Sunderland’s popular green bus has moved to its summer route – linking the city’s visitor attractions with its spectacular coastline.
And a new range of tickets has been launched to offer great value to families and regular users.
From July until mid-September, the Sunderland Connect 700 will link Harbour View and Marine Walk to the city centre, in addition to maintaining the existing route.
The bus route, launched in September 2011 using greener hybrid buses, is a partnership between Sunderland City Council, University of Sunderland and Nexus.
Children from St Benet's school helped celebrate the arrival of summer with Sunderland councillor James Blackburn and staff from nexus and bus company Go North East.
The partnership has worked together this year to provide a number of new features for this summer including;
- A new hop-on, hop-off Family Day Ticket with unlimited travel all day for £5 (2 adults and up to 3 children)
- A new weekly ticket for regular users, with seven days’ travel just £8
- An extended summer season including Harbour View and Marine Walk from July to mid-September.
- Improved frequency compared to last summer with a bus every 20 minutes.
- Early morning commuter links retained right through the year
- Links to the Hospital and City Campus from the city centre during the day retained right through the year
Portfolio Holder for City Services, Councillor James Blackburn said: “Encouraging more people to use public transport is good for both the local economy and the local environment.
“The summer route and new family ticket on the Connect 700 service will make it an even better way to explore all our city has to offer, from the city centre to our beautiful coastline.
“Families can hop-on and hop-off the popular green bus for just £5 a day. Providing a great value and better, more frequent bus service along this route will help our See It, Do It leisure campaign to get more people out, about and active.”
Tobyn Hughes, Deputy Director General of Nexus, said: “We’re delighted to be making Sunderland Connect even better for local people and visitors to the city this summer.
“There’s so much to enjoy in Sunderland, from the spectacular coast and refurbished National Glass Centre to big exhibitions at the Museum and Winter Gardens, and Sunderland Connect is the way to see them all.”
Shirley Atkinson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Sunderland, said: “The new summer route for Sunderland Connect 700 will no doubt offer great value to our staff and students, linking the City and its attractions.
“We are pleased to be a partner in this innovative approach to green public transport.”
Sunderland Connect, which is operated with a fleet of 3 greener hybrid buses, already passes the Sunderland Royal Hospital, Empire Theatre, Monkwearmouth Station Museum, Stadium of Light, Aquatic Centre, St Peter’s Church, National Glass Centre and Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens – as well as city centre shops, rail and Metro stations. The summer timetable sees Sunderland Connect ‘700’ extended to the coast for 11 weeks.
The summer timetable is in place between 1st July 2013 and 13th September 2013.