(23 Aug 2023, 6:23 pm)Michael wrote What year did the Sunderland Connect start to run?

Edit: Looks like it was 2012 - GNE have done well to keep the contract for that long, they must be doing something right!

I got told a while back that its not a straightforward contract, and that it is only partially funded by Nexus, the Uni is a big contributer too, with it being roughly thirds or something with GNE taking the rest commercially. This is why the contract constantly adapts rather than going with the cheapest.
JH had the 701 which was the quickest as 700/702 took 25 mins from Clanny House to St Peters (you could walk it in 30 mins). JH are a close partner with the Uni they do the open days and all trips with the SU and sports competitions. My source is an employee who works at the SU...so may not be 100% accurate, happy to be corrected if anyone has different or opposing info.

(23 Aug 2023, 6:57 pm)Michael wrote Must be popular, if its still running after almost 12 years!

Popular isn't the word....I prefer well utilised necessity. Lets be frank here the 700/701/702 is to connect Clanny House with the Uni Campuses (with 1000+ people living there), The Forge accommodation nearby too - they are not there to make money as 95% of the passengers don't pay and use their Uni ID Card. Yes there are other useful links these routes go such as The hospital,  Stadium and Glass Centre i'm guessing nexus had their input there.

Also I was talking to a driver on the 135/136 ages ago and she said most drivers hate driving the Sunderland Connect do to the reliability of the service and shear mass of people using it. JH drivers also weren't the most keen on shuttling students you could tell by some of their attitudes (I reported one driver for being aresy and rude to all passengers, including some who wanted to pay as they weren't a student).

(23 Aug 2023, 10:56 pm)Unber43 wrote Wonder if it will be required to get USB's

probably not required in contract but GNE may prefer to put em in

(23 Aug 2023, 11:13 pm)nova347 wrote Its always rammed whenever I see it.

The service haemorrhages time (frequently 20+ mins late running in pairs) and money so its a bit ironic isn't it. 
8-11 am and 2-5pm are the worst for over crowding, bigger buses will help, faster route of 701 becoming standard over the 700 tour of the city will help but frequency reduction, surely they're shooting themselves in the foot there...