out to competitive tender to provide the service, following Arriva’s announcement that it would cease running it as it was no longer commercially viable.

Councillor Steve Harker, Leader of Darlington Borough Council, said: “We have been working hard to find a viable solution to ensure this important bus service can continue.

“We know how important buses are to our rural communities and I am glad that the new 6/6A service will be able to offer a regular means of transport.”

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to put local people’s concerns to rest and secured an operator for this vital lifeline service.  

“As we look to improve services right across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool, we’ll continue to work with the region’s bus operators to give people the reliable, safe and efficient bus service they need and deserve.”