It looks as though austerity measures are affecting these trips too.
Subsidised bus trips for over-60s scrapped by Hyndburn Council (From Lancashire Telegraph)
In some ways, if anything had to be cut, this was a prime target.
Much as I enjoyed my trips to the coast (at a time when I was well enough to go), there is more of a priority in keeping 'roofs over heads' and 'home services' for the sick and disabled.
So we can say - those were the 'good old days' - now gone.