(10 Mar 2020, 8:26 pm)BoroLad wrote Mind, I decided to go down and try the 81 today, and was surprised at how busy the service was. I was on the 1035 ex Redcar and loadings were very good, especially on our way out of Guisborough, where it acts as effectively as the town service. There were 10 passengers heading to points beyond Guisborough, with most getting off at Stokesley but some at Great Ayton too (which reminds me - scrapping that section of the 81 will make Roseberry Topping significantly harder to access by bus). On my return I took the 28A which gets busy once you get into urban Middlesbrough, but was actually quieter than that 81 south of Nunthorpe.

The demographics of the route would be a concern either way though - just like you I noticed the vast majority of passengers were concessionary pass holders. But it didn't strike me as a service which has no demand.

But that's exactly the point - it's the *evening* service that's being cut. 

10:35 is peak time for people travelling on concession passes, just enough time for them to get into town, have a coffee and a look at the shops before getting a bus home in time for lunch.

Anecdotally buses are always packed with concessions in the mid to late morning, with fare paying customers making up the bulk of the morning peak, evening and night time passengers.