Darth Vader swaps his lightsaber for a Laser

People visiting King Street in South Shields between 10am and 4pm this Saturday, May 17 will be treated to an out-of-this-world experience as they come face to face with Star Wars ‘baddie’ Darth Vader checking out Go North East’s brand new Laser buses.

Word has spread throughout the galaxy that the sparkling, gold Mercedes buses are fit for an Emperor – and who better to check out the service than the Emperor’s most trusted servant, Darth Vader.

Braving the revenge of The Sith will be Go North East staff who will be handing out glowing bracelets and mini sticks of Laser branded rock and giving people the chance to win one of ten BuzzFare bus tickets throughout the day.

The Laser branded buses have just begun operating on the South Shields to Sunderland service 35 route, running every 15 minutes during the day on Monday to Saturday daytimes and every 30 minutes on Sundays.

With their plush seats, tinted windows, air conditioning and full CCTV coverage, the brand new buses are at the cutting edge of passenger comfort and offer unrivalled service levels with their gold standard charter. 

With low emission, Euro 5 engines helping to look after the environment, local fares of just £1.40 and return fares between South Shields and Sunderland of £3, the luxurious buses don’t cost the earth.

Go North East Commercial Director, Martin Harris said, “Having such a seasoned traveller as Darth Vader visit our Laser bus shows just how special they are.  We have invested heavily in providing this quality service for our passengers, not just in terms of luxury and comfort, but in the standard of service they can expect in terms of punctuality and reliability.  These buses raise the bar in everyday bus travel and will hopefully encourage more people to change their views on using public transport.”

The full Laser route travels between South Shields, Harton Nook, Fulwell, Sunderland city centre, East Herrington, Houghton-le-Spring, Hetton-le-Hole and Low Moorsley, providing direct links to Sunderland University and Sunderland Hospital.

The Laser service is part of a £6m investment in new buses by Go North East in the last year, including sister service, Citylink, operating between Gateshead and Newcastle and the region’s first Euro 5 Mercedes buses, The Red Arrows X1 and X2.