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Stokesley Bus Station closes

24th February 2003
The bus station at Stokesley, built in the early 1930’s and operated by United for many years was closed with effect from the 22nd February 2003. It operated services to Middlesbrough, Redcar, Northallerton and Stockton via Yarm.
The current operator, Arriva, decided to close the station, primarily because of health and safety issues. The vehicles and crews that operated from the garage there are mainly being transferred to the new Redcar depot. The 21 service will now be operated from Stockton. Three buses will be retained for three months to operate the Northallerton services.
All Arriva buses will now terminate at the stop in the High Street returning via Allens Grove.
The 21 service will no longer run through from Redcar except for three peak hour services on Saturdays. A North Yorks County Council sponsored service; No. 82.operated by the Easingwold Co. Hutchinson’s will journey to Yarm via Hutton Rudby and Kirklevington. Leven Valley will operate a Yarm Kirklevington service 507, sponsored by Stockton Council

To commemorate the closure, the Aycliffe and District Bus Preservation Society used two of their ex United vintage vehicles, Bristol ‘L’ model LHN 860 and Bristol ‘K’ model GHN189 for a visit to the depot on the afternoon of Saturday 22nd February 2003.
Several members of the 500 Group were present for the occasion; many taking last ride on buses operated from Stokesley depot.

[Ex United Bristol BGL403 and Bristol K GHN189 outside Stokesley depot on the ‘last day’, together with an Arriva double deck bus on the last afternoon of operation.

Stagecoach improves Hospital Links

Stagecoach are providing improved links between the Teesside Hospitals

Services between the University Hospital of Hartlepool, The University Hospital of North Tees and Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital have been improved with the aid of a Ł730,000 Grant from the Governments Urban Bus Challenge.

The grant, which was secured by Stockton Council’s Bus Quality partnership along with Hartlepool Council and the North Tees NHS Trust, is being used to re-organise the Services 1 and 37.

Service 1 now runs from Hartlepool Hospital to James Cook Hospital every half hour on weekdays via the Clarences. Service 37 is now extended from North Tees to the James Cook Hospital in Marton Road, Middlesbrough each weekday half hour.

New Low floor Dennis Darts are to be introduced and the bus stops are to be altered to allow wheelchair access

Historic Garage Demolished

25th January 2006.
The one time Middlesbrough Corporation tram depot in Parliament Road is being demolished by contractors
Opened by the Corporation in 1921 to house its newly Municipalized tram system as well as the fledgling motor bus fleet, it became the main depot of Teesside Municipal Transport in 1968 and then Transit following the formation of Cleveland County in 1974. After closing in 1988 it has latterly been the home depot for Siesta International, housing its continental coach fleet.
Siesta is to build a new depot and the rest of the site will be re-developed probably for light industrial use.
(Below) The scene in 1921 when the depot was newly opened, the roof is not yet complete and new Hurst Nelson trams are lined up before going into service, early motor buses are on the right. (500 Group Collection)

Free travel for Teesside pensioners

3rd March 2006.
Free bus travel will be available to all concessionary pass holders over the whole of Teesside from Saturday 1st April 2006.
The scheme which is an extension and sensible development of the National Scheme was welcomed by pensioners and the disabled today. In some areas it is hoped to discontinue the registration fee. Existing pass holders will be able to continue with their passes in Stockton and possibly other areas but newly qualified users will have to be issued with a pass.
In other parts of the North Easst, because of lack of a co-ordinated agreement between local authorities, pensioners pass holders will only be able to travel free to the boundaries of their home area

New Operations Director for Stagecoach N.E.

27th June 2006.
Mr Nigel Winter has been appointed Operations Director of Stagecoach North East
Mr Winter, who has twenty six years bus industry experience, laterly with First Group in West Yorkshire, will be responsible for the day to day running of services operated by all seven depots in the North East

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