North East PTUG
@northeastptug.bsky.social
A voluntary organisation in the North East of England campaigning for public transport for social and environmental good. We fight for more attractive, affordable, and accessible sustainable transport (including walking, cycling, bus, metro, and rail).
Pinned
North East Public Transport Users Group
Representing public transport users from Berwick to Barnard Castle
neptug.org.uk
Hello! The North East Public Transport Users Group is a campaigning organisation in the North East of England run by volunteers who believe that sustainable, accessible, affordable public transport (including walking and cycling!) is vtial to help lower emissions and improve health.
neptug.org.uk
neptug.org.uk
Reposted by North East PTUG
Axing the cycle-to-work scheme might seem like low-hanging fruit for a cash-strapped Treasury, but it would be a big mistake. Particularly with expensive kid-carrying cargo e-bikes, it's one of the most effective modal shift levers out there.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Rachel Reeves to cut tax benefits for workers using salary sacrifice schemes to buy bikes
Chancellor expected to introduce new limit on how much can be spent on a bicycle through cycle to work scheme
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Axing the cycle-to-work scheme might seem like low-hanging fruit for a cash-strapped Treasury, but it would be a big mistake. Particularly with expensive kid-carrying cargo e-bikes, it's one of the most effective modal shift levers out there.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
This report from @centreforcities.bsky.social highlights the current issues with transport integration that we hope @kimmcguinness.bsky.social is working to address. By better connecting bus, Metro, and rail, public transport can be made an easy and affordable first choice for many journeys.
With integrated modes, increased bus frequency and reduced journey times #Newcastle could see 170,700 more people connected to the city centre 📢
November 10, 2025 at 4:49 PM
This report from @centreforcities.bsky.social highlights the current issues with transport integration that we hope @kimmcguinness.bsky.social is working to address. By better connecting bus, Metro, and rail, public transport can be made an easy and affordable first choice for many journeys.
Reposted by North East PTUG
Really productive and informative meeting with Officers this morning about Manors Station. Looking forward to the first phase of the improvements to the station, and hopefully that, and adjacent developments will start to unlock the potential there.
November 7, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Really productive and informative meeting with Officers this morning about Manors Station. Looking forward to the first phase of the improvements to the station, and hopefully that, and adjacent developments will start to unlock the potential there.
Reposted by North East PTUG
Incredibly naive.
Basically kills off any career path for Over Head Line teams.
The industry will down skill to repair and maintenance alone.
Kills off any investment or innovation in OLE too.
Bet they announce a new road or airport expansion within a month.
Basically kills off any career path for Over Head Line teams.
The industry will down skill to repair and maintenance alone.
Kills off any investment or innovation in OLE too.
Bet they announce a new road or airport expansion within a month.
Govt scraps all electrification investment. Midland Main Line to stay forever diesel Leicester Nottingham Derby Sheffield. Hugely embarrassing and inexplicable
www.ft.com/content/5ecd...
www.ft.com/content/5ecd...
UK transport secretary says full electrification of railways ‘not affordable right now’
Heidi Alexander says focus will be on other projects such as HS2
www.ft.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Incredibly naive.
Basically kills off any career path for Over Head Line teams.
The industry will down skill to repair and maintenance alone.
Kills off any investment or innovation in OLE too.
Bet they announce a new road or airport expansion within a month.
Basically kills off any career path for Over Head Line teams.
The industry will down skill to repair and maintenance alone.
Kills off any investment or innovation in OLE too.
Bet they announce a new road or airport expansion within a month.
We have asked about bus priority lanes, funded by BSIP and already consulted upon, but no further update at this point. In the meantime, bus passengers (and prospective bus passengers sitting in cars) continue to be delayed and inconvenienced by traffic congestion.
At Climate Change Forum, I heard from bus passengers and bus operators about the challenges of running buses to time.
While bus lanes are good, it's the missing bits that are the weak link in the chain.
There's still no sign of these bus lanes being installed 532 days later.
Cont.
While bus lanes are good, it's the missing bits that are the weak link in the chain.
There's still no sign of these bus lanes being installed 532 days later.
Cont.
