One packed bus does not make a service, if it's unreliable. And over those distances, they may not be profitable at the ticket prices they charge. And they may

One packed bus does not make a service, if it's unreliable. And over those distances, they may not be profitable at the ticket prices they charge. And they may not be commercially viable if the ticket has to recoup all the costs + profit. That's why, sometimes governments operate services, even at a loss, as a benefit, to their citizens.