(28 Oct 2018, 6:10 pm)Rapidsnap wrote In the morning the 168 starts from East Rainton
Distance from CLS Depot - 5.6 Miles
Distance from PLE Depot - 8 Miles
On the evening the last trip terminates at Hetton Le Hole Interchange
Distance from CLS Depot - 7.2 Miles
Distance from PLE Depot - 6.3 Miles
Total Dead Mileage
CLS - 12.8
PLE - 14.3
There isn't actually much distance between the 2 depots and considering the time the service operates and runs, they could tag say a work service from Rainton Bridge to Peterlee on the end to eradicate the dead mileage. Plus the costs of supplying drivers for the service will be lower at Peterlee so it negates the 1.5 mile difference. I'm sure there are plenty of other routes that have much more dead mileage than the 168.
Distances provided by Google Maps.
36 on an evening after a Sunderland finish must be a canny hike. Why they don't have it run a version of the 78 I don't know.