Are we not just seeing an element of realism here from GNE? (apologies Mods if this goes off topic)

The market is struggling. If you can't convince pre-pandemic Customers back, you aren't going to attract new ones no matter how many bells and whistles you put on things.

Commute numbers are down, hybrid is here to stay permanently and less days in the office make a car more affordable if you're only running it a few days a week versus 5 - so there's your commuter market hit.

The pandemic has ironically strengthened hyper local behaviours so people are returning to their local high street, rediscovering their local area and they don't need to trek in to a large conurbation when they can get what they need locally and the rest from online - so there's another market gone.

Pensioners are being hit with high inflation and less disposable income so although the bus is free they aren't out and about as much as they don't have the money - added in with a general nervousness around the pandemic of course.

You're then really left with leisure passengers who might use the bus, might use uber, might get a lift, might get a train - they aren't committed to one mode of transport.

There probably can be questions raised around the deal to lose the Streetdecks for the Coaches but there's an element here of speculate to accumulate and we all call for GNE to try stuff and I'll hold my hands up - I was calling for Oxford Tube style services since Day 1 - but the market has changed, it hasn't recovered and will take a long long time to - if ever.