Three shuttle buses set to serve Sunderland’s Nightingale Hospital to support people receiving the Covid jab

Specially branded ConnectorShuttle buses are already running from Concord bus station in Washington, with MetroShuttle buses starting today (Thursday, January 28) from Heworth Interchange to serve the mass vaccination centre at Sunderland’s Nightingale Hospital.

A third shuttle service will begin operating from Park Lane Interchange in Sunderland city centre from Monday, February 1.

It is hoped that these services will make getting the Covid vaccine easier for many to need to take public transport across the North East.

Leader of Sunderland City Council, Councillor Graeme Miller, has praised the travel operators for setting up the scheme.

Cllr Miller said: “We’re all very aware of how important the vaccine programme is and well done to Nexus, the NHS and our bus company partners for organising these services.

“The reassurance of this regular vaccine shuttle will be welcomed by health and social care workers and the over 70s receiving their invitations for vaccinations at the Nightingale.”

Customer Services Director at Nexus, Huw Lewis, added: “Public transport has an essential role to play in getting people to Covid-19 vaccine centres.

“We have worked with the NHS and Go North East to provide these shuttle bus services to connect people to the Nightingale Hospital in Washington.

“This is vital, as many people won’t have access to a car in order to get there to have their jab. This all part of the national effort to defeat coronavirus and get back to normal as quickly as we can.”

People can travel for free on the shuttle buses by showing the ticket from their earlier journey on other buses or the Metro – along with proof of a vaccination appointment in the form of a letter, email or text.

The ConnectorShuttle will run up to every 15 minutes – connecting with Go North East’s 56 service at Concord to allow for frequent connections from Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland.

The MetroShuttle will run up to every 15 minutes from around 7am until 8.45pm, seven days a week, from Heworth Interchange (Stand D) – giving access to the hospital to Metro passengers.

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