Arriva North East Limited and Stagecoach on Teesside provide the majority of scheduled bus services within the Borough. The remaining services are provided by a number of smaller operators including A1, Alrite Travel Ltd, Compass Royston Travel Ltd, Leven Valley Coaches and Go (North-East).
Most bus services are run on a commercial basis without any subsidy from the Council. The Council does pay towards providing early morning, evening and Sunday services and routes serving some of the smaller communities outside the main towns that would otherwise not be served by public transport. These services, which operate under the 'Boroughbus' brand, are generally numbered between 500 and 999.
The Council, in partnership with the operators, has won bids under government Urban and Rural Bus Challenge schemes. Examples include the 'Stockton Shuttle' (the 525 service).
The brand new Community Lynx 'demand responsive' bus service will also start soon. This Rural Bus Challenge-funded scheme will serve the Borough's rural communities by providing access to health care and other facilities where traditional bus services aren't available.
The Council operates a number of Concessionary Fare Schemes, designed to reduce the cost of bus travel for those residents least able to afford it. These include the Enhanced Concessionary Fares scheme providing free travel for people aged 60 and above and those with disabilities, and the Pathfinder scheme for young people aged between 16 and 19.
The Council also invests heavily in Infrastructure Improvements designed to encourage increased bus use. Examples of this investment include:
- Bus priority routes
- Low floor bus stops
- High standard bus shelters
- CCTV cameras on buses
- Real Time information displays
Community Transport
TheCommunity Transport Unit was formed in April 2002 following a Best Value Review. The Council's former Education Transport, Social Services' Transport and 'Dial-a-Ride' functions were brought together to ensure the most efficient use of the Council's transport fleet. The Unit also provides a 'transport brokerage' service, designed to put community transport providers in touch with potential customers.
