I can only remember getting the train between Durham and Newcastle (actually getting on/off at Newcastle instead of just going through) twice - once when we were intending to go to Edinburgh but the line was closed after Newcastle so our journey ended up being cut short. The other time I think was when we got the X12 from Middlesbrough all the way into Newcastle (and we only had an Arriva day ticket, and we'd missed the X12 back into Durham so we just walked over to Central Station and got the train from there. I think we got refunded in the former case but I have no idea how much the ticket cost for the latter.
I don't think I've even been on a train since I got one from Thirsk to Manchester and back on a school trip five years ago.
RE: Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022