(25 Sep 2025, 2:30 pm)logidoodah wrote I heard from a person who was chatting to a driver last week that City have bought new buses for the route and "were on the ferry as we speak, but don't tell anyone" I am hesitant to believe such a claim as where does a small and fairly new independent get such money from, why would it be a secret and why would they go to the effort of branding 3 buses for the Sunderland Connect (PVR = 3) contract.

Not outside the realms of possibility, look at Gateshead Central (although their fleet is mainly leased to my knowledge but happy to be corrected). GNE also bought vehicles specifically for the route including the hybrid Solos (granted these were purchased rather than leased as far as I'm aware) and these saw little use on anything other than the Sunderland Connect services and disposed of soon after being replaced on the service. Does the contract have an age limit on vehicles or just minimum seats and euro rating?

With regards to filling up at Washington Services, Whitestar seem to favour the BP on Wessington Way, Sunderland. Is it so unusual for an independent company to use normal fuel stations? I seem to recall A Line using the filling station on the Felling By Pass too.