Wrapping up our Connect County Durham spotlight on Transport and Connectivity with a closer look at how public transport can help you travel smarter, cleaner, and more affordably, wherever your journey takes you
In the last few weeks, we have highlighted the Transport and Connectivity chapter in our Climate Emergency Response Plan through our Connect County Durham campaign. We have explored the different aspects of the theme, and how each can impact our daily lives. We are concluding this with a deep dive into public transport.
Getting around using public transport these days is easier than it used to be. Whether you’re heading into town, traveling a bit further to a nearby city, or going further across the country, even abroad, it can make your journey a bit cheaper, better for our environment, and less stressful than driving.
Getting Around County Durham
Despite being a rural county, we have great public transport links that make getting around County Durham and travelling to other cities more accessible.
Buses from the main city connect with hundreds of destinations within County Durham and across the North East, including Newcastle, Gateshead, Darlington, Sunderland, and beyond. Local bus routes also make it easy to get around the county, for example, towns like Chester-Le-Street, Stanley and Spennymoor provide local hubs for more rural routes. For longer journeys, national coach services offer low-cost alternative to driving.
Durham’s main train station, located in Durham city centre, provides access to both local and national rail routes. It offers convenient connections to major UK cities, with London reachable in just around 3 hours.
Getting Outside County Durham
Outside of Durham, many cities, especially bigger ones, offer different ways to travel that can help you travel further often at a lower cost:
The Metro is an underground train. Locally, the nearest Metro runs through the Tyne from Gateshead to Newcastle, to Newcastle Airport and the Tynemouth coast. Another place well-known for its underground metro systems would be London.
Ferries are also a way of traveling that connects England to the rest of the world. Ferries run from North Shields to national routes such as Felixstowe, or international like the Netherlands. You can also find ferries to Ireland from Liverpool or south-west Scotland.
Public Transport Makes a Difference
Public transport comes with many benefits that make your journey easier, more accessible, and in general better for you and our environment.
Less traffic: the superpower of public transport is that it can carry multiple people at once. The more people that take the bus, or a train, the fewer vehicles are on the roads. One full double decker bus can take up to 75 cars off the road – this reduces traffic and road congestion, making everyone’s journey quicker and a little easier.
Reducing air pollution: Less traffic on the roads also reduces the amount of pollution emitted from tailpipes, helping reduce air pollution that worsens respiratory conditions like asthma and heart disease. Public transport also has more efficient routes to ensure every watt of energy and litre of fuel is used to its full potential and ensures better journeys.
Healthier for people and minds: Public transport can help your health in ways you might not expect. Walking to the bus stop or biking to the train station are small ways to stay active and feel better. Mentally, public transport reduces stressful drives due to traffic or navigation. It also gives you the opportunity to switch off and read a book, play a game, or enjoy company of those traveling with you.
Quicker journeys: For some journeys, the travel can be quicker than taking a car. Bus lanes and quick trains avoid traffic and get you to your destination faster.
Better for our environment: It goes without saying that public transport is part of the journey to reduce emissions. Overall, all types of vehicles account for almost three quarters of the greenhouse gas emissions that come from transport. If you switch to the bus instead of a car for your journey, you could be part of a 43% reduction in carbon emissions, or 73% if you choose the train.
Cost savings: Choosing public transport can also work out better for your pocket as you don’t have to regularly pay for petrol, or parking. If you choose to use public transport instead of owning a car you could save on costs such as maintenance, services, and insurance too.
Making Your Journey Easier
Traveling with public transport is becoming more accessible and affordable to everyone, even more so as the fight against climate change is progressing.
Accessibility: Friendly staff who are there to support you. All buses are fitted with ramps, and you can request support to get on your train. Most buses, especially modern ones, are fitted with TVs and audio to help you know where you are and when your stop is. Additionally, most public transport (such as trains and buses) is equipped with free onboard Wi-Fi to make your journey more comfortable, easier to navigate, and to help you stay connected.
Plan ahead: Most public transport services have apps or online timetables that help you plan ahead for your journey. Some examples include Go North East, Arriva, Nexus, Trainline or Trainpal.
Kids go free: The North East Combined Authority (NECA) are offering free travel during the school holidays. Whether you choose to travel by bus, Metro, or the Shields Ferry, you have the opportunity for free travel for up to three kids aged 11 and under when travelling with an adult with a valid ticket. You can find out more on NECA’s website.
Get round for £1: If you’re 21 or under, you can travel by bus for just £1 for a single journey. You can find out more at NECA: Get round for £1.
Get round for £2.50: No matter where you’re heading, a single bus journey will cost no more than £2.50 on all routes in County Durham (not including the Park and Ride services). You can find a list of bus companies and routes included in the £3 bus fare cap scheme at Gov.uk: £3 bus fare cap.
Bus day tickets: With the purchase of an unlimited day ticket on a bus, you can get around County Durham, Northumberland, and Tyne & Wear with just one ticket – you can even go by bus, Metro or ferry. If you are 21 or under, you can buy a £3 unlimited day ticket, Full adults tickets start from just £5.
There is even more information that you can read on the Durham County Council website.
Public transport isn’t just about getting somewhere, it’s about making life a little bit easier for all. It helps reduce traffic, cuts down on pollution, can save you money, and reduces carbon emissions. So, next time you are heading to work, the coast, or your local shops, think about leaving the car at home and looking into your local transport routes.
We would love to hear from you
Share your stories, experiences, and photos of nature, and send us a few lines on how you are helping protect our environment in County Durham. Whether it is something you do personally, a community project you may be involved in, a business change or action, or even a great photo of nature. We want to celebrate and share your efforts and views.
Send us your stories or photos (with a short explanation) by emailing climatecountydurham@durham.gov.uk or by filling in our Get in Touch form and help inspire others across our beautiful county to take action. And do not forget to sign up to our Climate Change and Carbon Reduction Pledge.
