(Today, 10:16 am)S830OFT wrote After over a month and a bit the 960 finally made it to Marsden & Horsley Hill, although still never reached South Shields. So much for it doesn't go there...

The only good thing with franchising is it should hopefully keep the likes of L&G away from this type of service work, when they can't even fulfil this particular contract to half of it's standard most days.

https://bustimes.org/journeys/940907324

By the looks of the terminating short of destination because once it reaches Marsden and Horsley Hill there is nobody on it so potentially saving on dead mileage into South Shields by doing so knowing there not going to get a fare paying passenger on it in between.

Think long term the 960 Contract if the above is an almost a daily occurrence needs a timetable amendment via consultation of those who use the service.