(21 Apr 2020, 1:22 pm)JP6004 wrote  Maybe the frequency has dropped because there isn't the demand there once was. If the demand was there back then and now, the link would have continued. And the numbers have only dropped because majority of people can use 20 to complete their full journey. Its quicker than 35 is on the sunderland to Houghton section.

As Spock said, the needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the few

Exactly. I'm one person and I don't use the service now. 
I'd imagine there are many more who are elastic and have the choice and given the option of driving or taxiing there, or sitting on an old, infrequent bus and then having to change, particularly on a cold, wet windy day - I'd hazard a guess as to what the majority would do.

The point has been made many times about the 20 being quicker from Houghton - Sunderland.
Except the majority of the people living in the Houghton DH4 or DH5 postcodes don't live in the town centre or on the 20 route, therefor rendering its journey time compared to the 35 pretty pointless, if you live on part of the 35 route and can't now get to places you need to go - unless you change buses.