Go VFM Buses is the other major provider of services in South
Shields. It also provides the majority of service in neighbouring
Hebburn and Jarrow. It is part of the Go-Ahead group, the second
largest bus company in the UK.
When the Gateshead-based Northern group became part of the
National Bus Company (NBC) in the early 1970s, the Jarrow and
South Shields depots were part of the 'Tyneside' subsiduary.
They soon adopted the corporate NBC poppy red as their fleet
livery, and vehicles were delivered to NBC specification.
At this time, the fleet comprised of many Daimler Fleetlines,
Leyland Atlanteans and Panthers, and even some front-entrance
AEC Routemasters. The seperate Northern compaines were absorbed
into the main Northern company and the local identities
disappeared.
By the mid-1970s buses based at depots within
the Tyne and Wear PTE area bagan to appear in a pale yellow version
of the NBC livery, and in the 1980s, in the full lined-out
version of PTE livery, to fit in with the PTEs plans for public
transport integration within its area. The Northern name was
barely noticable on PTE liveried vehicles, but still carried on
County Durham based ones. With deregulation came an attractive red
and white colour scheme and the Go-Ahead Northern fleet name.
In the 1990s the decision was made to restore the seperate local
identities to the fleet, and the name "VFM (Value for Money) Buses"
was chosen for the South Tyneside operations based at Jarrow and
South Shields depots. The Jarrow depot was then deemed uneconomic
and the whole VFM operation was run from South Shields depot.
In 1998 the Go-Ahead group (which Northern had become) decreed
that all its vehicles were to receive a new corporate identity
(in line with policies practised by the Stagecoach and Arriva
groups), and VFM buses have begun to have the new red and blue
colours applied, with "Go VFM Buses" as the fleet name. However
this process is far from complete and most vehicles are still
running in full VFM livery.
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ECW bodied Atlanteans have been in Northern's fleet
since 1972. This is one of the last batch delivered, 3543
MBR 443T. |
| This Dennis Dart was acquired from a North East independent
operator acquired by Northen, which allocated the bus to VFM.
L315 XBB is approching the Nook on the 537 from Sunderland. |
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An example of the old 'angled' version of VFM livery
on Roe-bodied Atlantean 3485 AUP 385W. It is seen just
leaving the Keppel Street bus stands and turning into
Fowler Street
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| This ECW-bodied Altantean (MBR 447T) has recently been
transferred in from Northern's North Tyneside subsiduary,
CoastLine. It continues to wear CoastLine livery with VFM
Buses transfers.
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Roe Atlantean AUP 363W at Chichester. These buses were
the last new Atlanteans delivered to the Northern group,
with some second-hand MCW and Alexander being bought
later from the Tyne and Wear PTE. These vehicles are
identical to a batch of Park Royal Atlanteans bought in
1975. |
| The first batch of Dennis Darts for the Northern group were
Wright bodied and delivered to South Shields. J602 KCU is
seen loading at Keppel Street bus station. |
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A common sight on the streets of South Tyneside are ECW-bodied
Olympians. Northern was one of the first companies to buy
the type, and JTY 384X is from the first 1981 batch of 40. |
| One of a later batch of six Olympians is SJR 612Y, seen in
the new Go-Ahead group livery at the Nook on route 534.
VFM recommenced operation on the 534 after the demise of
Catch-a-Bus which had previously run it. Northern originally
lost the route after strike action had closed their depots
throughout the North East. |
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This Plaxton-bodied Dart (M815 HCU) was delivered new to
South Shields depot. It is seen on the 527, a lengthy
and convoluted trip to Newcastle. When the Metro extension to
South Shields opened, this became the only service from the
town centre to Newcastle. All the old Newcastle routes were
either withdrawn or terminate short at Heworth, acting
as feeder services for the Metro, in line with the PTEs
policy of transport integration. |
| Another of the Roe Atlanteans, this time captured at the Nook,
a busy area for buses. Northern was unusual in
purchasing Atlanteans at a time when other NBC subsiduaries
had standardised solely on the Bristol VRT. Northern did purchase
a large fleet of series 3 VRTs but the Atlanteans have outlived them
all. |
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Cummins-engined Leyland Olympian 3742 (B742 GCN) loading at Gateshead Metro
Interchange, on the 532 Newcastle - Fellgate run. |
| A former London General (also part of the Go group of companies) MCW Metrobus
Mark 1 arrived in 1998. Former M250 (BYX 250V) is seen in the Market Place.
Ironically Northern's Gateshead depot used to own some newer Metrobuses but
they were withdrawn several years ago! |
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In a recent reorganisation, responsibility for services X20 and X50 (South Shields -
Durham) passed to the Go Wear Buses to Go Coastline. The Ex-OK Travel DAF SB220s usually
employed on the routes were transferred to South Shields. J203 VHN has just crossed the
Wearmouth bridge in Sunderland en route to Durham. |
| Wright-bodied Dart 8005 (J605 KCU) rounds the sharp bend at the top of Harton Lane on
way to Monkton Lane Estate. |
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