(13 May 2016, 4:55 pm)Dan wrote It's exactly what I said it would be - a limited off peak service providing a direct link to the hospital from the North Sunderland estates, using the same bus which is allocated to a scholars service, 939 and 8X.
At the moment, that bus does nothing during the day.
It will be one of those Volkswagen or Fiat minibuses allocated, as the 8X has a maximum vehicle length contractual requirement due to the nature of the route in South Hylton.
Spot on - an all day service until 5pm would cost too much as it would require another bus to be able to run their existing contracts, which would probably push the costs of the 99 over what they were willing to take on. If it fits between existing stuff then you're only really needing to cover the wages and fuel... Am I right in thinking this is a commercial punt by Compass CT?