(26 Apr 2020, 6:41 pm)col87 wrote A few more suggestions.
X67 Sunderland Interchange - Washington - Metro centre.
X13 Sunderland Interchange - Seaham - Dalton Park - Easington - A19 - Billingham- Middlesbrough.
X70 Darlington - Newton Aycliffe- Shildon - Bishop Auckland - Crook - Chester Le Street - Gateshead - Newcastle
X8. Hartlepool - Hart Station - Hordon - Easington Village - Dalton Park - Seaham.
The X70 I don't really see the point just an extremely long bus route which isn't express anywhere and totally out of GNE's operating area.
If you really want to take a punt and take on Arriva somewhere which you seem to want to you've got an X21 that terminates half hourly in Durham extend that south down to Darlington taking on the 7 but make it express.
So run it as something like Durham -> NON STOP -> Croxdale -> NON STOP -> Ferry Hill -> Clifton -> Rushyford -> Newton Aycliffe -> Aycliffe Village -> NON STOP -> North Road (Limited Stop) -> Darlington
I can't imagine Arriva being too happy with that though but you've gave a few communities there a faster bus route though and a new link to Newcastle for them. There's always people complaining about the 7 on Arriva's social media.