(27 Sep 2013, 6:33 am)Daniel wrote It's common practice of all operators to withdraw certain journeys that aren't profitable or indeed withdraw it completely if they are making a loss on it.
Few operators will use a service that makes shedloads of money (i.e. 21) to keep a service like one of the quieter "East Durham" services going. As any business does, GNE needs to maximise their profit levels - whether this is done at the expense of a few customers or none at all, it needs to be done.
Conversely, when an early morning run on a 202 or a 260 into Peterlee (which carries 6 passengers each) is axed - the x7 is impacted, because 4 & 3 of those passengers carried on their journey to get to work.
All of a sudden, the x7 is, 7 passengers short and a run which teetered on the edge of profitability, is suddenly making a loss.
Similarly, 5 passengers getting off a 21 after work, can't get an x25 or 71 at Chester to finish off their journey - because that has stopped for the evening.
So passengers find an alternative mode of transport to get to/from work.
When loads on the x7 and 21 are analysed, they realise numbers are down, so certain runs are also axed or cut short.
Except the only reason loads are down, is because the bus that takes passengers to/from home was stopped to maintain (or increase) profit levels....
It is a vicious circle and a key negative of this hub & spoke model in that is is forcing people into certain channels for their journey.