I see I am not the only one to observe Stagecoach's changes in Newcastle. I am quite surprised that the cuts have been as severe as they have. I assume usage in some areas has plunged with no signs of recovery so Stagecoach have decided to cut their losses. Looking in from afar it looks a rather sorry state of affairs given what was once very good bus territory.
The idea of "very good bus territory" is now much changed from how it was 20 years ago.
As I have said in the past, the places that used to be "good pub territory" were the big council estates, massive pubs that dealt in beer, fags and casual suspicion with occasional violence. However, there have been changes both in legislation, together with a weakening of spending power, and that has changed that industry markedly. The same is the case with the bus industry and looking back and comparing with the 1980s is not appropriate. In the bus industry, you have areas where the age demographic (e.g. baby boomer central) means an ageing populace, lower economic activity and, of course, insufficient ENCTS remuneration. Then you have places that are simply on their uppers. They have few wage earners and then you have a cut in universal credit; it is these self same areas that were "good bus territory" that are now bearing the brunt of the wider social impact of cuts in welfare spending AND the overall reduction of economic activity. I remember the days of roaming around Teesside on some knackered poppy red National; I was in Stockton and Middlesbrough recently and the whole demeanour of the area is much reduced. There are still the nice boutiques of Yarm but it feels like the home of the Poundshop generally across the area.
Conversely, the idea of good bus territory is increasingly changing from those traditional areas in the large conurbations to specific places where there is the political will to have bus priority. In Bristol in 2015, increasing congestion meant a choice. First decided to protect the timetable and put in 10 additional buses - a £1m hit on the bottom line. They've now taken those out, as the city continues to be choked by the gig economy of Ubers and various courier businesses.
Those areas that are showing some resilience are those that have decent bus priority (double benefit of increasing reliability and minimising cost impact) plus the economic activity (mainly southern England) or where there is a particular market (e.g. the massive growth in the Student market esp University).
The idea that the Buses Bill will magically enable a fundamental improvement in patronage is akin to alchemy. The aim of better publicity, more vehicles, and better connectability is up there with "motherhood and apple pie"; we would all go for that. The idea that it can be achieved with little or no additional money seems to be higher debatable. Not least because we see, in Manchester, a weakening of First's profitability, hit by both the tram and the overall economic malaise in places like Rochdale and Oldham.
I also have a sinister suspicion that this is another Tory way of hollowing out the state. A bit of a dowry to get this through, then cut the central grant and hope that cross subsidy will help; it seldom does.
