May 28 has only enjoyed modest success so far.

Bus chiefs had hoped the Monday to Friday service, launched on April 29, would reap the benefits of crowd-pulling West End events.

Buses leave Hamilton at 7.25 p.m., 8.25 p.m., and 9.35 p.m., and the departure times from Dockyard are 8.35 p.m., 9.35 p.m, and 10.35 p.m.

Yesterday Mr. Herman Basden, director of the Public Transportation Board, said the 7.25 p.m. trip had enjoyed "some degree of success''.

"At one time we had as many as 20 people,'' he said, adding several passengers left before Watford Bridge. He was hopeful numbers may have been boosted by the recent arrival of eight German and Belgian warships, although statistics for this period had not yet been compiled.

Mr. Basden said he would be having a "long hard look'' at the figures after May 28.

Mr. Basden did not believe taxpayers were in the mood to subsidise an underused service.

"We started the experiment after requests from both business people in Dockyard, and residents. There were also requests for some service along the South Shore Road.'' Mr. Basden said previous experiments had failed.

The PTB has since set a target of eight people per trip -- although the "break even'' number was 20.

"We are really having another go, and trying to establish what is out there for us,'' he said.