(15 Jun 2018, 3:18 pm)big mac wrote I use it at various different times, and I personally think it probably does enough on Monday to Friday to survive. 
Any time after lunch going out of Newcastle there's a fair few seem to get on it.  When I've been on the 2.35pm or 3.45pm for example, it's been quite full, so I think it does get passengers outside of the morning/evening peak.   Same with mid-morning journeys from Sunderland to Newcastle.
It does seem that going towards Newcastle in the afternoon it does not seem to get very many passengers apart from ones who just use it as a local service in Sunderland.  However, introducing the X24A has probably helped as that gets workers boarding which otherwise wouldn't have if it just went via the regular X24 route.  I'd say an average of 7-8 people board at Doxford.

Plus you've got to remember there will be a canny few hopping on at Newcastle to return to Sunderland later on. Always packed from 3pm onwards to the last one. Also noticed a few people get on at Gateshead High Street tonight going to Newcastle.