If I'm right - it's not designed to take you from Sunderland to Hebburn.

It's designed to get you to key employment and services (like hospital sites - with Sunderland royal taking on an increasing number of south of tyne medical services) and to shopping areas without having to interchange at Gateshead or somewhere similar (or use your car/taxi)

It's a bit like what we've been saying for Team Valley being chronically underserved (aside from archaic and poorly used workers services) and a positive step to get people to leave their cars if you can prpovide a reliable direct bus link