(30 Jan 2013, 10:53 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote The X7 is also an interesting one as I didnt see that coming but i doubt it would last long as i never seen many people on the arriva services that go to the boro from Sunderland.

Irrelevant, in my opinion.

I know that those Arriva services have now been cancelled or varied so that they don't go all the way to Middlesbrough now, haven't they? That happened October last year or so, if I remember rightly.

I'd be breaking the forum rules if I went any further than 'everyone knows how much I dislike Arriva as an operator', but yeah... Their prices are considerably higher than Go North East's competitive rates (at least, for under 18s with a Key Card)! That is the prime reason why I never use Arriva outside of Tyne & Wear (cannot use my Nexus CAT day ticket anywhere else).
You must also consider how little passengers seem to use the 23 and 24 now though... The 23 and 24 both provide handy links to Peterlee, while the 23 goes to Hartlepool and the 24 goes to Durham. Without looking at any timetables, I'd like to say I'm fairly positive the 23 will get to Hartlepool faster than Go North East's X35, but do we see it being used more? No. Against Go North East, if Arriva continue to operate their services in the areas Go North East are going to infiltrate themselves into, they stand no chance (unless, of course, members of the public rely on it being a 'normal stopping' service).

After having had a direct service from Sunderland to Boro a few times by enthusiasts alone, Go North East must have realised it was in fact, a good idea.

PS: Welcome to the forum.