(14 Jul 2014, 8:14 pm)aureolin wrote One of my mates used to drive them. Apparently it's usually just a load of students using it for short hop journeys. I'm not entirely sure how it's funded, but I'd guess that Sunderland Uni are paying quite a thick wedge of it, which pretty much restricts the route.
I done a quick Interchange to Interchange circle on it last week, and there was only about 7 (3 already on) of us on it between then and the stop outside where Steels club is. It packed out from then, and probably doubled in numbers back to the Interchange. I'd say in this sense it's no better than it's Newcastle (Quaylink) and Durham (Cathedral Bus) alternatives.
They're packed during term time on a morning at around 0800am, from the hospital back to Chester Rd and Park Lane. I've never done a similar journey on it on an afternoon, but I'm guessing there's periods where it will be similar to the morning.
For the past week, they've been even more dead than usual - obviously because most students are off now for summer.
For a week before my exams started and there was additional revision sessions on a morning, I used it to get to school simply because it was so quiet from the Stadium to Park Lane - unlike the Laser or Metro which was always so loud in comparison. Took about 5-10 minutes extra, but made no difference given my connection in Park Lane was still the same - just with less waiting time when I was getting the Sunderland Connect.