(15 Nov 2015, 10:45 am)MrPottski wrote To be honest, I believe the following services would all operate as a profit on Boxing Day from Darlington:
2 (full route), 3 (Skerne Park to Town Centre), 5A (full route), 7 (full route), 26A (possibly modified, terminating at Richmond or Catterick Tesco). Possibly added into this, a 13, 10 (inter working on an hourly frequency) X66 and an X75. Drivers would be volunteers (plenty would as long as there was a financial incentive) and there would have to be publicity to advise of the new services. It would make sense to use Solos, except on the 7, to keep costs at a minimum, especially for the first year of operation.
The thing that has always puzzled me, is the line operators use about there 'being no demand' or operations being 'based on previous Boxing Days'.
I wonder how tv stations decided on 24/7 broadcasting? How new and innovative products are launched?
Someone obviously took a punt and decided they were worth a gamble, even after market research.
It isn't beyond the whit of man, to maybe test the water with Boxing Day services. Rather than rely on guesstimates.
How any operator can identify lack of demand, without a comprehensive consultation is anyone's guess.
Despite living in T&W, I have never had a Boxing Day service - until last year.
Waiting with baited breath to see if last years offering was a success and it is repeated this year.
Hopefully they can be applauded for the second consecutive year and a precedent can be set, not only with that service - but other areas across the region.