Darlington Scarlet Band bus service to end in October

Scarlet Band has operated the hourly ‘Pink Bus’, service 16, from Hummersknott and Mowden to North Road/Glebe Road via the hospital and the town centre for almost a decade.

But passengers have been told it will cease to operate on Saturday, October 29, due to a lack of driving and engineering staff and supply chain issues. The company will continue to run the number 16 service until that date.

Councillors have now pledged to ‘explore all the options’ in a bid to ensure passengers aren’t left stranded by a lack of available services.

Read more: North East buses leaving passengers stranded and missing appointments​ 

Members of Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet had agreed only in September to continue the grant funding, provided by the Government’s devolved Bus Service Operators Grant and Bus Recovery Grant, which would have supported the number 16 service for a further two years.

Councillors on Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet had agreed only in September to continue the grant funding, provided by the Government’s devolved Bus Service Operators Grant and Bus Recovery Grant, which would have supported the number 16 service for a further two years.

Councillor Andy Keir, cabinet member for local services, said: “The closure of Scarlet Band is a terrible shame as they have been a key supporter of services and a highly regarded operator in Darlington for almost a decade.

“We are now exploring all options available to us and we will keep service users updated as much as possible in the coming weeks.

“Bus services have been badly impacted across the board by the restrictions placed on them during covid, as well as the change in working patterns and the loss of drivers from the industry. We will continue to support and challenge bus operators in Darlington to ensure they are providing the best service possible to the passengers who rely on them.”

Read next: 

• Arriva pledges to improve Darlington bus services after being slated
• Arriva bus services in Darlington criticised amid a 'broken system'
• Troubled Darlington bus services will get boost with new drivers

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