(18 Apr 2017, 5:13 pm)BJ10VUS wrote Thank you for that in-depth response, and I agree that the demand most likely isn't there, especially if the service doesn't get contracted to Stagecoach. Surely just running either the 8 as it is, or the 8X between South Hylton and Sunderland Docks would suffice.
I hadn't quite appreciated how much of an impact Stagecoach's introduction of an evening and Sunday service to South Hylton would have on the 8X service, either.
I went to South Hylton today and observed two inbound and outbound trips on the 8X - both were completely empty, with no passengers on-board at all. The one person I did see boarding a bus, was getting on the 8 service to the City Centre. That single passenger would have potentially used the 8X service historically, depending on where she was travelling to.
A better photo of the 8X below following my previous shoddy attempts a few years ago - although showing route number X8!
![[Image: 34639152242_3acb902bbe.jpg]](https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4176/34639152242_3acb902bbe.jpg)
Compass Community Transport: YX09EUD by Daniel Graham, on Flickr