Go-Ahead launches one of the UK’s first dedicated vaccination shuttle bus services in the North East

The bus is serving the NHS Nightingale Hospital in Sunderland. Branded the 'ConnectorShuttle', it runs up to every 15 minutes, seven days a week, between 5am and midnight each day. 

The blue branded bus also celebrates the fantastic efforts of the NHS throughout the pandemic and features a ‘thank you’ message, as well as a rainbow design which has been synonymous with key worker efforts since March.

The service has been put together with just two working days’ notice by the Go North East team following dialogue with the local NHS Trust and Nexus.

Martijn Gilbert, managing director at Go North East, said: “We’re delighted to be helping the NHS with the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccination programme and have moved fast to ensure that good public transport links are in place.

“In partnership with other North East bus operators and Nexus, we’ve also recently introduced a dedicated vaccination bus stop in Newcastle outside the Centre for Life vaccination centre. It’s great seeing the hard work and energy of everyone involved in delivering this very important vaccination programme."

“We’re committed to doing all that we can to work with partners to ensure that public transport plays its part in supporting this national effort with good quality, clean and safe public transport links, which is why we have very quickly mobilised this new special shuttle service.”