2/
For example, in March Newcastle City Council announced a series of Bus Lanes and Red Routes as mitigation against the Tyne Bridge works which started in April.
new.newcastle.gov.uk/news/2024/ne...
Fast forward to today, and they've not delivered these comparatively minor changes.
For example, in March Newcastle City Council announced a series of Bus Lanes and Red Routes as mitigation against the Tyne Bridge works which started in April.
new.newcastle.gov.uk/news/2024/ne...
Fast forward to today, and they've not delivered these comparatively minor changes.
November 10, 2025 at 9:02 AM
We have asked about bus priority lanes, funded by BSIP and already consulted upon, but no further update at this point. In the meantime, bus passengers (and prospective bus passengers sitting in cars) continue to be delayed and inconvenienced by traffic congestion.
We contacted Newcatle City Council with @newcycling.bsky.social to ask whether the public realm around the new HMRC offices on New Bridge Street would be as forward-thinking as the artists impressions. We didn't receive a response. Now we learn that Blackett Street, 3 years on, remains "on pause".
In conjunction with @northeastptug.bsky.social we recently wrote to the city council to urge it to work towards making New Bridge Street and Blackett Street match the vision that has been sold to residents. newcycling.org/2025/10/the-...
The future of New Bridge Street and Blackett Street
As the completion of the new Government building on New Bridge Street nears the public realm surrounding the development is starting to take shape. Image on hoardings around the building site, as w…
newcycling.org
October 26, 2025 at 8:39 PM
We contacted Newcatle City Council with @newcycling.bsky.social to ask whether the public realm around the new HMRC offices on New Bridge Street would be as forward-thinking as the artists impressions. We didn't receive a response. Now we learn that Blackett Street, 3 years on, remains "on pause".
Peter Sagar at @northeastbylines.co.uk on the issues raised by the failure of Arrive Buses to stop at the brand new Northumberland Line station at Newsham. “This sums up in microcosm all of the problems with the UK’s fragmented, privatised transport system.”
northeastbylines.co.uk/news/transpo...
northeastbylines.co.uk/news/transpo...
Arriva buses snub bus stop at new station
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has slammed Arriva’s refusal to serve Newsham Station as “madness”, urging better integration
northeastbylines.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Peter Sagar at @northeastbylines.co.uk on the issues raised by the failure of Arrive Buses to stop at the brand new Northumberland Line station at Newsham. “This sums up in microcosm all of the problems with the UK’s fragmented, privatised transport system.”
northeastbylines.co.uk/news/transpo...
northeastbylines.co.uk/news/transpo...
North East passengers let down again with further delays to integrated ticketing roll-out.
Upgrades to the Pop Card to include daily fare capping were originally due to launch in Autumn 2024, then Spring/Summer 2025, Autumn 2025, and now 2026 says NECA.
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
Upgrades to the Pop Card to include daily fare capping were originally due to launch in Autumn 2024, then Spring/Summer 2025, Autumn 2025, and now 2026 says NECA.
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
Metro Pop card expansion delayed as transport boss issues contactless update
It had been hoped that an upgraded Pop smart ticket system would be launched across the Metro, Shields Ferry, buses and some trains this autumn
www.chroniclelive.co.uk
October 22, 2025 at 9:07 AM
North East passengers let down again with further delays to integrated ticketing roll-out.
Upgrades to the Pop Card to include daily fare capping were originally due to launch in Autumn 2024, then Spring/Summer 2025, Autumn 2025, and now 2026 says NECA.
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
Upgrades to the Pop Card to include daily fare capping were originally due to launch in Autumn 2024, then Spring/Summer 2025, Autumn 2025, and now 2026 says NECA.
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
Great thread from Cllr Cookson on the missed opportunties on the Northumberland Line. It really does beggar belief that new public transport infrastructure is being opened without integration between modes and with only car travel in mind. It also exposes the problems of our privatised system.
I long suspected this project was mainly a chain of car parks, connected by a railway line.
I can sort of understand now getting the walking and cycling connections right, but when you start with a blank canvas and can't get the bus infrastructure right....
What hope have we got?
Cont.
I can sort of understand now getting the walking and cycling connections right, but when you start with a blank canvas and can't get the bus infrastructure right....
What hope have we got?
Cont.
The company said moving the stop would be of little benefit to passengers at the newly built Newsham Station
October 15, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Great thread from Cllr Cookson on the missed opportunties on the Northumberland Line. It really does beggar belief that new public transport infrastructure is being opened without integration between modes and with only car travel in mind. It also exposes the problems of our privatised system.
Reposted by North East PTUG
Thanks to @northeastptug.bsky.social for championing disabled access.
It’s perfectly possible to integrate bus and rail (as is shown by Gosforth’s Regent Centre).
It’s perfectly possible to integrate bus and rail (as is shown by Gosforth’s Regent Centre).
The company said moving the stop would be of little benefit to passengers at the newly built Newsham Station
Arriva urged to end bus stop 'madness' at Northumberland Line station
Arriva urged to end bus stop 'madness' at Northumberland Line station
www.chroniclelive.co.uk
October 14, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Thanks to @northeastptug.bsky.social for championing disabled access.
It’s perfectly possible to integrate bus and rail (as is shown by Gosforth’s Regent Centre).
It’s perfectly possible to integrate bus and rail (as is shown by Gosforth’s Regent Centre).
It was never clear what all o the space in Sunderland's new railway station was for. Whilst a light and airy concourse is welcome, it is cavernous and uninviting for passengers. And even worse, it closes after the last Northern train has departed (despite Metros still running!).
BBC News - Empty Sunderland railway station 'an embarrassment' - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Empty Sunderland railway station 'an embarrassment'
Critics say Sunderland Station is
www.bbc.co.uk
October 15, 2025 at 1:44 PM
It was never clear what all o the space in Sunderland's new railway station was for. Whilst a light and airy concourse is welcome, it is cavernous and uninviting for passengers. And even worse, it closes after the last Northern train has departed (despite Metros still running!).
On Saturday members of our Newcastle branch met up to go on a 'bus safari' in the city, to explore the issues facing bus passengers (and drivers!). NEPTUG member Peter Sagar has written up his experiences of the day for @northeastbylines.co.uk
northeastbylines.co.uk/news/transpo...
northeastbylines.co.uk/news/transpo...
Waiting for the bus: going on a bus safari with Newcastle Public Transports Users’ Group
A review of the bus safari experience with Newcastle Public transports User’s Group
northeastbylines.co.uk
October 8, 2025 at 10:46 AM
On Saturday members of our Newcastle branch met up to go on a 'bus safari' in the city, to explore the issues facing bus passengers (and drivers!). NEPTUG member Peter Sagar has written up his experiences of the day for @northeastbylines.co.uk
northeastbylines.co.uk/news/transpo...
northeastbylines.co.uk/news/transpo...
Good that the deplorable state of Newcastle's coach station is being kept in the public eye, and we hope that Newcastle City Council continue to work on a solution to improve facilities for passengers on this vital form of public transport.
Pleased that the condition of and use of the Coach Station has been brought up at Full Council tonight.
Coaches using John Dobson Street is unacceptable, there's no shelter, no facilities and parked Coaches impact on the ability of local scheduled services to get to the kerb to deploy ramps.
1/2
Coaches using John Dobson Street is unacceptable, there's no shelter, no facilities and parked Coaches impact on the ability of local scheduled services to get to the kerb to deploy ramps.
1/2
October 1, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Good that the deplorable state of Newcastle's coach station is being kept in the public eye, and we hope that Newcastle City Council continue to work on a solution to improve facilities for passengers on this vital form of public transport.
