The Tyne Valley situation followed a couple of years of poor (unreliable) service from Arriva.

The combination of a through-route to/from Carlisle (along the non-dual-carriageway section of the A69) means that delays are inevitable, though unreliable vehicles compounded the problems.

Losing the Hexham depot (to GNE) means that breakdowns have to be serviced from either end (increasing delays).

The route was ripe for competition and GNE have risen to the challenge.

The X84 (which serves the villages) frequently overtakes the ANE 85 before Corbridge despite running through Wylam, Ovingham and Ovington (though not Horsley), whilst the X85 (which runs midway between the X84/685 times) does the journey faster than the ANE 85/685 (by cutting out Throckley). 

GNE has the option (vehicles permitting) of slotting-in a bus should there be delays arriving in Hexham from Newcastle.

Overall it's a win-win situation for GNE, and it remains to be seen how long ANE sustain the route (which they share with SNE).

Of course people wanting to travel to and from West of Hexham have no choice.
The train frequency from/to Haydon Bridge is two-hourly - unless you travel to Haltwhistle first!