(13 Jan 2015, 4:22 pm)Robert wrote I could understand it if Stanley Travel or Hunters needed to do this with those not earning anything near as much as a big operator such as Go North East, Arriva or Stagecoach. However, as Go North East have such a large income from other services, that would be more than enough to pay for the service and keep it going. If independents can manage, why cant a large company which is technically better off? 

There's a reason why Go North East is operating the services now... Because the independents couldn't manage!