(04 Jan 2025, 2:32 pm)F114TML wrote Setting the 18A aside, the 18 tends to get used most through Roker, and Thorney/Grindon to/from Aldi at Pennywell. It's awkward to know what to do with it as it's not often you have absolutely no one on. It also gives many estates a direct bus to the hospital.

The reason I suggested it for Yutongs is because I've heard when GNE updated fleets on their routes, they saw an uptick in passengers. People would get on the 18 because it's an electric.

Wonder if there could be a case for splitting it into 3.

Have something like

7: Sunderland - Grangetown, 8 to Pennywell, 18A from there (Hourly)
8: Sunderland - South Hylton (Hourly)

E1A - Sunderland - South Shields via Roker (Every 30 Minutes), E1/E1A (Every 15 Minutes combined)

99: Seaburn to as far as you go in 30 minutes using the 18 route, then 99 route beyond Pallion.

18/18A withdrawn, they're covered by the above or 599 anyway. The reason for the 18A route is because the bus would sit around doing nothing for 15 minutes so might aswell use the resource.