Nexus has confirmed the formerly at-risk 51 and W2 bus routes are here to stay following a strong public response.
Nexus considered withdrawing the 51 service between Whtitley Bay and Holystone. The W2 route, operating between Whitley Bay metro and Briardene, also faced servicing Beaumont Park, Red House Farm, and Earsdon Village, reducing the frequency of the service.
113 Whitley Bay residents signed a petition, started by the North Tyneside Public Transport Users Group, in opposition to the proposed changes. Nexus has decided to continue to fund the routes, with the exception of lightly used evening journeys on the 51.
Huw Lewis, customer services director of Nexus, said: “Nexus is spending more than ever before to support local bus routes across Tyne and Wear - more than £14 million a year - thanks to the support of North Tyneside Council and the other local authorities in the area.
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“The whole bus industry is under enormous financial pressure, however. Commercial bus operators have already made significant cuts last year and we fear there is more to come as the Government reduces the subsidy it pays to these companies.
“At the same time, the cost of each contract we let is going up faster than the rate of inflation. As a result, our budget is being squeezed from two sides as we seek to support more routes at ever higher costs.”
The 51 will now run on a revised hourly daytime service between Newcastle and Whitley Bay. Nexus will continue to pay for Arriva to operate between Holystone Park and Whitley Bay.
Late evening trips on the 51 will operate between Newcastle and Holystone Park only, these trips will be operated by a different company and will be funded by Nexus, but Arriva tickets and passes will continue to be accepted.
The W2, operating between Whitley Bay metro station and Briardene, will continue to operate with the same route, timetable and operator.
Jane Gould, a North Tyneside Public Transport Users Group campaigner said: "We are extremely happy and relieved that our service has been saved. There were lots of smiles on the faces of the passengers this morning.
"We would like to thank Nexus for listening to us and responding to our concerns in such an awesome and passenger-friendly way."
According to Nexus, the transport body has had to double the scale of the bus services it provides through public subsidy in the last 12 months because of cuts by commercial bus operators to their own routes in the wake of the pandemic. Contract prices have also reportedly risen by 20% this year.
Carl Johnson, deputy mayor of North Tyneside Council, said: “As a council, we have made sure Nexus’ funding for local bus routes is protected despite huge financial pressures, and that has allowed it to respond to the strong voice of residents.
“I am very pleased to see both the 51 and W2 maintained. I know how much people value their local bus services and we have fought hard to maintain local links wherever we can."
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