(08 Sep 2012, 4:58 pm)Brandon wrote The 16 badly needed the increase in Sunday daytime frequency.

Stagecoach substantially simplified their network in May 2005. Prior to this, the existing service 3 was split into a 20 minute service 2 and 20 minute service 3. Both routes operated as now from Hylton Castle to Sunderland; then service 3 operated via Thornholme Road and Plains Farm to terminate at Gilley Law, and service 2 operated direct via Durham Road to terminate at Farringdon Antwerp Road. Service 2 did not operate evenings/Sundays, but service 3 would extend from Gilley Law to Farringdon during these times. Prior to bus services running across Sunderland City Centre (coinciding with the closure of Central Bus Station?) the Hylton Castle-Sunderland section was numbered service 27.

I believe service 6 used to run from Witherwack to Southwick, across the Queen Alex, right round to Grangetown, then Hendon to Sunderland City Centre. When the Queen Alex closed for refurbishment, service 6 buses were revised to run a much shorter route from Witherwack to Southwick and Sunderland on an almost identical route to the existing 16. Service 6 never returned to its original route when the Queen Alex bridge re-opened. Due to continued levels of low-usage, service 6 was withdrawn in December 2006. I assume service 6 was facing stiff competition from Go North East's new Black Cats 26/36 from July 2006, and later on in 2006 when the Doxford Clipper 29/39 was extended to North Sunderland. Service 7 continued to operate every 30 minutes -

Immediately following the withdrawal of service 6, Stagecoach launched a new service 12 on 4 December 2006 - - seemingly in competition with Go North East's newly introduced Magic Roundabout 33 from July 2006.

Service 13 used to split into a 20 minute service 12 and a 20 minute service 13. In Town End Farm, service 12 operated a clockwise loop and via Blackwood Road (South) while service 13 operated an anti-clockwise loop and via Brunswick Road (as now). The service between Town End Farm-Sunderland used to be numbered 28/29 prior to the extension of 12/13 across Sunderland City Centre. Service 12/13 both operated to Doxford Park but I can't remember the exact routes each service took. However, I do know that service 13 used to by-pass Gilley Law.

Services 15/16 used to run every 20 minutes each (10 minute combined) from Red House to Southwick, City Centre, Chester Road, and Hastings Hill. Service 15 served Grindon Lane (north), while service 16 served Somerset Road (as now).

Prior to service changes in November 2008 which resulted in a 10 minute service 23, this service used to be a 20 minute service 23 and a 20 minute service 24. Service 23 terminated at Dene Estate as now, while service 24 terminated at Seaburn Camp. Evening/Sunday service 22 used to serve both Dene Estate and Seaburn Camp.


Old Stagecoach bus timetables are extremely hard to come by. The wayback machine - http://wayback.archive.org/ - doesn't hold much info.

I did manage to pull this down though - - I never knew the 5 used to run to Boldon ASDA!