Nexus is making changes to bus routes it provides between Washington and Sunderland to give local people a better service from the end of July.
The improvements to routes 37 and 73 will give local people better and more direct links between homes and employment sites for thousands of people, filling gaps left between the services provided by private operators in the town.
Tobyn Hughes, Deputy Director General of Nexus, said: “The changes we are making to the 37 and 73 in Washington improve links to employment sites and shops for local people.
“We’ve found a way to provide better bus services without additional cost to the taxpayer, though both these routes are subsidised with money we receive from local councils.”
The 37 bus will, from 28 July, be extended from Washington Galleries to serve Biddick, Teal Farm, Waterview Park, Sulgrave and Concord, including Coach Road.
This means the 37 will provide a new direct route to major employment sites at Waterview Park, and Doxford International for people living in south Sunderland, Herrington, Shiney Row and north Washington.
The 73 will provide a more direct hourly link from Teal Farm to Sunderland city centre, as well as bringing back a popular morning commuter journey from Coach Road and Concord to the city.
The bus will no longer serve Biddick or Galleries, with the 37 taking over these journeys on its new route.