(14 Nov 2021, 3:39 pm)Andreos1 wrote And the 14 years it wasn't secured (including the period when it was the 36)? What was the reasoning for the headway issue then?

I know it's a big if. Huge in fact. 
If GNE took on the Houghton - Seaham side commercially, then they would be able to do all sorts with it. Including managing the commercial part of the route in a more effective manner.
Taking on a contracted route, integrating it with a struggling commercial service and then seeing that commercial service hamstrung... Well, it's not really the best decision that's ever been made.

It's interesting you mention that the 35 timetable needs to be maintained with its secured evening counterpart.
Why doesn't the Sunday 78 tie in with its weekday equivalent?

Without wishing to get this thread too off-topic (I don't know what relevance the 71 has to Peterlee Purples), wasn't the 36 timed to co-ordinate with the 35..?