(15 Apr 2020, 10:18 am)Andreos1 wrote There's a couple of bits in here I wanted to respond to, so hopefully it comes across OK. 

You mention the X1 and 56 and single decker ops. Both were double deckers for a significant period prior. The X5 operated as a double decker for years prior to the 2006 changes, although on a less frequent basis.
Ditto the 56 when it terminated at Spring Well Est, before it merged with the dd operated 187 and 188.

Although I didn't want to get in to the rights and wrongs of whether or not operators should be getting freebies, I think you make an interesting point regarding the rebates. However, they're getting the fuel at rock bottom prices already. The bulk buying in advance sees to that. Add on the fuel element of the BSOG and they're paying a lot less p/l than everyone else does at Morrisons.
The bit that annoys me the most (and I've pointed out elsewhere), is that these operators don't want to be regulated again. They don't want local or national interference, but are more than happy receiving financial support as and when it suits.
I appreciate they're merely making use of the money available under its current guise, but there is no end of hypocrisy in doing so. 

They get the financial help with the fuel costs and they get financial help with AVL and smartcard technology.
They then get additional financial help and a 10% uplift on the existing financial help, as a result of utilising the financial help already received.
But don't want regulating.

Yeah it's totally fine at the end of the day it's a discussion board which some seem to forget.

Honestly, I'm too young to remember the services before 2006 as I'm not from the area but I know that happens quite often which is fair enough thing to do in terms of pushing people on other services (if it is that anyway). I wonder what would happen though if you bought a return fare on say the 25 which is cheaper then try to return on the 56 coming back which in theory shouldn't be valid but at the end of the day your travelling between the same two points.

See personally I don't mind the rebate for buses as it gives a push to get people out of cars and only balances it with other forms of public transport - whether any of them should get it is a debate but it's only fair especially in areas where there's competition trains vs bus. If they didn't do it, then no doubt the money would be just getting thrown into subsidies instead which affects other public services especially with the councils having no money as it is so to me it's not the worst thing plus the price of a bus fare is way over the price of fuel for the majority of journeys anyway. The thing I hate though is when we get these green funds for things like along the Coast Road on the 308 and then as soon as the subsidy is over their shipped off somewhere else because of a new Euro regulation elsewhere.