Welcome to Tees Flex!
Your on-demand bus service available in Tees Valley.
Life has ground to a bit of a halt for us all during this past year, but Tees Flex is still available for all of your essential travel needs!
This state-of-the-art, Demand Responsive Transport solution is your safe, reliable, on-demand bus sharing service designed to work around you and people nearby!
Tees Flex - your bus, your way...
Brought to you by Stagecoach in partnership with the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority.
Tees Flex enhancements
We have introduced some exciting improvements to the Tees Flex user experience, making it even easier to travel with Tees Flex!
- You can now book your Tees Flex trip online using our brilliant new booking website - see below for more info!
- An all-new advance booking feature secures your booking ahead of time - prioritising your journey and confirming your booking at time of request. Simply book your seat in advance and we'll take care of the rest!
- You can now select 'depart at' and 'arrive by' features, ensuring your journey goes ahead exactly as you need it to - ideal for reaching appointments or your daily commute!
- From Monday 19th July, we're expanding our Darlington & Stockton and Hartlepool zones to include new stops!
How does Demand Responsive Transport work?
Using the Tees Flex app (iOS and Android), customers can hail a vehicle directly from their smartphone. The app's clever algorithms enable multiple passengers to seamlessly share the journey with other customers making similar trips in the area.
The technology directs passengers to a nearby 'virtual bus stop' (within a short walking distance) for their pick-up and drop-off points, allowing for quick and efficient shared trips - taking customers where they like, when they like!
Tees Flex’s nine fully accessible minibuses combine to cover an area of around 300m2, linking up many of Tees Valley’s more rural communities.
Tees Flex bookings are made on a first come, first served basis, with the software cleverly grouping customer demands together in real time. Because it is a shared service, it needs a bit of ‘flex’ to do this efficiently (it’s in the name, right?), and so might need to make a little diversion on the way to pick up someone else.
As standard, the app will assume you’re looking to travel now, and so will look for current availability. If there’s no current options to travel, the app will advise.
This is where our handy schedule feature comes in, which allows you to select either “Depart at” or “Arrive by”.
When a booking is made with the “depart at” feature, the software takes your requested time and compares it with other customer requests in the area, and links them up. So Tees Flex can run efficiently, closer to the time of pick-up, the algorithm will look at potential pick-ups +/- 30mins from the preferred booking time, and will dynamically schedule your ride within this window. Finally, around 15 minutes before your actual pick-up, the algorithm will send you a text message advising the vehicle is on its way, along with the expected pick-up time.
To keep you updated, you can also track your vehicle’s approach on the app!
Alternatively, if you need to be at your destination for a specific time (e.g. connecting with a train or you have an appointment), we suggest using the “arrive by” feature, which takes your requested arrival window, examines traffic conditions and provides you with options that’ll get you to your destination in the 30 minutes leading up to your required arrival time (so you’re never late).
Also, don’t forget, you can book up to 28 days in advance!
Your journey begins with the Tees Flex app!
- Download the Tees Flex app now!
- Create your account
- Register your credit or debit card, or pay via PayPal
All set-up? You're ready to go!
- Step 1 - Select your pick-up point from one of the ‘virtual bus stops’ - whichever is closest to you!
- Step 2 - Choose your desired destination
- Step 3 - Select the time that's best for you!
- Step 4 - Your Tees Flex bus will be with you in a flash
Customers who prefer to speak to a member of our dedicated contact centre can also give us a call or use our handy booking website via their own computer.
Our brand new booking website means it is easier than ever before to book your Tees Flex journey, especially for those customers without access to a smartphone.
Simply log-in or create a new account and the website will take you through the clear, easy-to-follow booking instructions!
COVID-19
Important travel restrictions in place on Tees Flex services due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
To ensure the safety of our customers and drivers, Tees Flex journeys are limited to thirteen customers per vehicle. When booking via the Tees Flex app or telephone, you will be automatically be provided with the next available bus which can safely accommodate you and your travel companion/s.
Still need more information? Take a look at our travelling safely FAQs.
