(07 Apr 2015, 8:32 am)roar wrote I can only agree with you, cant see it happening unless it's forced though. Now we have AVL and the authorities have access to the running data we might see some changes as the percentage of services running late will be known. 

We have seen a little innovation over the last few years with poorly timed services being re-timed, this has resulted in a higher frequency on some core routes on a Sunday service with extra layover time added to allow a return service to depart on time, now that could sound like i'm defending the industry there but I'm not. I honestly cant see the point of giving 10-15 minutes layover because you know a service is going to be late and needs that time so your return journey departs on time. That time would be better put into your schedule meaning less pressure on the driver, customers making connections, customers not wondering if or when the service is going to turn up.

With my years in this industry its very disheartening to see how things are going, trouble is with this lack of flair, motivation and dedication the true bus men are now thinking let them get on with it I'm out in x amount of years. I believe the railway industry is seeing this decline too.

Or, they're given cash incentives. I won't use 'subsidies, grants or handouts - cos eazypeazy doesn't like it.

Granted a lot of the local opps are given a lot of autonomy by head offices, but is it worth certain departments taking the bigger risks?
Or are those departments capable of coming up with something that doesn't involve time away from computer programmes and spreadsheets?

Totally agree with the backloading of layover at the end of a route or in the case of the X35/36 half way through.
Haven't been able to identify a way of sticking it down in writing.

Getting back to the bank holiday issue though, until each and every passenger is questioned (or monitored) on their ultimate destination - there is no way their start and end point can be monitored (in the case of hub & spoke transferring between services).

Malarkey using a paper day/week ticket and travelling between Lambton and Seaburn, isn't monitored as a whole journey.
He joins the masses at Concord on a 56 and is one of many hopping on a E1 from the Wheatsheaf.
As far as operators can see, he is one of a couple using the 82, adds to the growing success story that the rebrand of the 4 has brought us, justifies deckers on the 56 and adds to the reasoning behind running a Saturday service on the E's.
What it doesn't tell the operators, is that a portion of those using the 4 and 56, would benefit from a direct bus from Washington to Seaburn.
Ground on feet and innovation would possibly suggest there was demand for a seasonal service.

As you said previously, running back and forth all day, would just bring empty vehicles back into Washington, until people were ready to come home - so let it run onto something else at the Seaburn end.