(10 Sep 2021, 5:57 pm)tcts24 wrote Unfortunately, that's how capitalism works. Stagecoach or anyone else can pick and choose what they want to run. Even Paul's Travel haven't chipped in with an evening service because it isn't profitable. Asking Stagecoach to run an empty bus (and to be fair, they often do! I've been the only person on a Hartlepool local route several times) just on the off chance somebody might occasionally get on with their NCTS pass is like asking Tesco to to stock miniture condoms just in case somebody is big enough to admit their shortcomings. But they don't, as there's no profit to be made from using shelf space for something that will barely, if ever sell.

You don't seem to be grasping that the primary function of Stagecoach (and other commercial transport providers) is to make a profit and any gaps in the network are the responsibility of the local authority or PTE to fill. In this particular case it's Hartlepool Council that's at fault, not Stagecoach. You may remember that it was actually Arriva not Stagecoach that ran most of the tentered routes in the town before HBC cut the funding over a decade ago.

I know what your saying but a better service could actually bring more people onto the bus. They no reason why they couldn’t at least for example trial the 1 Between High Tunstall - Seaton on a evening. I have had this argument with the council but the council don’t exactly care I asked them about helping out last month just got a load of excuses.  I know when it was Hartlepool Transport they used profits from the more popular routes to fund less popular ones instead we have Stagecoach using any profits mostly for shareholders and as you know Hartlepool is probably the least cared about depot Stagecoach North East have with most things done from Sunderland. If services where there am sure people would use them and the E200 midi buses would be more than enough they could even use one of the tees flex buses for something like the old 15 would be no harm in at least trailing more evening services.

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(10 Sep 2021, 6:36 pm)Adrian wrote As others have said, its not just on Stagecoach, but anyone can start up a service there if they so wish to do so. Given Go North East's attempts in the past, I'd suggest the customer base just isn't there, with them subsequently withdrawing from the area completely.

You've still got a fairly late Hartlepool to Durham service with the 24/58, but perhaps an evening and Sunday network would be an opportunity for Tees Flex? I know they added new destinations in July, but still disappointing that it only runs until 8pm Mon-Sat.

The reason the 55 never worked was it was two long a journey and no good as a local service. The 24/58 only serve the Dyke House area of town so still not exactly good if you live in Seaton or Rift House.  I not sure anyone can just start a company up either and do commercial services in the town or else someone may well have tried by now the closest was Tees Valley Coach Travel but that again was an out of town service and even then they did not exactly go head to head with Stagecoach and I no some plans they had for town services never happened.