(19 Nov 2022, 4:23 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Just because it's operated by non-driving staff, doesn't mean the general public know that.
As far as they're concerned, if someone is driving around a bus with a mythical figure on it, they should be driving around a bus with real people on it.

You're spot on, it's all about how the public and the local authorities perceive it. It's like the X11, it only reduced the depot's resource by 1 driver effectively, yet it was cut because people were annoyed that a holiday excursion was put on over a regular service that it didn't effect. Even with a driver shortage the Santa Bus doesn't really make that much of a difference, but I'm not sure if GNE will take the risk considering the year they've had.