(05 Apr 2022, 9:41 am)peter wrote Wasn't sure where to put this as the Rural Link Northumberland thread didn't seem appropriate.
Rural Link are seemingly growing their operations in Bishop Auckland beyond the 104, having been awarded the contract for new service 87 from Bishop Auckland to Toft Hill replacing Arriva's service 86 (see timetable attached). The 87 is virtually identical to the previous Arriva and GNE operation. Rural Link have been awarded the contract through to October 2026.
(03 Jul 2022, 10:34 pm)peter wrote Seemingly going the same way as Scarlet Band and will be covered by Hodgsons: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cainebj/52...1626304887Rural Link withdrew from running the contract, Hodgsons are running the 87 on an interim basis until permanent arrangements are in place, during this time the service will run on a reduced timetable with first trip being the 07:36 from Toft Hill and last trip being the 17:26 from Bishop Auckland.
(12 Jul 2022, 3:46 pm)reymyster9 wrote It seems like Rural Link's County Durham operations will be coming to an end from the 15th as they have cancelled the 104 (https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.s...ls/597121/). Does anyone know their reasoning for withdrawing from these contracts?Seems like they're binning off anything that uses a conventional bus, looks like Rural Link / L & B Travel will just be coaches and vans given services 613, 815, 882 & 885 which now all use vans will survive (seemingly interworking with scholars contracts).
(17 Jul 2022, 6:55 pm)Charles41 wrote Are the Eden still running any services around Bishop Auckland?No
Green Mountain Travel have scholars services around Morpeth. So, they could use their school coaches or one of their Sprinters. They used to have a couple of Plasmas but they have now left the fleet.
Charles
