With a variety of handy tools and great services available, it’s never been easier to travel around by public transport. New technology means you don’t have to wait around at bus stops, many buses and trains now have WiFi on board, cashless ticket options and more!
Travelling by Bus
Currently the closest bus stops to Ottermead can be found on North Road, just a short walk from your new home. These stops are, however, served by an infrequent service (X79) which offers two services per day Monday to Friday between Eldon Square and Ponteland.
As development continues a bus service will be introduced into Ottermead, improving public transport options for all. This service will be introduced using funding provided by Bellway Homes, and will serve new bus stops being placed within the site.
In the meantime, a number of further bus services can be accessed in Ponteland centre from the stops on Main Street. Key bus services from these stops include:
X78
A circular service, operated by Stagecoach, which runs between Eldon Square bus station and Darras Hall / Ponteland. The service runs every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime and every hour on Sundays. To view more detailed route and timetable information, follow the link below:
X77
Also operated by Stagecoach and running on a circular route between Eldon Square bus station and Darras Hall / Ponteland. There are 6 services per day Monday to Saturday, in the AM and PM peaks. Find more detailed timetable and route information by following the link below:
74
This is a service operated by Go North East, running between Newcastle and Hexham. There are 4 services per day Monday to Friday and 6 services per day on Saturdays. View more detailed timetable and route information by following the link below:
Travelling by Train and Metro
The closest Metro stop is at Newcastle International Airport, around a 15-minute cycle ride away. However, the Callerton Parkway stop has park and ride facilities available and is around an 8-minute drive or 19-minute cycle ride away from the new homes. Both stations are on the Green Line, which runs between Sunderland and the airport via Newcastle city centre and Gateshead. Metro services run every 12-15 minutes, seven days a week.
It’s also possible to change to the Yellow Line at South Gosforth (14 minutes on the Metro from Callerton Parkway) for access to Whitley Bay, South Shields and more.
A journey on the Metro from Callerton Parkway to Newcastle Central takes around 25 minutes. Newcastle Central train station is located on the East Coast Main Line. From here national, regional and commuter rail services can be taken to many destinations including Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, London, Edinburgh and many more!
Planning your Journey
There are now a number of great options available for those looking to plan a journey by public transport. There’s no need to spend loads of time flicking through timetables to figure out which services work best for you – online journey planners can do that for you!
Our guide to planning a journey by public transport has everything you need to know, including links to some of the great online tools.
Paying for your Journey
Catching the bus or train no longer has to mean fumbling around for change before hopping on to pay the driver or conductor in a rush! There are so many different ways to pay for your journey now that you may feel a little spoilt for choice!
It’s also important to check that you aren’t paying too much. Whilst paying for single or return tickets is OK for occasional or one off journeys, those who travel more frequently by bus and/or rail can save some significant cash by choosing monthly or annual passes.
Check out our guide to ticket options in the local area for more information!
Real Time Information & Apps
Gone are the days of standing around waiting for your bus or train with little idea when it will turn up. Real time information makes it easy to find out exactly where your ride is at, helping you plan when to leave the house, office or coffee shop.
Bus operator apps have proved to offer a real step change when it comes to real time bus information. They display the exact location of your bus on a handy map, in a very similar style to the Uber app which many are now familiar with. If you are undertaking a journey by bus we’d advise that trying out an app is a must, and to help you out we’ve pulled together a handy guide to getting most from bus operator apps.
Support & Updates
Confused by timetables or just not sure which bus is best to catch? Did you know we can plan your journey for you?
Just let us know where you’re travelling to and we will provide you with an interactive journey plan that clearly sets out your options, with easy to follow, step by step instructions and a handy map.
Get in touch now to get support with your journey.
We’ve also put together a list of helpful Twitter feeds that will keep you up to date with any delays or services changes across the local area:
Stagecoach North East (@StagecoachNE)
Metro Travel News (@My_Metro)
Go North East (@gonortheast)
Network Rail (@networkrail)
Northumberland CC News (@N_landCouncil)
Nexus, Stagecoach and Go North East all have web pages devoted to giving service updates and information on any planned disruptions, view them here: