(10 Aug 2025, 9:38 pm)Jimmi wrote I wonder what numbers journeys on the 168 are typically carrying? I imagine it must be somewhere near considerations of converting it to run as a taxibus route. Wonder what the next stop in cutting it could be, they've already cut the first and last round trips of the day and more recently created a gap in the service at lunchtime, likely to allow one driver to work the service without a changeover.
In a similar vain, I still question why what is now the 520 was converted from taxibus to a conventional bus working.
In regards to the van, it's no different to what many rural ops use on service work, the worst aspect is the anonymity of the thing, with the only indication of it operating service work is the paper destination. Given its a van, I think it's exempt from having to comply with PSVAR regs and the like so wouldn't require NSA equipment (still unsure if the rest of their fleet has the kit or not, the 23 plate Sigma certainly has nothing programmed at the very least).
It's upto 16 seats for the NSA stuff etc, unsure what the seats are on the Sigmas etc.
Btw using the numbers above it's 4/5 people per trip, very quick maths. Not exactly great numbers really but I'm sure there's worse around.