Angel 21
.jpg) | |
| Locale | |
|---|---|
| Service area | |
| Service type | Bus service |
| Fleet | Wright StreetDeck Electroliner |
| Operator | Go North East |
| Website | Go North East |
The Angel 21 is a bus service operated by Go North East, which connects Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, Low Fell and Birtley in Tyne and Wear with Chester-le-Street, Durham and Brandon in County Durham. The service is named after Antony Gormley's Angel of the North, which the route passes.
History
[edit]In autumn 2012, a fleet of Euro 5 Volvo B5LH/Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 diesel-hybrid double-decker buses were introduced. In the years prior to this, the service has been operated by a mixture of single-deck Scania OmniCity and double-deck Volvo B7TL/East Lancs Vyking, Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President and Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini vehicles. These buses were branded in a distinctive pink livery featuring the route's namesake landmark.
A fleet of Euro 6 Wright StreetDeck diesel double-decker buses were introduced in January 2018, branded in a two-tone green livery, again featuring the route's namesake landmark. The total cost of introducing the vehicles was £4.5 million, with vehicles featuring tables, USB charging, next stop audio-visual announcements and WIFi, as well as increased capacity when compared to the vehicles they replaced.[1][2]
In May 2019, additional Friday and Saturday evening and Sunday morning journeys were added.[3] Some journeys were later cut during the COVID-19 pandemic, including all-night services.
An all-night service was restored in September 2020 on Friday and Saturday nights,[4] with a daily 24-hour service being introduced in May 2021. At the time, it was one of just three routes (including 56 and 60) operated by Go North East which operated with daily 24-hour service.[5][6]
From June 2020, the service was amended with most journeys (excluding late-night) rerouted to serve Arnison Centre Retail Park.[7]
In September 2021, the service was extended to additionally serve Neville's Cross, Langley Moor and Brandon half-hourly on weekdays and Saturday daytimes.[8][9]
In September 2024, the service's frequency was increased to every 7–8 minutes between Newcastle upon Tyne and Chester-le-Street – adding over 15,000 extra seats per week.[10]
In January 2026, a fleet of Euro 6 Wright StreetDeck Electroliner battery electric double-decker buses, branded in a two-tone green livery depicting Antony Gormley's Angel of the North, were introduced.[11][12][13][14]
Route
[edit]Go North East 21 & N21 |
|---|
Newcastle – Durham – Brandon
via Birtley & Chester-le-Street |
No evening, late-night or Sunday service operates between Durham and Brandon. |
As of July 2026[update], the route operates between Newcastle upon Tyne, Chester-le-Street and Durham, with weekday and Saturday daytime journeys extending to Brandon, and Friday and Saturday late-night N21 services continuing to Howlands Park and Ride. Between Newcastle upon Tyne and Durham, the route is supplemented by the half-hourly[a] X21 express service, which continues to Spennymoor, Bishop Auckland and West Auckland, operating as a limited-stop service between Gateshead and Chester-le-Street.
The route begins at Eldon Square in the heart of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne. Towards Gateshead, buses cross the River Tyne via the High Level Bridge, with buses towards the city operating via the Tyne Bridge. After leaving Gateshead, the service runs through Shipcote, Low Fell and Harlow Green before passing Antony Gormley's Angel of the North. It then continues through Birtley and Barley Mow, before reaching the market town of Chester-le-Street, where most journeys terminate.
Beyond Chester-le-Street, the route follows the A167, serving Chester Moor, Plawsworth, Arnison Centre, Pity Me, Framwellgate Moor and the University Hospital of North Durham before reaching the cathedral city of Durham. On weekdays and Saturday daytimes, most journeys continue to the south-west of the city via Neville's Cross and Langley Moor to Brandon. On Friday and Saturday nights, the N21 continues through the city centre via Durham University, before terminating at Howlands Park and Ride.
Service and operations
[edit]
As of July 2026[update], the route operates up to every 7 minutes between Newcastle upon Tyne and Chester-le-Street, with services extending to Durham every half-hour. On weekday and Saturday daytimes, the route continues to Brandon every half-hour. On Friday and Saturday late-night services operate between Newcastle upon Tyne and Durham, Howlands Park and Ride hourly between 00:00–04:00.
The route is currently operated by a fleet of Euro 6 Wright StreetDeck Electroliner battery electric double-decker buses, branded in a two-tone green livery depicting Antony Gormley's Angel of the North. These vehicles were introduced in January 2026, as part of a £17 million investment, and can travel up to 275 miles (443 km) on a single charge, and feature USB charging, next stop audio-visual announcements and WIFi.[11][12][13][14]
Notes
[edit]- ↑ Operates hourly during evenings and Sunday.
References
[edit]- ↑ "£4.5 million boost for popular Angel bus service". Go North East. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ↑ "Angel reborn for prestigious route 21 with Go North East". routeone. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ↑ Harrison, James (20 May 2019). "All of the Go North East bus timetable changes in Tyne and Wear you need to know". Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ↑ Hodgson, Barbara (23 August 2020). "Newcastle's Night Bus returns as more services get back to normal". Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ↑ "Go North East to introduce 24/7 services on three routes". routeone. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ↑ Meechan, Simon (28 May 2021). "Night buses to offer 24-hour travel between Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland and Durham". Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ↑ "Service changes from Monday 1 June". Go North East. 26 May 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ↑ "Getting buses fit for the future – changes to services from 5 September". Go North East. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ↑ Scott, Jim (11 September 2021). "Go North East extends Newcastle to Durham 21 route to Brandon". Northern Echo. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ↑ "Passengers urged to 'get your bum on board' as more improvements to region's bus services announced". Go North East. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
- 1 2 Robinson, James (21 January 2026). "£17 million fleet of electric buses launched on three of the North East's busiest bus routes". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle upon Tyne. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
- 1 2 "High-profile debut for first of 29 further Go North East electric buses". routeone. 23 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
- 1 2 Watson, Andy; Ticknell, Pamela (22 January 2026). "Go North East electric buses unveiled at Newcastle Utilita Arena". BBC News. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Clean travel takes centre stage at our electric bus launch". Go North East. 21 January 2026. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Go North East at Wikimedia Commons- Go North East website