A huge amount of committed funding, that could transform public transport in our region, is going unspent. As our chair Vicki Gilbert says in this article, it's hugely frustrating for bus passengers that funding for bus priority isn't improving services. www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
Almost £100m of promised North East transport upgrades are off track
Cancelled or delayed schemes mean that huge underspends are forecast on a series of funds allocated to improve bus journeys, cycle routes, and other forms of travel around the North East
www.chroniclelive.co.uk
September 21, 2025 at 5:11 PM
A huge amount of committed funding, that could transform public transport in our region, is going unspent. As our chair Vicki Gilbert says in this article, it's hugely frustrating for bus passengers that funding for bus priority isn't improving services. www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
Our Newcastle branch chair Alistair Ford talked to @northeastbylines.co.uk about the future of Blackett Street in Newcastle. With the new HMRC offices on Pilgrim Street almost finished and 7000 jobs arriving soon, the time for pedestrianisation is surely now?
northeastbylines.co.uk/news/transpo...
northeastbylines.co.uk/news/transpo...
Pedestrianising Blackett Street in Newcastle
A discussion on further pedestrianisation of Newcastle City Centre. A new ‘Pilgrim Plaza’?
northeastbylines.co.uk
September 14, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Our Newcastle branch chair Alistair Ford talked to @northeastbylines.co.uk about the future of Blackett Street in Newcastle. With the new HMRC offices on Pilgrim Street almost finished and 7000 jobs arriving soon, the time for pedestrianisation is surely now?
northeastbylines.co.uk/news/transpo...
northeastbylines.co.uk/news/transpo...
It's the same situation in the North East, with Durham and Morpeth being sacrificed on the altar of faster (and more) trains from London to Edinburgh. We already have very poor local trains in the North East and the new timetable will make them even worse. Sadly, the horse has bolted.
If you’re a uk politics/transport/urban policy person (you’re on Bluesky) then the winter timetable on east coast mainline will be such an interesting mess. The public in mid-sized towns slowly realising they’ve been sacrificed for faster London > Edinburgh trains. www.thecomet.net/news/2544425...
MP says Stevenage 'paying the price' as LNER set to stop trains to and from London
Stevenage MP Kevin Bonavia says residents are "paying the price" for LNER's new timetable which is set to stop passengers from Stevenage…
www.thecomet.net
September 12, 2025 at 8:36 AM
It's the same situation in the North East, with Durham and Morpeth being sacrificed on the altar of faster (and more) trains from London to Edinburgh. We already have very poor local trains in the North East and the new timetable will make them even worse. Sadly, the horse has bolted.
Reposted by North East PTUG
Will Pop PAYG card readers be installed at Dunston and Metrocentre stations ahead of the December timetable change, which sees Northumberland Line services (which accept Pop PAYG) being extended to Metrocentre on Sundays?
If not it’s going to complicate Pop use further.
If not it’s going to complicate Pop use further.
September 11, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Will Pop PAYG card readers be installed at Dunston and Metrocentre stations ahead of the December timetable change, which sees Northumberland Line services (which accept Pop PAYG) being extended to Metrocentre on Sundays?
If not it’s going to complicate Pop use further.
If not it’s going to complicate Pop use further.
A bus company has raised some of its fares for the second time in five months. This is obviously extremely disappointing for passengers. We call on bus operators to commit to fixing fares for the foreseeable future to avoid pricing even more people off their services.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
North East bus passengers hit by second fare rise in five months
The cost of weekly Stagecoach bus passes rises between 14 and 18% in five months.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 9, 2025 at 2:14 PM
A bus company has raised some of its fares for the second time in five months. This is obviously extremely disappointing for passengers. We call on bus operators to commit to fixing fares for the foreseeable future to avoid pricing even more people off their services.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
We fully support Chathill Rail Action Group on their campaign to improve rail services to rural Northumberland. Instead of dualling of the A1, which will do nothing to reduce traffic in the area, politicians should be focussed on local rail improvements.
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
Plea for more trains amid warnings villages ‘can’t cope’ with tourist traffic
A lack of capacity on the East Coast Mainline means smaller stations have very few trains stopping daily
www.chroniclelive.co.uk
September 5, 2025 at 8:55 AM
We fully support Chathill Rail Action Group on their campaign to improve rail services to rural Northumberland. Instead of dualling of the A1, which will do nothing to reduce traffic in the area, politicians should be focussed on local rail improvements.
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
It's great that our new @my-metro.bsky.social trains are coming into service, hopefully improving reliability as they do so, but it is such a shame that minor things aren't sorted to improve the passenger experience. We were hoping that air conditioning would fix the problem of baking hot trains...
