TBH when I looked at that map even I was really surprised at how vast GNE’s network appears.

I guess in person it feels so much less so probably due to each route/area having its own liveries, names etc, whereas personally I feel if I visited another part of the region and spotted the same looking buses (eg GNE corporate buses) I’d think oh look I can get GNE buses here too - they’re all over - I could practically get a bus anywhere!

Whereas someone from Blyth visiting Silksworth for example would probably not recognise their Cobalt & Coast buses from back home being part of the same network as these weird Sunderland District food buses passing them in Sunderland.