(04 May 2025, 6:25 pm)Adrian wrote I'm not sure what's happened this year, but it doesn't feel like it's been heavily promoted or anything? Aside from the Facebook event created, there was only a reminder on posted on Thursday.

I imagine some of it is due to the Trust struggling with volunteers, but the lack of preserved vehicles is surprising.

I don't think it's that surprising really if you've seen the last few years, for years it has been shunned by some preservationists due to being the "GNE Show" this tied in with the now more well regarded event in Whitehaven taking place over the same weekend only further draws people away from the Metrocentre event.

From what I've seen, there was somewhere in the region of 15-20 entries today, Stagecoach making up a fair number of those along with 4 from JH Coaches, 2 from Arriva, and Keiths Coaches brought along their new Yutong TC9, then a small selection of preserved stuff.

The biggest problem is the reputation that these events have attracted amongst not just the bus community, but in the case of last year, the general public. I've heard a few now won't entertain such events or enthusiasts in a general sense because of a lack of respect and behaviour shown, the younger generation being singled out in particular.

Have heard nothing but bad accounts from the event again this year, enthusiasts shouting and swearing on-board buses when families/children have also been present, enthusiasts going round in full company uniforms acting like they're in some way official representatives when that is not actually the case which led to some issues/confusion with the entrants.

I fear any good grace amongst the local enthusiast scene has diminished with incidents which have occurred in recent years, like above and it could be said we don't deserve anything nice now as a consequence of the actions of some.