Cross-Tyne bus can stay
Page 18
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
THE LOW FELL Coaches cross-Tyne bus service can stay, Transport Secretary David Howell has ruled, but it could soon have a public sector competitor.
Mr Howell has over-ruled his inspector's recommendation by dismissing Tyne and Wear and Northern General's joint appeal against the Northern Traffic Commissioners' decision of July last year (CM, July 24, 1982) to allow a one-year trial for Low Fell Coaches' Gateshead-Newcastle route.
The inspector said the route, which restored a through service withdrawn after the Tyne and Wear Metro was opened, benefited a minority at the expense of the majority of passengers, and put the integrated Tyne and Wear network at risk.
But Mr Howell said there was no obligation for an applicant to prove the need for its service, and said there was no reason for terminating the service prematurely.
Low Fell has since applied to extend its service within Gateshead, but Northern General — acting on behalf of Tyne and Wear PTE — has applied to reinstate its service between Low Fell and Newcastle in order to "maximise operational efficiency."