Buses Of North East England

David Holding's fully-researched and detailed survey of the north east bus services that carried workers, families and holidaymakers. Well-illustrated with photographs, the study also includes a route map.

Explore this wonderful selection of photographs documenting the north-east England's bus scene today.

The Rough Guide Snapshot to The Northeast is the ultimate travel guide to this dramatic part of England. It guides you through the region with reliable information and comprehensive coverage of all the sights and attractions, from Hadrian's Wall to Holy Island and Durham Castle to Gateshead's BALTIC. Detailed maps and up-to-date listings pinpoint the best cafés, restaurants, hotels, bars and nightlife, ensuring you have the best trip possible, whether passing through, staying for the weekend or longer. Also included is the Basics section from the Rough Guide to England, with all the practical information you need for travelling in and around England, including transport, food, drink, costs, health, festivals, sports and outdoor activities. Also published as part of the Rough Guide to England. Full coverage: Durham, Beamish, Bishop Auckland, Locomotion, Barnard Castle, Teesdale, Weardale, the Allen Valley, Blanchland, Darlington, Middlesbrough, Saltburn, Newcastle upon Tyne, Wallsend and Segedunum, Bede's World, Sunderland, Washington, Hadrian's Wall, Vindolanda, Hexham, Corbridge, Northumberland National Park, Kielder Water, Rothbury, Wooler, Chillingham, Woodhorn, Warkworth, Alnmouth, Alnwick, Craster, Dunstanburgh, Seahouses, the Farne Islands, Bamburgh, Holy Island and Berwick-upon-Tweed. (Equivalent printed page extent 90 pages).

Containing over 25,000 entries, this unique volume will be absolutely indispensable for all those with an interest in Britain in the twentieth century. Accessibly arranged by theme, with helpful introductions to each chapter, a huge range of topics is covered. There is a comprehensiveindex.

Buses are a key local service, but usage has been in decline since the 1950s. The Transport Act 1985 introduced deregulation, but that has failed to reverse that decline. The report examines the particular problems local authorities face in developing and implementing effective bus strategies. It is clear to the Committee that, for many areas, including all major metropolitan areas outside London, the current regime is not working. The Committee recommends more flexibility, and is particularly attracted by Quality Contracts. These would replace open competition with a licensed regime. Operators bid for exclusive rights to run bus services on a route or group of routes, on the basis of a local authority service specification. Independent Traffic Commissioners are another development that the Committee welcomes, and would like to see them have a higher profile and more resources and powers, especially to enforce Quality Contracts and penalise operators who do not meet their obligations. Others areas covered in the report are: securing socially necessary services outside the PTAs; congestion and bus priority; concessionary fares; and the image of the bus.