(18 Feb 2026, 1:33 pm)220631612 wrote Gateshead Central doesn’t have a network, it’s an entirely tendered operation. Not saying it’s all drivers but there is a number of drivers who quite often put fares into their own pockets. Timing points are mild suggestions in a lot of cases and they’ve a habit of bidding for more work than they can feasibly operate (32 being case in point). GCT is a very delicate operation on the bus side and all it wouldn’t take much for their entire operation to cease.

Must say the routes round here are fine (19). Certainly no worse than the 57/57a anyway.

Don't see the issue with overbidding either, they can't tell how many they're going to win and probably don't expect to win pretty much everything either. That's on the other for overbidding if anything, anything that's better for the tax payer - the better as fair few of these routes run around with barely anyone half the time (19 to Killingworth, W1 and W2 - in particular) 

Obviously can't comment on the money situation tho.

Can someone remind me or where to find the information relating to when a taxpayer (sorry) Nexus secured contract is bidded for

There is different categories

One was Nexus retains all the income or
Bus company retains all the income

Etc...

How would I find out what was bidded for and what category

(Supplementary question) If the contract brief states that Nexus retains all the income could you bid and state you would take it as a 50 50 split or 75 25 split in terms of income but have a baseline of income to operate the bus?

---

Can someone remind me or where to find the information relating to when a taxpayer (sorry) Nexus secured contract is bidded for

There is different categories

One was Nexus retains all the income or
Bus company retains all the income

Etc...

How would I find out what was bidded for and what category

(Supplementary question) If the contract brief states that Nexus retains all the income could you bid and state you would take it as a 50 50 split or 75 25 split in terms of income but have a baseline of income to operate the bus?

---

Can someone remind me or where to find the information relating to when a taxpayer (sorry) Nexus secured contract is bidded for

There is different categories

One was Nexus retains all the income or
Bus company retains all the income

Etc...

How would I find out what was bidded for and what category

(Supplementary question) If the contract brief states that Nexus retains all the income could you bid and state you would take it as a 50 50 split or 75 25 split in terms of income but have a baseline of income to operate the bus?

---

Can someone remind me or where to find the information relating to when a taxpayer (sorry) Nexus secured contract is bidded for

There is different categories

One was Nexus retains all the income or
Bus company retains all the income

Etc...

How would I find out what was bidded for and what category

(Supplementary question) If the contract brief states that Nexus retains all the income could you bid and state you would take it as a 50 50 split or 75 25 split in terms of income but have a baseline of income to operate the bus?

(18 Feb 2026, 5:23 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote Can someone remind me  or where to find the information relating to when a  taxpayer (sorry) Nexus secured contract is bidded for

There is different categories

One was Nexus retains all the income or
Bus company retains all the income 

Etc... 

How would I find out what was bidded for  and what category

(Supplementary question)  If the contract brief states that Nexus retains all the income could you bid and state you would take it as a 50 50 split or 75 25 split in terms of income  but have a baseline of income to operate the bus?

---

Can someone remind me  or where to find the information relating to when a  taxpayer (sorry) Nexus secured contract is bidded for

There is different categories

One was Nexus retains all the income or
Bus company retains all the income 

Etc... 

How would I find out what was bidded for  and what category

(Supplementary question)  If the contract brief states that Nexus retains all the income could you bid and state you would take it as a 50 50 split or 75 25 split in terms of income  but have a baseline of income to operate the bus?

---

Can someone remind me  or where to find the information relating to when a  taxpayer (sorry) Nexus secured contract is bidded for

There is different categories

One was Nexus retains all the income or
Bus company retains all the income 

Etc... 

How would I find out what was bidded for  and what category

(Supplementary question)  If the contract brief states that Nexus retains all the income could you bid and state you would take it as a 50 50 split or 75 25 split in terms of income  but have a baseline of income to operate the bus?

