Member Article

New Route For X24 Express Service Links Doxford Park And Newcastle

Stagecoach North East is continuing to enhance its express service between Newcastle and Sunderland with a new bus service from Newcastle to Doxford International, which was introduced this week for commuters during the peak morning and evening travel times.

Following a high level of customer demand, from this week the X24A express service from the local bus operator will serve the leading north east business park in Sunderland and will provide an alternative to the Metro for workers at the 79-acre site.

Customers will be able to travel on the newly launched X24A service from Monday to Friday, departing at 7.25am and 8.05am from Pilgrim Street in Newcastle and arriving at Doxford International approximately 30 minutes later. Evening return services will run from 4.38pm, 5.08pm and 6.08pm from Doxford International to Newcastle city centre.

With free wi-fi and a speedy service, passengers can avoid the stress of the daily driving commute for as little as £2.90 for a single, £4 with a Tyne and Wear dayrider ticket or £16 all week with a Tyne and Wear megarider PLUS. Both Tyne and Wear products are valid on all Stagecoach North East services in Newcastle, Sunderland and South Shields, enabling customers around the region to make onward travel connections for no additional charge.

Steve Walker, Managing Director, Stagecoach North East, said: “After taking on board feedback from our customers to improve access to Doxford International, we are excited to announce the addition of the X24A commuter route to the X24 service for morning and early evening peak journeys between Newcastle and Sunderland.

“We are committed to improving reliability despite increasing pressures on the roads through the build up of traffic congestion and delays. We also want to develop our bus network so it can better meet the requirements of our customers, and taking on board their feedback allows us to directly respond to these demands.”

Employing around 8,000 people, Doxford International, located on the outskirts of Sunderland, is one of the region’s key business and technology parks and a key destination served by the buses to provide a vital link for commuters across the region.

Steve added: “Buses are critical to the local economy to help keep business workers on the move, and so we are helping improve commuter journeys for customers and make it as easy as possible to travel to key locations. With free wi-fi on board, customers are able to work remotely, connect with friends via social networks or even check the latest journey information online; helping make bus travel more convenient.”

For onward journeys, X24 passengers in Newcastle can connect to the Metrocentre, Quorum Business Park, Colbalt Business Park and more.

From 19 November, passengers can also take advantage of Sunday shopping with the introduction of a special half hourly Sunday daytime timetable. Additional bus journeys will run on Service X24, from Fawcett Street in Sunderland between 10.07am and 4.37pm, and from Pilgrim Street in Newcastle between 10.55am and 5.25pm.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Kathryn Clapham .