Deal secures community bus link until summer

A bus operator is extending and reshaping services across the Tees Valley to maintain connectivity for communities facing the loss of existing routes.

An agreement to extend Service 10 will see the route continue through spring and early summer, serving Sadberge and neighbouring villages from April and ensuring the historic village retains a regular bus link after the Tees Flex on-demand service ends in March.

Operated by Arriva, Service 10 will run hourly in an anticlockwise loop from Whinfield, travelling via Great Burdon, Sadberge, Little Stainton, Bishopton, Redmarshall, Carlton, Thorpe Thewles, Stillington and Great Stainton, before returning to Darlington. 

The service provides access to Darlington town centre and onward connections to Stockton.

Councillor Steve Harker, Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) cabinet member for transport and infrastructure and leader of Darlington Borough Council, said: “For Sadberge, having a regular bus service is very important.

“This service means the village stays connected to Darlington town centre, Stockton and neighbouring communities, which will help residents get to work, education, healthcare and shops. 

“While we’re seeing some positive trends in service coverage across Tees Valley, what really matters is how people experience those services day-to-day. 

“We want to look at how we can strengthen and improve the network in the longer-term as part of a wider review with increased investment in our transport system.”

Alongside this, two additional Stagecoach routes will also begin operating in April and are set to run until at least July. Service X86 will connect Redmarshall with Stockton High Street via Whitton, Stillington, Bishopton, Roseworth and the University Hospital of North Tees. 

Service 51 will link Dalton Piercy and Elwick with Hartlepool Sixth Form College and Hartlepool town centre.

David Parker, commercial director of Stagecoach North East, added: “Stagecoach is delighted to collaborate with Tees Valley Combined Authority.

“We recognise the positive impacts which increased connectivity can bring, and we look forward to bringing brand new bus routes to the communities of Elwick, Dalton Piercy, Bishopton, Redmarshall and Stillington in the coming weeks.”

In total, 13 bus routes already supported by the TVCA have now been extended until July. 

From April, Service 29 in Middlesbrough will also increase to two journeys per hour to Cypress Road, with one service stopping at Coulby Newham Parkway Centre.

Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen added: “If we’re serious about creating good jobs and growing our economy, then local people must be able to access new opportunities right across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.

“We’re already seeing more stops getting more frequent services, which shows progress is being made, but we want to do more across road, rail and in the air.

“With increased funding coming into our region, and big transport projects nearing completion, we’re determined to go further and build a network that genuinely supports our people, backs our businesses and helps our growth as a region.”

The extensions follow continued investment in the regional bus network, which has led to a near 20 per cent increase in bus stops receiving at least one service per day since April 2025. 

The statistics also revealed:

• A five per cent increase in bus stops with at least one service every 15 minutes
• A seven per cent increase in bus stops with at least one service every 30 minutes
• An 18 per cent increase in bus stops with at least one service every 60 minutes 

A wider review of the bus network is currently under way, with findings due to be published in July.

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