Spread your Wings with the new Cross Pennine 685 service

11 Nov 2016

Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire has teamed up with Arriva North East, Northumberland County Council and Cumbria County Council to bring customers a brand new and improved 685 service between Newcastle, Corbridge, Hexham, Haltwhistle, Brampton and Carlisle.

The newly branded and revamped service will offer a great range of improvements for everyone! Buses will continue to run up to hourly between Newcastle and Carlisle (up to every 30 minutes between Brampton and Carlisle), but with a revised timetable to improve punctuality.

The route is also being revised in Melkridge and Carlisle to minimise journey times and simplify the route, and following customers’ requests there will be later journeys from Newcastle on Monday to Saturday evenings. All buses will have a brand new livery, comfortable high back seats and free Wi-Fi allowing customers to surf the web and check e-mails on the move.

The new Stagecoach 685 Cross Pennine timetable will go live on Monday 14th November 2016.

There are some great value fares too! A days unlimited travel from £9.70, unlimited travel for a week from only £27.30, and through buying on line you can travel for as little as £2.81 a day*. Returns, day, weekly tickets bought on Stagecoach operated Cross Pennine buses are valid on Arriva operated Cross Pennine buses, and vice-versa.

Matt Cranwell, Managing Director for Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire said “Stagecoach and Arriva have listened carefully to what its customers want from the 685 service and in turn we believe we have now improved the journey and overall customer experience.

“The improvements are an example of how working in partnership with other bus operators and local authorities can deliver practical improvements for passengers. We hope to develop the offer for our customers in the future working in partnership with Arriva and local authorities.”

The new Hexham Bus Station will open on Wednesday 30th November 2016. Located at Loosing Hill, the new station will offer a major improvement in facilities for customers, including an enclosed waiting area, toilets and refreshments kiosk. The 685 will serve the new bus station, but continue to pick-up and drop-off at the stops on Priestpopple next to the current one.

*North West Megarider Gold Xtra bought online at www.stagecoachbus.com

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