I'm really not imagining the empty buses on mornings and throughout the day, when I see services 23/24 (more so service 23) - honest...!Yes the loadings on the X7 are brilliant but like I said I think that is people coming from Teesside and people using GNE tickets so they don't have to switch operators.
Comparing the loadings of service X7 to services 23/24 combined, and you'll find that the loadings on service X7 are still superior.
Under 16 POP card holders rarely use Arriva services in Sunderland due to the fact Arriva drivers turn these kids away most of the time. Concessionary Pass holders are more likely to use the buses, knowing that they can, but then again, the chance of an Arriva bus turning up on the Stockton Road corridor before a Go North East one is slim (6 buses p/h with services 29/39, 6 buses p/h with service 42, 6 buses p/h with service 60, 4 buses p/h with service 61, 1 bus p/h with service X7...)
Hopefully the new 22 will get more passengers when it starts running to Sunderland instead of the 24 as people in Wheatley Hill have wanted a service to Sunderland again after they lost the 21/31 back in 2012.
It is poor that drivers don't know all the passes and tickets they accept.