I do feel for the folks on the borders who are forced into buying a ticket (the likes of Ouston, Hetton, Seaham) who are probably as a whole travelling North towards the city.

It's crazy it's cheaper to travel from Ouston to Bishop Auckland than Ouston to Birtley (which is a more likely journey lets be honest!) - I get there has to be a cut off at some point but it seems very straight cut vs potential travel patterns.