Member Article

All Aboard For Late Night Shopping As Bus Operator Launches Travel Offers For Festive Season

Stagecoach North East has launched a number of travel offers to help Sunderland customers get in the festive mood for the forthcoming seasonal celebrations.

Following the successful introduction of the eveningrider ticket last month, the local bus operator has now extended the popular bus ticket - available from 7pm on all Stagecoach buses in Sunderland - for passengers to enjoy all the city has to offer during the evenings.

As the Christmas season gets underway, customers can now benefit from cheaper and more convenient travel to make the most of late night shopping and leisure facilities at The Bridges, enjoy the famous Sunderland Christmas Lights, and experience the Winter Market with the eveningrider tickets.

From 23 November until 24 December, customers can also travel free until 11am every Sunday on Stagecoach buses travelling towards the city centre. In addition, one child (under 16) can travel free with a valid dayrider ticket holder on Saturdays and Sundays for the same period.

From 11 to 22 December, The Bridges - Sunderland’s leading shopping centre - will be open until 8pm Monday to Friday. December will also see the return of the popular Santa’s Grotto, which opens on 16 December with a £2 entry fee which will go to support good causes through Sunderland’s SR1 Rotary Group.

Steve Walker, Managing Director at Stagecoach North East, said: “We are delighted to extend this special evening service for passengers to make the most of the festive season. Driving and parking can be stressful at this time of year so we want to take the hassle out of travelling as much as possible.

“Alongside the extension of the eveningrider service, these great value offers mean families can have an affordable trip out to do some Christmas shopping, make the most of festive entertainment on offer around the city or visit friends during the evening for a very reasonable price.”

The eveningrider ticket is valid on all evening Stagecoach services throughout Sunderland, including E1, E2 and E6 services as far as South Bents, and on the X24 express service between Sunderland and Newcastle, as far as Hastings Hill.

From 19 November, passengers can also take advantage of Sunday shopping between Sunderland and Newcastle on the X24 express service 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 .