(24 Jul 2013, 9:50 pm)AdamY wrote I would hate to travel on a service bus to Edinburgh. It's bad enough travelling on a 60 mile, two-and-a-quarter hour journey between Newcastle and Carlisle. Travelling to Edinburgh would be double that (plus however long it takes to get from Sunderland to Newcastle (or Gosforth Park if using the A1); it would be absolute hell. By the time it reached Berwick I would wondering why I got on this bus; by the time it reached Ayton, Eyemouth or Cockburnspath I would be suicidal.
However, I do agree that Sunderland should have better long-distance access.
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