---

Can someone remind me  or where to find the information relating to when a  taxpayer (sorry) Nexus secured contract is bidded for

There is different categories

One was Nexus retains all the income or
Bus company retains all the income 

Etc... 

How would I find out what was bidded for  and what category

(Supplementary question)  If the contract brief states that Nexus retains all the income could you bid and state you would take it as a 50 50 split or 75 25 split in terms of income  but have a baseline of income to operate the bus?

You'd have to put a freedom of information in for that, doubt you'll find it and I'd doubt anyone who does know will want to leak that. 

It's been done a few times now. Always interesting to find out the little secret subsidises which aren't tendered out as there's loads around aswell. 

The 37/38/57A/62/340/341/353 
/Q3 off the top of my head all had them last time it was done awhile back.

(18 Feb 2026, 2:23 pm)Storx wrote Must say the routes round here are fine (19). Certainly no worse than the 57/57a anyway.

Don't see the issue with overbidding either, they can't tell how many they're going to win and probably don't expect to win pretty much everything either. That's on the other for overbidding if anything, anything that's better for the tax payer - the better as fair few of these routes run around with barely anyone half the time (19 to Killingworth, W1 and W2 - in particular) 

Obviously can't comment on the money situation tho.

Not being horrible here but whats with your slander to the W1 & W2. Have you seen how far the W1/W2 go into an estate to pick people up and take them into Whitley Bay. Seeing you complain about the W1/W2 makes me think you would rather make these people not have a bus service. If nexus didn't see any reason they would have been consulted to be withdrawn. I only see you complaining about it and nobody else. 

A person on here who thinks that yes screw the elderly they shouldn't have to go out and do shopping or see friends 

There's no reason to slander a route. I wonder what your thoughts would be if they changed to Taxi bus routes or would you complain about that as well

I am dead against taxi routes they need to look like a bus not a taxi from a saturday night in town or a mini bus for a hen party

(18 Feb 2026, 8:04 pm)Nerd4321 wrote Not being horrible here but whats with your slander to the W1 & W2. Have you seen how far the W1/W2 go into an estate to pick people up and take them into Whitley Bay. Seeing you complain about the W1/W2 makes me think you would rather make these people not have a bus service. If nexus didn't see any reason they would have been consulted to be withdrawn. I only see you complaining about it and nobody else. 

A person on here who thinks that yes screw the elderly they shouldn't have to go out and do shopping or see friends 

There's no reason to slander a route. I wonder what your thoughts would be if they changed to Taxi bus routes or would you complain about that as well

It's fine dw, just with the limited funds just see the money being better spent on places which really don't have a service.

The W2, I really don't understand why it exists at all, it literally duplicates the 351 bar one stop which is a very short walk to the links where there's 6 buses an hour, imo you'd be better upping the 351 to every 30 minutes throughout the whole route and getting rid of the 350 and W2. It'll benefit everyone, ideally including a full Evening / Sunday service since there's currently zero bus service and that's a problem. You may have to do some variants in the middle section to save time though or interwork it with something else, not sure what though. 

The W1 is just bizarre, bar Wellfield which actually does need a service - without question, I'm not sure the rest is needed - they've all got a bus stop within 400m which is a Nexus rule. Imo something like this: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/55.03213...?entry=ttu would be better and give people at Wellfield links West, partially covering what the 350 is doing anyway. It's just one of those routes that's kinda always been there but times have moved and with limited budgets and other areas with nothing - not sure we can be funding door to door routes anymore ie. the M71 in the West End which has just gone. 

I know someone in Valley Gardens will moan but it's literally a 5 minute walk to Newstead Drive and there's no care home or anything there. The 351 always has decent enough loads whenever I see it in the Earsdon area but the 350 is carrying tumbleweed so why try and grow it? It was commercial until a few year back and with the amount of house building on the route it can only go one way really.

(18 Feb 2026, 11:05 pm)Storx wrote It's fine dw, just with the limited funds just see the money being better spent on places which really don't have a service.

