Where to begin?

In my totally un-scientific observations whilst regularly passing a depot on Mandela Way and linking it back to hazy memories of post de-reg services from Sunderland Road, it seems that buses are returning back to the depot a lot earlier in to the evening than they used to.

I use those two depots in comparison, only because of the scenes I witnessed at Sunderland Road in the latter half of the 80's.

Is it just me, or are we seeing fewer services running in to the evening than in the past?

If we are, is it because of changing passenger habits or is it because of margins? Could it be down to fewer subsidies?

Back in the late 80's, I remember Gateshead Interchange being a hive of activity late in to the evening, with the roar of a Metrobus or screech of an Atlantean only whizzing back to the depot at full pelt after dropping off their last load of passengers.