(04 Jan 2014, 7:10 pm)andreos1 wrote So whilst the 20s are carrying decent numbers and get full, there aren't as many people getting on and off as there are the 35's.
There isn't the same turnover of passengers if that makes sense.
Precisely this, yes.
There is a lot of competition in the area as you've mentioned, but if Go North East's fares are far superior to the competition, then you can understand why customers do travel on the "Laser" as opposed to a different service operated by Stagecoach.
I still stand by what I said earlier...
If a service warrants investment - no matter how big or small the competition in the area is, no matter how big or small the PVR is - it will receive it. Now more than ever before, with investment of so many vehicles planned each year.
Some journeys will have very high passenger numbers on the "Prince Bishops", as accounted for by anecdotes of 'canned sardines', but others will run very lightly. You really need a service to be stable before investing in it, and this is achieved by 'minor service changes', as we've all grown to know so well. Certain runs can't just be axed though, as from what I've seen, there is no set passenger rate on each run or indeed each day.