The W2, I really don't understand why it exists at all, it literally duplicates the 351 bar one stop which is a very short walk to the links where there's 6 buses an hour, imo you'd be better upping the 351 to every 30 minutes throughout the whole route and getting rid of the 350 and W2. It'll benefit everyone, ideally including a full Evening / Sunday service since there's currently zero bus service and that's a problem. You may have to do some variants in the middle section to save time though or interwork it with something else, not sure what though. 

The W1 is just bizarre, bar Wellfield which actually does need a service - without question, I'm not sure the rest is needed - they've all got a bus stop within 400m which is a Nexus rule. Imo something like this: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/55.03213...?entry=ttu would be better and give people at Wellfield links West, partially covering what the 350 is doing anyway. It's just one of those routes that's kinda always been there but times have moved and with limited budgets and other areas with nothing - not sure we can be funding door to door routes anymore ie. the M71 in the West End which has just gone. 

I know someone in Valley Gardens will moan but it's literally a 5 minute walk to Newstead Drive and there's no care home or anything there. The 351 always has decent enough loads whenever I see it in the Earsdon area but the 350 is carrying tumbleweed so why try and grow it? It was commercial until a few year back and with the amount of house building on the route it can only go one way really.

Do you think the 400m rule needs to be shorter? Thats a canny trek  for some if you use the 400m rule buses can omit High Farm due to 400m rule?

(19 Feb 2026, 5:06 am)DaveFromUpNorth wrote Do you think the 400m rule needs to be shorter? Thats a canny trek  for some if you use the 400m rule buses can omit High Farm due to 400m rule?

It's an interesting discussion point, I don't know. It'd be nice but not sure it would really be feasible in most areas, not without a lot of duplications or sending existing buses on a merry go round everywhere to make it work. 

It's only 5 minute walk 400m, which isn't too bad really, if there's elderly people unable to travel that far you'd be better looking at alternatives imo, ie taxi vouchers or dare I say some form of DRT but using cars instead and you call someone and they take the pensioners where they want to go for a nominal fee. I want to say there's already charities who do it anyway, but I could be wrong.

Supose it is a good excuse to get rid of 653 then? COAST road buses connect to chili for Freeman 1 bus connects for that hospital at Walkergate the metro will be close to walk from Wallsend

---

Having looked at the bids more closely I am satisfied and happy to see GCT has won the 599 contract . HOWEVER the bid did come in by £100k inc VAT

Loyalty to Northstar or loyalty to the taxpayer?

I have done some maths on the data regarding the Nexus secured services... 


So....
Comparable data for the Nexus Contracts for March 2026.

Data source is 2026 . GOV SITE  awarding of tendors including VAT

2025 Source is a FOI request with a figure I persume inc VAT as it says total cost. 

Where noted it will say Part or Full on the 2025 data and I persume it is the same type of contract for 2026 if the figures are close.

341 and 342 looks like it was Part in 2025 but 2026 is now Fully funded.

ALSO NOTE 599 and 787 service were brand new services funded by the NECTA I think (need to check) however now it is under Nexus the contracts deflate by £100k each ?

Some interesting figures:- Up means the contract  has gone up in cost Down means it has gone down so I am persuming there is savings in the overheads.  As a general rule it should go up with VAT NI Employer wages etc...

