New bus service to Amazon Darlington to help people get to work
Starting on Sunday 26th July 2020, there is a new bus service that will take passengers directly to Amazon in Darlington. The new service will operate under a contract between Darlington Borough Council and Arriva, using financial contributions from the site developer to provide a bus service to the area.
The 2a bus service from Arriva will follow a route from the Amazon site to the East of Darlington via Morton Road and Allington Way, arriving into Darlington town centre via Yarm Road.
Darlington Borough Council’s Transport Planning team has worked with Amazon to ensure the service timetable will suit workers’ shift patterns. Buses will run daily every 10 minutes around shift times.
Commenting on the launch of the new 2a bus service, Councillor Andy Keir, cabinet member for local services, said: “The new bus service will help to ensure that Amazon is accessible to all.
"This new Arriva North East service will provide a link between Darlington town centre and Amazon, ultimately making it possible for more people to access employment opportunities. Alternative methods of transport have also been considered at the Amazon site, including cycling, walking and car sharing.”
Other Arriva services which run close to Amazon include: X67 (up to every 30 minutes), 2 (up to every 10 minutes) and 12 (up to every 60 minutes). Bus services have been running on a reduced frequency due to COVID-19, however the frequency of services have been increasing gradually since the easing of lockdown restrictions, with further changes taking effect from Sunday 26th July 2020.
The news comes the week after the Prime Minister stated that public transport may now be used for any trip purpose, and not just for essential travel where no alternative is available, signalling a major shift towards normal travel behaviour. Face coverings must still be worn by passengers, with some exemptions. Guidance on how to travel safely on buses during COVID-19 can be found at: www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers#public-transport