RE: Trains
One thing I've noticed when travelling around Yorkshire is how well bus and rail services are integrated through the building of interchanges. They all seem to be busy too unlike Prudhoe, Hexham and Hartlepool. Take away the Tyne & Wear Metro (and Hartlepool), I can't really think of any major town in the North East which places bus stations adjacent to rail stations. Of course, geography and location will play some role, but are there any other reasons?