All costs inc VAT

Service 18
2026 Northstar £733,575
2025 Stagecoach £714,242 Full
Up £19,333

Service 19 19a 335
2026 GCT £994,768
2025 GCT £956,346 full
Up £38,422

Service 32 /32a
2026 GCT £1,112,598
2025  Stagecoach £1,204,104
DOWN £91,506

Service 35
2026 GCT £363,629
2025 GCT £424,800
DOWN £61,171

Service 54
2026 GNE £138,985
2025 GNE  £128,929
Up £10,056

Service 301
2026 GNE £114,003
2025 GNE £40,568 + £106,091  2xp
DOWN £32,656

Service 317
2026 GNE £358,030
2025 GNE £343,252 part
Up £ 14,778

Service 333
2026 GNE £179,562
New service

Service 341 342
2026 GNE £870,642
2025 GNE £300,741 part
UP £569,901

Service 350 351
2026 GCT £986,016
2025 GcT £938,814 full
Up £47,202

Service 599
2026 GCT £366,708
2025 Northstar £467,456.18 full
DOWN £100,748.18p

Service 653
2026 GCT £152,526
2025 GCT £137,518 full
Up £15,008

Service 787
2026 GNE £131,844
2025 Stagecoach  £231,855 full
DOWN £100,011

Service W1 W2
2026 GCT £259,800
2025 GCT £248,000 full

Service x46
2026 Stanley Travel £177,890
2025 GCT £187,938 full

Service x78
2026 Stagecoach £49,214
2025 Stagecoach £47,540 part

(19 Feb 2026, 4:41 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote Supose it is a good excuse to get rid of 653 then?  COAST road buses connect  to chili for Freeman 1 bus connects for that hospital at Walkergate the metro will be close to walk from Wallsend

---

Having looked at the bids more closely I am satisfied and happy to see GCT has won the 599 contract .  HOWEVER  the bid did come in by £100k inc VAT

Loyalty to Northstar or loyalty to the taxpayer?

I could bid £50k to operate it with two Vauxhall Vivaros and you'd support it, even if I then took the 50k and didn't run any buses?

What I'm saying is GCT have a track record of unreliability and allocating unsuitable vehicles. It's not about loyalty to Northstar or GCT or anyone, money should not be the only factor. What's the point in going for the cheaper bid knowing said bidder is probably going to do a much worse job?

---

Put it in perspective:
If you were booking a coach trip, based on your posts you would slip a hundred quid to dodgy derek from round the corner who's lost his license god knows how many times, rather than paying £200 to a known, trusted and reliable company.

(19 Feb 2026, 5:49 pm)F114TML wrote I could bid £50k to operate it with two Vauxhall Vivaros and you'd support it, even if I then took the 50k and didn't run any buses?

What I'm saying is GCT have a track record of unreliability and allocating unsuitable vehicles. It's not about loyalty to Northstar or GCT or anyone, money should not be the only factor. What's the point in going for the cheaper bid knowing said bidder is probably going to do a much worse job?

---

Put it in perspective:
If you were booking a coach trip, based on your posts you would slip a hundred quid to dodgy derek from round the corner who's lost his license god knows how many times, rather than paying £200 to a known, trusted and reliable company.

Why do they keep winning contracts? 

Either Central Taxis are no worse than any other operator or Durham County Council and Nexus don't have processes in place to manage poor performance

(19 Feb 2026, 6:04 pm)Kimlfixit wrote Why do they keep winning contracts? 

Either Central Taxis are no worse than any other operator or Durham County Council and Nexus don't have processes in place to manage poor performance

They just put the cheapest bid in. We know Nexus don't care, they consulted on withdrawing a service (think it was the R1) because of low passenger numbers. The passenger numbers were low because it was so unreliable, as in there were days it didn't operate at all. GCT won the contract back.

(19 Feb 2026, 5:49 pm)F114TML wrote I could bid £50k to operate it with two Vauxhall Vivaros and you'd support it, even if I then took the 50k and didn't run any buses?

What I'm saying is GCT have a track record of unreliability and allocating unsuitable vehicles. It's not about loyalty to Northstar or GCT or anyone, money should not be the only factor. What's the point in going for the cheaper bid knowing said bidder is probably going to do a much worse job?

---

Put it in perspective:
If you were booking a coach trip, based on your posts you would slip a hundred quid to dodgy derek from round the corner who's lost his license god knows how many times, rather than paying £200 to a known, trusted and reliable company.

Surely GoNorthEast and Arriva would have be excluded aswell. Both have been an absolute shambles, much worse than Gateshead Taxis. 

