I think in regards to partnerships the 21/X12/X21 needs looking at with them being tightly timed together between Durham and Newcastle with timings shown below with all services often running together with more often than not the X21 being late due to works on the A1 and then also running together with the 21 Durham/Brandon Boards so I think the timetable for the 21/X12/X21 needs to be streamlined to a Bus operating roughly Every 10-12 Minutes between Durham and Newcastle which would offer a an improvement on the current service.

Current Timings

xx:10 / xx: 40 - 21 Departs Newcastle for Durham/Brandon
xx:13 / xx:43 - X21 Departs Newcastle for Durham
xx:20 - X12 Departs Newcastle to Durham

xx:05 / xx35 - 21 Departs Durham for Newcastle
xx:15 / xx:45 - X21 Departs Durham for Newcastle
xx:20 - X12 departs Durham for Newcastle

Suggested Revised Times

xx:10 / xx:40 - 21 Departs Newcastle for Durham/Brandon (Timings Unchanged)
xx:20 - X12 Departs Newcastle for Durham (Timings Unchanged)
xx:00 / xx:30 - X21 Departs Newcastle for Durham (Revised to operate 13 Minutes Earlier than current timings throughout entire route)

xx:10 / xx:40 - 21 Departs Durham for Newcastle (Revised to operate 5 Minutes Later than current timings throughout entire route)
xx:20 - X12 Departs Durham for Newcastle (Timings Unchanged)
xx:00/ xx:30 - X21 Departs Durham for Newcastle (Revised to operate 15 Minutes Earlier than current timings throughout entire route)

Obviously you'll notice a 20 Minute gap between xx:40 and xx:00 and would suggest increasing the X12 back to operating Every 30 Minutes as numbers from what I have seen in the past few weeks have been strong with buses being almost fully seated, Arriva have been picking up at more stops between Chester-Le-Street and Low Fell than they are meant to if the driver has seen passengers waiting at stops for a 21 from the odd occasions I have gotten the X12 as there seems to be more than enough layover time built into the X12 timetable.