Changes in Northumberland and Tyne & Wear
Sunday 28 January 2024
Customers are advised that Arriva will be making changes to a number services from Sunday 28th January. These changes come as a result of a punctuality review to our network and also contract awards from Northumberland County Council.
Full details below.
Service 1 – Widdrington to Blyth
Working in partnership with Northumberland County Council, we are introducing new later evening journeys between Widdrington, Cresswell and Ashington daily, with a new Sunday evening service between Ashington and Blyth. As part of this, evening journeys will be slightly adjusted between Ashington and Blyth.
Service 2 – Kirkhill & Morpeth to Blyth
Evening and Sunday services are revised following the improvements to service 1 mentioned above, this alteration will allow us to continue to offer a combined 30 minute service at this time between Blyth and Bedlington Station
Service 35 – Morpeth to Newbiggin
We’ve recently carried out a consultation regarding changes that we’re proposing to service 35. The idea behind these changes were a way to improve the punctuality and reliability of this service, along with the X21 and X22.Following the closure of the consultation, we will be looking to implement the proposed changes with 70% of responses agreeing with our plans.
As a result, from the above date we will be introducing a revised timetable and a revised route within the Newbiggin area.
Journeys from Morpeth will operate the current route as far as Sandy Bay Caravan Park, from here the service will swap onto an X21 to continue through Newbiggin and Woodhorn back towards Ashington and Newcastle. Passengers will be able to remain on the bus and alight at any stop required within the area.
Journeys towards Morpeth will start from Woodhorn Crossroads as currently, following the current route through the Newbiggin area, however after serving Seacrest Road, journeys will also serve the Front Street and Cresswell Arms area before going towards Spittal and Ashington. These journeys will arrive at Woodhorn as an X21 service from Newcastle and Ashington.
As a result passengers should remain on their current side of the road to board the 35 service towards North Seaton, Ashington and Morpeth.
Click here for revised timetable
Service 57 / 57A – Ashington to Whitley Bay and North Shields
Following on from the introduction of new links on service 57A between Ashington and Cramlington in October, we are further improving this offer by introducing new daily evening links over the same route.
As well as the new evening journeys, we will also be adding extra Sunday daytime journeys providing a new hourly service on a Sunday between Ashington, Cramlington and Whitley Bay. As part of this, all Sunday journeys will now follow the daytime route of the 57A via Bedlington Station. Passengers from Bedlington are advised to use service 43 to reach Cramlington, where connections are possible to service 57A.
New Service 777 – Morpeth to Kingston Park via Newcastle Airport
Working in partnership with Northumberland County Council, we will be introducing this new service that will link Morpeth with Newcastle Airport and Kingston Park. The service will operate 7 days a week with journeys up to every hour through the daytime and every two hours on an evening.
This service will additionally operate via Kirkley Hall and Ponteland, providing new links
Service X18 – Newcastle to Berwick via Alnwick
We will continue to operate the additional early morning journey between Belford and Alnwick that was introduced in October, from January we will also be introducing a Saturday morning journey operating at the same time. Following feedback from both customers and staff, these journeys will also serve Boulmer.
A new later evening journey will also be introduced between Alnwick and Belford on a Monday to Saturday. This journey will leave Alnwick at either 2025 on a Monday to Friday or 2015 on a Saturday.
Due to the closure of the Travelsure Coaches business at the end of 2023, Borders Buses took over operation of service 418 between Alnwick and Belford from the 3rd January. This service will continue to operate alongside our X18 service, and with the continuing acceptance of each other’s tickets to improve the offer provided for our customers. A revised timetable however will be introduced which we have included as a reference point.
Service X21 – Newcastle to Ashington and Newbiggin
We’ve recently carried out a consultation regarding changes that we’re proposing to service X21. The idea behind these changes were a way to improve the punctuality and reliability of this service, along with the 35 and X22.Following the closure of the consultation, we will be looking to implement the proposed changes with 70% of responses agreeing with our plans.
As a result, from the above date we will be introducing a revised timetable and a revised route within the Newbiggin area.
Journeys from Newcastle will operate normal route to Wansbeck Hospital, from here the service will now operate to Woodhorn. Upon arrival at Woodhorn, services will continue as a service 35 towards Morpeth. Passengers will be able to remain on the bus and alight at any stop required within the area.
Journeys from Newbiggin will now commence at Sandy Bay Caravan Park operating via Front Street, Seacrest Road and Woodhorn before continuing towards Newcastle from Wansbeck Hospital.
As well as the changes as a result of the plans above, due to continuing difficulties we’re facing with traffic and congestion in a number of areas on the route, a heavily revised timetable will be introduced with extra resources added at weekends.
Click here for revised timetable
Service X22 – Newcastle to Ashington
We’ve recently carried out a consultation regarding changes that we’re proposing to service X22. The idea behind these changes were a way to improve the punctuality and reliability of this service, along with the 35 and X21.Following the closure of the consultation, we will be looking to implement the proposed changes with 70% of responses agreeing with our plans.
There will be no changes to the route of this service, however a new timetable will be introduced daily. This new timetable has been designed to improve the reliability and punctuality of this service.
As well as the changes to the standard Monday to Friday service, a heavily revised timetable will be introduced with extra resources added at weekends.