This is what I said. There will be journies on the 81 that "appear" to be busy but then if the majority of these passengers are concessionary pass holders or students then revenue is limited. Be interesting to know, if anyone does, just what the reimbursement from the two councils, through which the service operates is. I'm sure this will have been a factor during the consultation/decision process. I know, incidentally, from what I've heard is that North Yorkshire County Council were consulted with regard to funding the missing section of the route and they declined; in this age where councils have to look very carefully at budgets and such like you can understand why? It just wasn't/isn't viable.

My journey on the 81 had say 6 passengers on it from Stokesley into Guisborough, all including myself, concessionary pass holders. The 'need to travel' for these I don't know but then in deciding
whether a service is viable or not it's the cash over the counter that matters and if the reimbursement from these passes is as low as I think then it really is case closed.

---

Something else I've looked at recently? The demands placed on Arriva drivers in taking their vehicles along some, if not all of the routes they operate. Weaving along and through the many estate roads with the attendant parked vehicles, speed humps/restrictions then children and people is quite a challenge against the need to maintain timings, I'm sure consideration was given when these routes were decided but I just couldn't help thinking how difficult and challenging the role of a PCV driver is and adding my admiration for what they do.