(24 Jul 2013, 10:22 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote Yeah Edinburgh was a bit much, just a thought on a new link.
Sunderland to Berwick would be ok using this route.
Sunderland Interchange - Queen Alexandra Bridge - A19 via Heworth Bypass Nonstop to Gateshead - Newcastle Haymarket - Then Normal Route to Berwick with a few adjustments to make the service quicker.
To Carlisle would be Sunderland Interchange - Queen Alexandra Bridge - A19 Direct to MetroCentre via Washington Galleries and The Angel of the North then follow GNE Service 10 to Hexham then 685 to Carlisle
Sunderland to Carlisle would not be commercially viable. The least loaded section of the 685 is between Haltwhistle and Brampton. At the Carlisle end the frequency between Carlisle and Brampton is half hourly, the extra bus being a Stagecoach Solo - not enough passengers for a full size bus.
Regarding the long trips - have you tried the X95 Carlisle <> Edinburgh? About 3.5 hours each way and hourly service. Have yet to try it - will be a summer day out next year so the return can be in daylight and on a Friday as the last working into and out of Carlisle is about 2 hours later on a Friday.