(23 Nov 2017, 8:56 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote Sunderland to North Shields via the tunnel is a logical journey people may wish to make (a pity that the 9 timetable is idiotic), but no-one (except perhaps a dedicated bus enthusiast) is going to travel via a lengthy circuitous route from South Shields to Jarrow then through the tunnel to North Shields when they can go via the ferry (unless they get seasick!). So extending the 5 to North Shields would be useless to most prospective passengers from wanting to cross the Tyne and deter those from Sunderland from travelling by bus; it can only be for the operational convenience of the company in matching frequencies.
Whilst I agree that the rumoured changes may suit operational requirements (even if the timings would be very tight to see an increase of 1 to the PVR to such a long pair of services), I don't think the idea is to get people to use the 5 between the two Shields's.
I reckon a Buzzfare and a combo of the 5 (9 currently) and the 27 would be the choice of the majority of those making that trip.
The Jarrow - N Shields section is funded if I remember correctly.
The current 5 may have had some funding initially (Kickstarter?), but not sure if it is still funded.
Not a bad little earner if both sections attract funding!