(20 Oct 2021, 9:33 am)peter wrote Thanks for the info Dan! Nice to see those services being retained. Will certainly be interesting to see what happens next year when the DCC contracts are up for tender once again.

Amazing what those commercial wizards have done to the Chester - Houghton route and beyond.
Got rid of the 21a and have persevered with the same old since, threatening to withdraw it due to its commercial viability. 
Rather than look at headway with the 78, promote the route, look at alternatives or tweaks - they're being bailed out. Again. 

I get why DCC feel as though they need to step in, but I genuinely don't know how GNE have the nerve. 
'aye mate, withdrawing the 71. We've basically killed it and have done nowt about reserecting it or giving it any sort of life support. If you want us to run it, you're gonna have to pay for it'.