(10 Nov 2013, 9:09 pm)andreos1 wrote I can't see all three lasting.

Which of the three will remain, not sure - Arriva obviously have the added bonus of serving the villages beyond Hexham, it departs Eldon Square a few minutes before the x84/85 and it is an established service.
That has to stand it in good stead.

However, like other operators in other areas, Arriva have seemingly taken the market for granted.

I think this is a very valid point. Taken for granted indeed.

Arriva got caught out by the first stab from GNE between Bishop Auckland and Darlington, but again, as Service 1 and 1B was such a long standing option, many people continued to use it. Ultimately, the demise was written. I can see a very similar thing happen to the X85.

The X7 may remain, but only because it is piggy backing on the X9 and X10. The vehicles dilute the brand and look awful when lined up with an X9/X10 double decker. The X7 picks up most of the X9 patronage heading south and practically empty (except for a few busy OAP trips) heading north - as the X10 departs 10 minutes prior. I fully suspect Arriva are lining up amendments to the 21 and 21A in the coming months, which will see the viability of the X7. When Arriva changed the 1 and X1 back in March, the OK1 got withdrawn as I think even GNE realised they would never make the service viable.

I bet GNE are seeing passenger usage on the X7 that can be offset from reductions on the X9. Justification to operate it? Hardly. Just additional cost into the service corridor that was already adequately bus'ed.