(24 Dec 2017, 9:32 pm)Adrian wrote It costs a lot less to run a taxi per hour. Because if the taxi is empty, then it is not moving and the driver is not earning any money. A bus still has to run to a registered route, and a driver is still paid an hourly rate for driving that route.
I'd be a fan of reduced evening fares, but that should be for your existing evening services, with a view to being able to expand the offering over time. That doesn't instantly produce a night bus, and to be honest, would make you even less likely to hit that target of £690 an hour to run your proposed night buses...
I would bet that £23 an hour is likely higher on a night due to enhanced pay rates for drivers who would work overnight, including enhanced rates for engineers to be working too, just in case.
All of a sudden, the bus needs to make £33 per hour (example) to break even, with the operator wanting some return to make it all worthwhile. Maybe £40 per hour?
I bet some daytime services don't make that!