653 Holystone to Killingworth via Palmersville, Forest Hall
Operated by Northstar. First bus 08:00, last bus 08:00. 1 journey on weekdays. Fares: singles usually capped at £3 — more.
Wanted a different 653? 8 other bus routes are numbered 653 elsewhere in the UK — see every 653 bus timetable by area.
Each column is one journey, headed by the time it sets off. Times are shown at the route's main timing stops — buses serve all stops in between. Switch a table to All stops for every stop it calls at, or open a stop's own page for live departures there.
Tickets on the 653
Northstar publishes singles and season tickets on this route for adults and children.
Adult Single · Child Single
Ticket types come from Northstar's own fares data on the Bus Open Data Service, last updated 30 August 2026. That dataset lists what's sold, not what it costs, so check prices with Northstar.
Christmas & bank holidays
These dates are not the usual timetable for the day they fall on. They come from the operator’s published data, which for Christmas and New Year is often late or incomplete, so check with Northstar before you travel. Everything above is an ordinary week.
Not published yet: Christmas Day, 28 December and New Year's Day. Operators often publish festive timetables only a few weeks ahead, so check again nearer the date.
Route map
All stops on route 653
653 towards Killingworth
All 14 stops
- Whitley Road - St Bedes Walk (SW-Bound) Holystone
- Whitley Road-St Aidens Avenue (SW-Bound) Holystone
- Whitley Road-Bede Close (SW-Bound) Holystone
- Great Lime Road-Whitley Road (W-Bound) Palmersville
- Great Lime Road - Palmersville Metro (W-Bound) Palmersville
- Great Lime Road-Kelvin Place (NW-Bound) Palmersville
- Great Lime Road-Laurel Avenue (W-Bound) Palmersville
- Clousden Hill (W-Bound) Palmersville
- Clousden Hill (W-Bound) Forest Hall
- Great Lime Road-West Lane (W-Bound) Forest Hall
- Great Lime Road-Balliol Avenue (W-Bound) Forest Hall
- Southgate-Northumbrian Way (NE-Bound) Killingworth
- Southgate-School (NE-Bound) Killingworth
- George Stephenson High School (NW-Bound) Killingworth
Service registration & registered changes
- Service change effective 5 January 2026 To amend Timetable.
- New service effective 1 September 2025 Monday to Friday, sch
Registered as financially supported by a local authority (Nexus.).
From official Traffic Commissioner registrations. Registration PB2060918/24 · Changes in Nexus (Tyne & Wear) · All service changes →
Towns & areas on this route
Frequently asked questions
What time is the first 653 bus?
The first 653 departure on weekdays leaves at 08:00 (check the full timetable below for your stop, as times vary along the route — weekend times can differ).
What time is the last 653 bus?
The last 653 on weekdays leaves its first stop at 08:00. Always check the timetable for your specific stop — later stops are reached after this time.
How much does the 653 bus cost?
Most single fares in England are capped at £3 until 31 December 2026 (then £2 from 1 January 2027). Northstar day and weekly tickets can work out cheaper if you travel more than twice a day.
Who runs the 653 bus?
The 653 is operated by Northstar.
Timetable data from Northstar via the DfT Bus Open Data Service (North East England feed). Northstar last updated their Bus Open Data publications on 25 September 2026. Registered with the Traffic Commissioner as PB2060918/24. Check before you travel — services can change at short notice.