(25 Apr 2018, 7:26 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Anyone but PCL would suffice.
The services have loads of potential, marketed and delivered correctly, they could become the best routes in the North East, like what they used to be.
(25 Apr 2018, 7:30 pm)Jimmi wrote Can't imagine the numbers and limited frequency would have matched up for Arriva, could have maybe spaced out the X14's a bit differently and interworked it at Thropton possibly just on the section between Thropton and Alnwick Bus Station. Travelsure would have probably been a better option to have taken over the 15 or Glen Valley Tours.
The route seems has lost a lot of custom, no tourists seem to be aware of the service anymore like in the Spirit days and some of the locals have been left unimpressed with the no shows and breakdowns by the sounds of things.
I firmly believe that the routes could be very profitable in the summer months with tourism etc. A big company has far more financial ability to market the routes for the summer, and provide buses with larger capacity. In the winter months they would be better equipped to deal with breakdowns.
It would take an initial leap of faith, and would probably be best to begin service in Spring to build up reputation and a business case, but as always you need to balance risk with reward. I imagine it would also massively increase the public perception of the bigger companies.