(09 Jun 2021, 9:04 pm)Andreos1 wrote I wasn't about Gateshead too much then, but definitely remember it happening earlier than the mid-90s.
Sure a timetable from the bygone era would confirm either way.
It's an interesting story about why they diverted it and how they kept it like that for so long.
I'd argue it's had a knock-on effect which has lasted for years and coupled with the ever rising fares, it's only discouraged people from using the bus home from a night out.
On the other side of the spectrum, I remember the PTE paying for the 26 to run all the way to Barley Mow around chucking out time - weekends only mind in the mid/late 80s - early 90s.
There would have been a 2/3 hour gap between the 'last run' and the last run and it was often heaving.
Not sure it was the pte's job to pay for the service when there was clearly some sort of demand mind.
Judging by some of the older's drivers comments I hear, the problem was at the time is the drunks got on, threw a few pennies at the driver, and told them not to print tickets. So the company never seen the money from these late services, and ditto the PTE probably thought there was nobody using them. Not sure how true it is, the older drivers talk bollocks 90% of the time.