Date: 12 Oct 2011
- Revised local town service for Prudhoe
- Improved links to Hexham Hospital
- More journeys for service 689
Welcome to Bus Briefing. Over the last 12-18 months we have put a lot of effort into improving bus services in the Tyne Valley. We have spent a lot of money on new or upgraded vehicles and we have worked very hard in partnership with Northumberland County Council to ensure that services meet the needs of all our customers. Below you will find details of some changes we are making from 30 October 2011.
Tynedale Links 686 replaces the 111 in Prudhoe
In November 2010 we introduced Tynedale Links service 111 as a dedicated local bus for Prudhoe. We had hoped that this would be very successful, but unfortunately passenger numbers have been much lower than we expected.
From 30 October 2011, service 111 will be withdrawn and replaced by revised Tynedale Links service 686. The new 686 will run hourly between 0900 and 1500 on Monday to Saturday daytimes from Prudhoe to Wylam via Castle Road, Station Road, West Road, Edgewell Road, Highfield Lane, South Road, Moor Road, Park Lane, Redwell Road, Stonyflat Bank, West Wylam estate and Crawcrook.
The current one journey per day each way between Whittonstall and Prudhoe will be withdrawn and buses will no longer serve Westburn estate in Crawcrook. The 686 will run every two hours between Wylam, Ovingham and Ovington – at other times, please travel on Tynedale Links service 684 to/from Wylam, where you can connect with the 686.
Buses return to Hexham Hospital
Following customers’ requests, buses will return to the grounds of Hexham Hospital from 30 October 2011. The Tynedale Links 683 will serve the Hospital as part of its route in the East End of Hexham, providing an hourly link into the Hospital grounds between 0830 and 1630 on Mondays to Saturdays.
As a result, the 683 will no longer serve Hexham railway station between 0830 and 1630 on Mondays to Saturdays. It will continue to serve the railway station at other times of the day to maintain connections for commuters.
More journeys for Tynedale Links 689
We have been very pleased with the number of people using Tynedale Links service 689 since it was introduced in April this year. From 30 October, we will be running two extra journeys per day on Mondays to Fridays between Hexham and Slaley Hall via Dilston and Slaley Village.
The extra journeys will leave Hexham at 1146 and 1716, returning from Slaley Hall at 1216 and 1741. The existing journey at 0945 from Consett to Hexham will continue as now, but the current afternoon journey will be retimed to run 30 minutes later. It will leave Hexham at 1341 and arrive in Consett at 1435 – giving you more time for shopping. The Saturday 689 service is unchanged.
TEN and Toonlink Services
There will be no changes to our TEN and Toonlink services from 30 October 2011. Our TEN 10 will continue to provide a great 20-minute service between Hexham, Corbridge, Stocksfield, Prudhoe, Blaydon, Metrocentre and Newcastle City Centre, while the Toonlink 11 will continue to run half-hourly between Low Prudhoe, Prudhoe, Blaydon, Newcastle Business Park and Newcastle City Centre (more frequent at Monday to Friday peak times).
Tickets and Fares
We’ve got some great fares too. A Cheap Day Return ticket from Prudhoe to Newcastle is only £4.90 and a whole family (up to two adults and three children) can travel together for only £10 – great for a day trip or Christmas shopping at Metrocentre.
The TEN WeeklySaver plus gives unlimited travel on the TEN, Toon Link service 11 and Toon Link service 32 (Newcastle-Blaydon) for £19.
