As Hexham seems to be a main point of GNE network expansion at the moment, I do think it would be nice to have some sort of service between there and a few other places - similar to how Newcastle acts as a major hub.
Of course I don't expect Hexham to become the new Newcastle, but it certainly would be great if they continued to try and get Arriva out of the area, and then move onto another area after that as a focal point of expansion.
Don't know how long the journey times would be, but a Middlesbrough to Hexham and Sunderland to Hexham service may be good.
I may be wrong, but I think the Sunderland to Hexham service could potentially be faster than the Northern Rail service if it was an express.
EDIT:
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=sunderland&daddr=hexham&hl=en&ll=54.944499,-1.648636&spn=0.21928,0.676346&sll=54.939216,-1.599162&sspn=0.438621,1.352692&geocode=FfXPRQMdh-Lq_ymfc_CKLWF-SDHDA38BfW6ddA%3BFfnQRgMdcMXf_ykVmDENYpB9SDEEwA0heCs6qA&mra=ls&t=m&z=11
Look at some of the places around the direct route between Sunderland and Hexham. If the service was to stop at some of those, I can see it taking approx 1hr 15m? 3.5hr round trip isn't bad.
Hourly service, 15 mins layover at each end. PVR of 4.
RE: Go North East Service Suggestions