Bus service cuts reversed after Nexus steps in
CUTS to a vital bus route along the Newcastle riverside will not go ahead after additional funding was found.
There was fury earlier this year when communities in Walker and Wallsend were axed from the route of the popular Q3 service, as operator Go North East slashed services across Tyneside. It meant that the bus has since turned around at St Peter’s Basin instead, removing a key link into Newcastle city centre for passengers further east.
But locals in the East End are now rejoicing after it was confirmed that the service has been saved and the full route will be restored from next month. Tyne and Wear Metro operator Nexus has stepped in with funding that will allow a half-hourly Q3 service to run all the way to Wallsend, starting on July 24.
More than 1,100 people had signed a petition urging transport bosses not to axe the Q3 and passenger Patricia Cole, from Walker, said on Friday that she was “over the moon” to have it back.
Walker councillor David Wood said: “It is really great news. This is one of the most deprived areas in the city that had a bus removed, while the Q3 was being diverted to Osborne Road in Jesmond which is one of the more affluent areas.
“I have to pay tribute to the team at Nexus for putting this back on. It is now there for the rest of the financial year and we will be working to get more funding for next year too.
“I have seen a lot of people celebrating this on Facebook. But one guy told me that people need to use it or lose it, which is probably right. It’s a half-hourly service, which people can live with, and it is just really good news – and there is not often a lot of that for the people of this area.”
Go North East had claimed that the Wallsend and Walker section of the Q3 route that was removed it March was “not particularly well used even before the pandemic, so it’s simply not viable to continue it longer term especially when there is an alternative number 12 bus running in the same area”.
Huw Lewis, customer services director for Nexus, said: “Go North East cut part of the Q3 route in March, so it no longer runs between St Peters and Wallsend. People living in Walker and St Anthony’s, backed by their local councillors, raised a campaign to save this service, and I am pleased to say Nexus has been able to step in.
“From July 24 we will be funding two buses an hour from St Peters to Wallsend, taking in the Aldi supermarket on the way.
“As well as local links within the community this restores a direct link from Walker along the Quayside and into Newcastle city centre and the employment opportunities along the whole route.
“We are stepping in following a review of the whole network of bus services in the region and taking into account consultation with bus operators, local people and councillors.
“This forms part of the new network we are putting together as we seek to grow public transport use in the wake of the pandemic, with the help of financial support from the Government Bus Service Improvement Plan.”