Also not reversed, pre-covid, GNE ran 6 buses per hour between Newcastle and Durham, 8 at peak times, in some combination of 21 and X21. It’s still only 4 . When they show up.
One thing I have seen for the first time in however long is morning dupes on the 50, though - though some mornings that ends up being 2 streetlites running together. I’ve not seen it as pointless as a streetlites and a solo, yet, though it wouldn’t surprise me as there has been a solo and an double decker, some mornings.
RE: Reversing the decline in passenger numbers