(24 Oct 2018, 8:20 pm)Tamesider wrote Slightly confusing examples; the 168 is mainly commercially run by Stagecoach and isn't the best example of generating capacity as it is the only route run by either of Stagecoach's (City of) Manchester depots to specify largely single deck workings. 

Also, the X61 Blackpool to Manchester is long gone - although if memory serves did disappear after ENCTS was introduced in 2008. If we are going back into history, maybe a better example would have been the 400/401 "Trans Lancs" Expresses destroyed by the completion of the M60. The section norh of Ashton (400 at least) is still covered by at least 6 stopping buses an hour, but Ashton to Denton has been reduced recently, and Denton to Stockport is just a joke with just one bus an hour (was four by different routes at one point).

Just as an aside, I the BIB points out the relative bouancy of GM's bus network if there's only 1 Stagecoach route quiet enough to warrant single deckers. 

I think the X61 lasted as long as 2011, certainly it was around when I moved to Manchester in 2010. Enough time for ENCTS to have an impact and arguably the single biggest change to a service which had otherwise been successful for over 50 years.