Unwrapping a new bus depot for Durham

Christmas has come early for transport users in County Durham, with Arriva North East opening their brand new, state of the art depot in Belmont.

To mark the occasion, Arriva did away with the traditional ribbon cutting ceremony and instead, Ernest Teesdale, Arriva Durham’s longest serving driver drive a bus right through the ribbon.

Ernest, who brought his wife along to the ceremony, said he was touched to be asked to open the depot: “Everyone at Durham, drivers and engineers, are very excited to be moving to the new depot and it is an honour to be asked to open the new building. The lads have been joking that I was there when the old one opened and while I’m proud to say I have had 46 years of service with Arriva, it hasn’t been quite that long!”

After 84 years of operation at the current Waddington Street facilities, the Belmont depot will now be the focal point of all bus operations in Durham, after a year long construction period.

John Greaves, engineering director for Arriva North East said: “The new depot at Belmont is fantastic news for both Arriva and our passengers, who we feel will really see the positive effect this will have on the delivery of their bus services. The investment is part of our long term commitment to providing a safe, clean and reliable service for our customers in County Durham.”