Apparently we’re on the ‘MASTER’ line, calling at Fawdon 2, Kingston Park 2, and Bank Foot 2…
Earlier we called at “West Jesmon”, (no ‘d’).
9 months on & these simple things still haven’t been sorted.
Where’s the attention to detail?
Does anyone care?
Also, it’s too warm! 😓
Earlier we called at “West Jesmon”, (no ‘d’).
9 months on & these simple things still haven’t been sorted.
Where’s the attention to detail?
Does anyone care?
Also, it’s too warm! 😓
August 24, 2025 at 6:14 PM
It's great that our new @my-metro.bsky.social trains are coming into service, hopefully improving reliability as they do so, but it is such a shame that minor things aren't sorted to improve the passenger experience. We were hoping that air conditioning would fix the problem of baking hot trains...
It has been a long time coming, but at our Newcastle branch meeting on Monday we heard that the bus shelters in Newcastle that were deemed dangerous to passengers last year will finally be replaced in the coming months. We hope this will end the problems for wheelchair users.
There will be a 12-16 week period while they are procured, and then there will be a programme to replace the new bus shelters with new new bus shelters.
Which will mean we'll finally be able to get rid of the red and white barriers and reinstate level boarding.
@northeastptug.bsky.social
Which will mean we'll finally be able to get rid of the red and white barriers and reinstate level boarding.
@northeastptug.bsky.social
August 21, 2025 at 12:20 PM
It has been a long time coming, but at our Newcastle branch meeting on Monday we heard that the bus shelters in Newcastle that were deemed dangerous to passengers last year will finally be replaced in the coming months. We hope this will end the problems for wheelchair users.
Bus services need radical transformation to reverse decades of decline. We welcome the new report from the Transport Select Committee and agree with most of their findings. Our chair Vicki Gilbert calls for a bold vision for buses in the North East.
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
MPs call for free bus passes for young people to reverse 'decade of decline'
North East mayor has been urged to deliver a "radical" vision to reinvigorate the region's bus network, which has seen a 37% drop in journeys since 2009
www.chroniclelive.co.uk
August 14, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Bus services need radical transformation to reverse decades of decline. We welcome the new report from the Transport Select Committee and agree with most of their findings. Our chair Vicki Gilbert calls for a bold vision for buses in the North East.
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
Reposted by North East PTUG
This images shows all the Stagecoach buses in Newcastle right now, carrying people to work and on other journeys, many of whom will have no other transport options.
sensors.spaceforheaton.com/bustracker
sensors.spaceforheaton.com/bustracker
August 13, 2025 at 7:43 AM
This images shows all the Stagecoach buses in Newcastle right now, carrying people to work and on other journeys, many of whom will have no other transport options.
sensors.spaceforheaton.com/bustracker
sensors.spaceforheaton.com/bustracker
Stagecoach staff have rejected a 5% pay offer and strikes are back on later this month. We hope that an agreement can be reached before bus users are disrupted by strike action. A reminder that Stagecoach paid dividends of £85.0m in the last financial year.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Stagecoach North East bus strikes to resume as staff reject offer
Buses in Newcastle and Sunderland will run at a reduced service during the strikes, Stagecoach says.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 12, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Stagecoach staff have rejected a 5% pay offer and strikes are back on later this month. We hope that an agreement can be reached before bus users are disrupted by strike action. A reminder that Stagecoach paid dividends of £85.0m in the last financial year.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Excellent thread from Alistair Baldwin celebrating 45 years of the Tyne and Wear Metro, how it was delivered, and the impact it made on transport in the North East. We're long overdue similar levels of investment and in need of a comparable transport revolution for the next 45 years!
Happy 45th birthday to the Tyne and Wear Metro! First paying passengers travelled on this day in 1980. In honour of my local transport system, a bit of a 🧵 about it 1/
August 11, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Excellent thread from Alistair Baldwin celebrating 45 years of the Tyne and Wear Metro, how it was delivered, and the impact it made on transport in the North East. We're long overdue similar levels of investment and in need of a comparable transport revolution for the next 45 years!