Go NE invests £1m

Go North East has invested £1m in eight new 11.4m door forward Wrightbus StreetLites for its ‘Drifter’ service 60 that links Parkside, Dawdon, Seaham and Ryhope with Sunderland. Each of the new buses is fitted with free onboard wi-fi and next stop announcements and displays, as well as Hanover destination equipment, 45 seats and a buggy/wheelchair space. As part of a series of launch events for the new vehicles, shoppers in Sunderland were given the chance to have a sneak preview of one of the buses recently. Lifeguard Ethan Ramm joined promotional staff Karen Robinson and Gina Mayne in High Street West in Sunderland to give the bus a ‘nautical’ send off.

Development Manager at Go North East, Mark Ellis, said, ‘We’re really pleased to be investing in the Drifter route as it provides an important transport link for our customers in Seaham and Ryhope. The seafront area of Seaham has seen investment recently and we’re looking to play our part in helping to attract more visitors to the area. The investment we’re making in the area is substantial. We want to change people’s perceptions of bus services as buses have changed for the better. With free onboard wi-fi and next stop announcements, together with a high frequency timetable, we’re leading the way to provide a greener alternative to the car.’