People around here are actively using the 19 because it actually runs which is less said about the 57/57a and both are tendered in parts. 

Stuff like the 317 and 82 only went tendered in the first place as they done that exact thing you said above and they've been shocking ever since with strikes, ''cold weather" issues, driver shortages and so on. 

I know it shouldn't be a race to a bottom but GCT really aren't that bad imo if you're judging them against who's bidding against them.

I don't know the crack with the 71 but maybe DCC have permitted them to use smaller buses?

Remember these are not small companies they have secured funding to operate in the millions....

If you tender for business you need to state your price and why you are different xyz

Just like if I want to put my house on the market I have 5 estate agents with 5 fees who is going to charge me the cheapest fee for the best service?

If GCT or any other service operating a nexus secured service are failing Nexus needs to be informed as they have a very strict contract with financial penalties but they are only made aware if members of the public nudge them

Look at the 79 with that white van they used as an example ?

(19 Feb 2026, 6:18 pm)Storx wrote Surely GoNorthEast and Arriva would have be excluded aswell. Both have been an absolute shambles, much worse than Gateshead Taxis. 

People around here are actively using the 19 because it actually runs which is less said about the 57/57a and both are tendered in parts. 

Stuff like the 317 and 82 only went tendered in the first place as they done that exact thing you said above and they've been shocking ever since with strikes, ''cold weather" issues, driver shortages and so on. 

I know it shouldn't be a race to a bottom but GCT really aren't that bad imo if you're judging them against who's bidding against them.

I don't know the crack with the 71 but maybe DCC have permitted them to use smaller buses?

It looks like we may find out how poor GCT and others actually are!

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/b...ng-3311746

(19 Feb 2026, 6:38 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote Remember these are not small companies they have secured funding to operate in the millions....

If you tender for business you need to state your price and why you are different xyz

Just like if I want to put my house on the market I have 5 estate agents with 5 fees  who is going to charge me the cheapest fee for the best service?

If GCT or any other service operating a nexus secured service are failing Nexus needs to be informed as they have a very strict contract with financial penalties but they are only made aware if members of the public nudge them

Look at the 79 with that white van they used as an example ?

Why should it be down to the public to tell Nexus the bus isn't running? Should they not be monitoring it themselves, perhaps with spot checks?

Either way, Nexus aren't enforcing financial penalties (the white van on the 168 only got a written warning and a strike, or equivalent), if they're in the contract in the first place.

Contracts have been awarded

Stagecoach, 32/32A/X78
GCT, 19/19A/335/35/350/351/599/653/W1/W2/X46
GNE,54/301/317/333/341/342/787
Northstar, 18

Only change is Stanley Travel dropping the X46

"Quick edit"

Nope they haven't. Website says we are in another standstill period. Earliest award date will be the 3rd of March. 19 days before the changes actually happen

(19 Feb 2026, 8:04 pm)Kimlfixit wrote It looks like we may find out how poor GCT and others actually are!

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/b...ng-3311746

Good old Mike Hunt on the case!

(Yesterday, 8:17 am)Nerd4321 wrote Contracts have been awarded

Stagecoach, 32/32A/X78
GCT, 19/19A/335/35/350/351/599/653/W1/W2/X46
GNE,54/301/317/333/341/342/787
Northstar, 18

Only change is Stanley Travel dropping the X46

"Quick edit"

Nope they haven't. Website says we are in another standstill period. Earliest award date will be the 3rd of March. 19 days before the changes actually happen

Presumably Stanley Travel were unsuccessful in other bids and have decided not to bother with the X46 as it only requires one bus. I remember this happening before, there wasn't enough work so they declined the one service they did win. Saying that, currently they run one bus on the 655/794 scholars/works, and they previously ran the X46 when it was introduced.

From what I’ve been told by the operations manager at Slatyford they’re waiting for final word on the 32/32A before they commit EV’s onto the routes. By early March he reckons he’ll have an answer. It does sound as though Stagecoach are planning to put EV’s on them routes.