People in Sunderland and Washington will benefit from a better local bus service thanks to improvements to two key services provided by Nexus for the town.
Local councillors have welcomed the changes to the 37 and 73 routes between Washington and Sunderland which came in from Monday, 28 July.
The improvements will give 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.
Sunderland City Council Cabinet Member with Portfolio for City Services, Cllr Michael Mordey, said: “Nexus has listened to local councillors and residents to make two good local services better.
“The changes provide better connections for workers at Waterview Park and Doxford, and better local links through Washington.”
Chair of the Washington Area Committee, Cllr Bernie Scaplehorn, added: “We need to make public transport a more viable travel option for people, and tailor services to meet their needs.
“Working together we can listen to what local people are asking for, and hopefully continue to improve services wherever we can.”
Tobyn Hughes, Deputy 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.”
Both the 37 and 73 services are paid for by Nexus using funding from local councils in Tyne and Wear, because they follow routes which no commercial bus company offers.
The 37 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, Shiny 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.