I'd second what Brandon said - that was where I was going to hang about tomorrow! (I'll be going for the 17:15 departure too, and I'm not running the risk of getting a blurry shot... I'll have to stick to a boring bus station shot for now...)

Can we guess which bus is being used - if it hasn't already been confirmed? Judging by the picture on the news article, I was going to say W1 CTS will be used:






W1 CTS is (or rather, was, if it has been sold to PYGALLS COACHES) available to buy from Stafford Bus Centre. Unlike what that news article said, it cost £13450... The rest of the information matches though!
W1 CTS was one of three early Nimbuses new to Cheney Travel of Banbury and sold after three years, all of which have ended up with major groups; W3 CTS remains with MK Metro under Arriva ownership and Cheney sold X94 FOR to Go Ahead Northern...
I really hope it is W1 CTS that will be running the route - don't think Sunderland has seen a Nimbus since X94 FOR was withdrawn from Go North East's fleet!