Tees Flex

Welcome to Tees Flex! The on-demand bus service for Tees Valley.

How does Demand Responsive Transport work?

Tees Flex, the 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!

Brought to you by Stagecoach in partnership with the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority.

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

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.

Book Online

Our 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!

Where can I travel with Tees Flex?

Tees Flex bus services are available in three areas - to view a map of the destinations, please click on the relevant area.

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Zone	Area	Primary Destinations	Secondary Destinations
1	Redcar & Cleveland	Boosbeck, Boulby Village, Brotton, Carlin How, Charltons, Cowbar, Dunsdale, Easington, East Cleveland Hospital, Guisborough, Kilton Thorpe, Lazenby Village, Lingdale, Liverton, Liverton Mines, Loftus, Margrove Park, Moorsholm, New Skelton, Newton Under Roseberry, North Pinchinthorpe, Skelton, Skelton, Skelton Green, Skinningrove, Stanghow, Wilton	James Cook University Hospital*, Kirkleatham Museum, Marske Station, New Marske, Nunthorpe Academy, Nunthorpe schools, Nunthorpe Station, Overdene, Redcar & Cleveland College, Redcar Central Station/Clock (for Redcar Town Centre), Redcar Hospital, Saltburn Seafront, Saltburn Station, Yearby Village
2	Hartlepool	Dalton Piercy, Elwick, Greatham Village, Hart, Tofts Farm, West Park, Wynyard	English Martyrs School, Greatham Village (South End), Hartlepool College, Hartlepool Sixth Form College, Hartlepool Transport Interchange, Maritime Avenue/Marina Way, Morrisons (Museum Road), Navigation Point, Queens Meadow, Summerhill, Tees Bay Retail Park, Tesco Extra (Belle Vue Way), Throston Grange, University Hospital of Hartlepool, York Road/Victoria Road
3	Darlington & Stockton	Aislaby, Bishopton, Brafferton, Carlton, Elton, Great Stainton, Hartburn Village, Hilton, Houghton-Le-Side, Killerby, Kirklevington, Little Stainton, Long Newton, Low Dinsdale, Maltby, Neasham, Old Stillington, Preston Farm, Redmarshall, Sadberge, Stillington, Summerhouse, Thewles, Thorpe, Urlay Nook, Walworth, Walworth Gate, Whitton, Wolviston Village, Wynyard Village	Allens West Station, Amazon warehouse, Asda Darlington Superstore (Whinbush Way), Asda Billingham, Billingham Station, Asda (Portrack Lane), Darlington College, Darlington Memorial Hospital, Darlington North Road Railway Station, Darlington Station, Darlington Town Centre, Dinsdale Railway Station, Durham UTC, Egglescliffe College, Eaglescliffe Station, Eaglescliffe Tesco, Holme House, Morrisons (Morton Park), Morrisons (North Road), North Tees Hospital, Polam Hall, Priory Hospital, Morton Palms, Outwood Academy, Sedgefield, Sedgefield College, Sedgefield Racecourse, St. Michael's Academy, Stagecoach Stockton Depot, Stockton High Street, Stockton Riverside College, Stockton Sixth Form College, Teesdale, Teesside International Airport, Teesside University Darlington, The Clarences, Thornaby Station, Thornaby Town Centre, Teesside Park, Tesco Billingham, Tesco Extra (Stockton), Tesco Superstore (Ingleby Barwick), Darlington West Park Hospital, West Park Aldi, Woodlands Hospital, Yarm High Street

Please note: You can travel between any two Primary Destinations within a single zone, but not between zones. You’re also able to travel from a Primary Destination to a Secondary Destination as long as your journey is within the same zone.

*A £2 surcharge will be applied for all trips to/from James Cook Hospital.

Please don't forget to start your last Tees Flex booking before 19:30; the service ends at 20:00 and we don't want to miss you!

How much does a Tees Flex bus journey cost?

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Band	Distance	Adult Single	Adult Return	Under 19 Single	Concessions (T&Cs apply)
1	Under 2 miles	£1.00	£1.50	50p	FREE
2	2-5 miles	£2.00	£3.00	£1.00	FREE
3	5-10 miles	£3.00	£4.50	£1.50	FREE
4	Over 10 miles	£4.00	£6.00	£2.00	FREE

- Under 19s
  Customers between the ages of 5 and 19 save 50% on all fares! Accompanied children under 5 will be carried free of charge. Just head to your account details, find 'Customer Type' and select 'Under 19' to ensure that your discount will be applied whenever you travel! Please note: This offer is available to customers aged under 19 only. You must be able to provide a valid form of ID upon request.
- 'Plus-one' customers save 50%
  Customers booking a journey with a 'plus-one' will find that the second ticket is discounted by 50% - automatically! Just book your trip for you and a friend, as normal, and we'll take care of the rest! The 50% discount applies to single and return journeys, and includes Under 19s.
- Concessions
  Customers in possession of a valid Concessionary Travel card can travel free after 09:30am Monday-Friday (and any time on Saturdays). To enable your discount, simply open the app and head to your account details, select 'Customer Type' and select 'Concession' so that your discount will be applied whenever you travel! You'll only have to do this once! Your Concessionary Travel card will need to be presented to the driver when boarding the vehicle.
- Concession+ Companion Pass holders
  The companion pass is an enhancement to a concessionary bus pass which allows the passholder to take a carer or companion with them free of charge. It is indicated by a C+ symbol at the top right of the bus pass. This Companion pass enhancement is also available for journeys on Tees Flex. Simply book your concessionary journey, and add your companion or carer as a “+1” concessionary customer. For more details regarding companion passes and concessionary travel, please contact your local authority.
  
  Please note, the TVCA up to £1 U21 single and £3 U21 Day tickets are not valid on Tees Flex.
Fair use / multiple bookings

Tees Flex's clever algorithm ensures you're always matched with the best possible journey option. If you should book multiple options for your intended journey and/ or cancel, this has a negative impact on our ability to provide a dynamic, ride-sharing bus service to best meet the needs of everyone. It’s the same with no-shows. So please remember to only book the trip you need and help us to keep Tees Flex running smoothly, and fairly, for everyone. Customer cancellations and no-shows are monitored, and repeated instances may result in removal from the service.

To help with this, we have now extended the delay period between individual customer 'pick-ups'. This change ensures greater fairness on the shared service, as it reduces the potential for multiple advance bookings to be made by an individual, in the process improving availability for all users of the service. This delay period has been set to 75 mins after your 'drop-off', so please keep this in mind next time you travel.

Also, to give as many customers as possible fair use access to the service, Tees Flex does not support block bookings.

If you have any questions, please give us a call on 0330 678 1545.

Download (or update) the Tees Flex app

Available now from the App Store (iPhone) and Google Play (Android).

Click the buttons below to download, or search Tees Flex on the App Store or Google Play store.

Get in touch

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Don't forget, you can also book by phone!

T: 0330 678 1545 (local rate)
(Mon-Sat from 7am to 8pm)

E: [email protected]