(10 Jul 2020, 10:43 pm)S830OFT wrote Many examples of where it's easier to take two or even three buses opposed to one...
Boldon to Houghton: Could take the 35, although it would be faster to take the 50 to Washington and change to the X1, or take the 9 to Sunderland and connect with the 20.

Metrocentre to Whitley Bay: Could take the 1A, although it would be faster to take the 10 to Newcastle, and change to the 309.

Hebburn to Murton: Could take the 9, although it is so much faster using the 27 to Heworth, changing to the X10 to Dalton Park and boarding the 9 there.

I understand the 9 doesn't go to Murton anymore, although that was one example of where taking 3 buses is faster than staying on the direct one.

Yep, I was just using the X21 as an example because it's an 'express' route! Plus, with it only being a 10 minute ride into either Gateshead on the 49 or Newcastle on the X30, you'd assume it would be faster. I mean, it's not that much faster, maybe 10 minutes or so, and it does depend on the time you leave. 

To be honest, travelling during 'peak' times, I'd always go via Stanley anyway as the X21 was usually packed by the time it left Eldon Square, whereas the X30 and 16 were usually quite quiet, then by the time we get to Durham, I'd get on the same X21 I would have been on had I gone to Newcastle/Gateshead, but it'd be empty!

Same reason I'd take the 1A from Gateshead to Metrocentre, it takes considerably longer but you don't have to sit next to anyone because it's pretty much always dead during peak times!