22:
205:
96:
305:
1080:
2865:
1094:
1112:
1043:
3146:
331:
319:
1130:
152:
615:
1065:
3133:
763:
Following sell-off, the new operators introduced new liveries, logos and trading names to many of the business units. Initially some buses appeared in liveries other than red, but an edict that all buses be 80% red saw this reversed from 1997. Some companies having been renamed, have since resumed
1143:
In the period before the sell off of the main business units, London saw operation by several private companies who gained tenders for routes. Many of these either ceased trading, or were ultimately purchased by large groups, some of which also bought some of the ex-London Buses units. Below is a
680:
In March 1991, the
Government published "A Bus Strategy for London", outlining its proposals for deregulation of bus routes in London. A "London Bus Executive" was proposed, providing socially essential but uneconomic bus routes, as well as bus stops, shelters and stations. This would be separate
688:
The
Government claimed that deregulation would lead to more and varied bus services, leading to increased bus ridership, less congestion and better choice of services for passengers. Criticism of those against deregulation included the potential of traffic congestion caused by multiple operators
253:
operated by Grey-Green. The only requirement was to display the London
Transport roundel on the bus, to designate a London Transport tendered service. Ironically, several of the new private entrants were descendants of London Transport's former 'green' buses division, which operated outer London
137:
Initially, London Buses' fleet livery continued to be all-over red with a simple solid white roundel. In 1987, however, this was revised with the addition of a grey skirt and a white mid-level relief line; in the same year a modified red and yellow roundel designed by consultants Wolff Olins,
711:
In
November 1993, the Government deferred the proposed deregulation of buses in London, noting that the sell-off of London Buses business units would continue. It remained an aspiration of the Conservative Government to deregulate London bus services in future. Following the election of
265:
The private competition was not without controversy, with objections to non-red buses leading to an edict in 1997 specifying 80% red liveries. The tendering also caused problems with several operators needing to hire buses due to late delivery of new buses for newly won routes.
582:† Unlike the other units, Centrewest quickly branded its buses into separate groups, in the main removing the London Buses roundel in favour of various gold designs, with just the central services remaining in a slightly altered roundel based scheme. The group brands were:
639:
In the new era of private tendering, in an effort to compete with the new private operators entering the market, London Buses set up some low cost units to compete for tenders, painted in non-red liveries. The most notable were Harrow Buses and
360:. The division names and a small graphic device were added to the buses, in white. An exception to this was the Westlink unit, which received a new livery altogether. Some of the names chosen were drawn from the pre London Transport era, namely
248:
Controversially, these operators were allowed to operate buses in liveries other than standard red, meaning that for the first time, it was possible for non-red buses to run into the centre of London, such as those on high-profile
668:
that deregulated bus services in
England, Scotland and Wales did not apply to London Buses. Despite this, the Government desired to deregulate bus routes in London, to allow for full competition on individual bus routes; the
655:
These units were not overly successful, due to unreliable service, and industrial disputes due to lower pay rates than for the main London units. Their routes were quickly surrendered to other units or private operators.
743:
Between
September 1994 and January 1995, the separate London Buses business units were sold off. Competition rules restricted the number of units that could be bought by one group. All the units were sold either via a
83:
to the same extent. In London, details of routes, fares and services levels were still specified by public bodies, with the right to run the services contracted to private companies on a tendered basis.
277:. Difficulties in setting up the route eventually saw operation by eight different operators and 10 different bus types in a short space of time, before the route finally gained a stable arrangement.
2900:
2168:
The
Government's policy remains, as it has been since the Transport Act 1985 was introduced into Parliament, that the London bus market should be deregulated and privatised as soon as possible.
752:, or to one of the emerging national bus groups that had been growing through acquisition of deregulated companies in the rest of the UK. The exception was London Northern, which was bought by
225:
Under the 1984 Act, London bus services were to be tendered. The first round of tendering took place in the summer of 1985, bringing the first private operator into the market, in the form of
87:
The privatised period produced for the first time buses in London painted in different schemes from the traditional red. This ceased following a 1997 edict that London buses be 80% red.
111:
On 29 June 1984, in the general move towards deregulation, responsibility for running London bus services transferred from the last public body running London's buses, the
3006:
2893:
2955:
2886:
724:, deregulation of London bus services was no longer pursued. Bus routes therefore continued to be tendered by London Transport and post 2000, its successor,
169:
2260:
Approximately 60 per cent. of respondents, including the hon. Lady, commented unfavourably on the
Government's plans to deregulate bus services in London.
2099:
771:, which was wound up in the autumn of 1991 following poor financial performance and industrial action; its operating area was subsequently taken up by
204:
3027:
2663:
2047:
1049:
3190:
636:. Several of these new vehicles received specialist branding from normal unit liveries, such as Camden Link, Kingston Hoppa or Southall Shuttle.
21:
1857:
54:
3180:
292:
authority to tender for routes itself before being sold for £5 million (equivalent to £8,471,000 in 2023) in
October 2009 to the
1737:
288:
as an arm's-length company to provide temporary operation of the collapsed operator's routes. East Thames Buses was retained by the new
2192:
1942:
2244:
2218:
2152:
1887:
628:
During this time of separate business unit operation by London Buses, many new bus types were also being introduced, notably the
2021:
1416:
705:
80:
2656:
2125:
65:
taking control of London's bus routes, with the operation divested in stand alone companies that were privatised in 1994/95.
3042:
2315:
721:
689:
competing on popular bus routes (especially in
Central London), the potential that bus operators would not use the popular
674:
79:
Unlike those in the rest of the United Kingdom, the bus services in London, although still ultimately privatised, were not
685:, as it was felt that an independent body would not be "distracted by the major challenges which London Transport faces".
2910:
2477:
123:. This Act required arm's-length subsidiaries to be established to oversee the operation of bus services. In March 1985,
1763:
3108:
120:
95:
58:
3185:
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3001:
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191:
2073:
3170:
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452:
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698:
1412:
1358:
788:
352:
in preparation for being individually sold off. The companies were created along geographic lines, with all but
3057:
1069:
1006:
361:
338:
211:
173:
2289:
1707:
2929:
1489:
1134:
242:
753:
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53:
For half a century, operation of London bus services for public transport was under the direct control of
3047:
1637:
259:
2577:
3175:
2985:
1294:
2536:
1995:
2975:
2965:
2945:
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1441:
1435:
1408:
1402:
1097:
1057:
772:
682:
255:
116:
62:
1865:
3195:
2851:
2702:
2274:
1715:
1624:
1591:
1587:
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1362:
68:
Since then, direct provision of bus services in London has been run by private companies, although
3083:
2878:
2869:
2820:
2808:
2756:
2692:
2188:
1767:
1641:
1527:
1469:
989:
907:
868:
694:
670:
162:
138:
featuring the name 'London Buses' in capitals through the centre of the roundel, was introduced.
1651:
1557:
1421:
1274:
1228:
997:
365:
353:
234:
112:
2510:
1831:
3150:
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1620:
1583:
1538:
1507:
1348:
1010:
270:
250:
230:
219:
1914:
134:
that deregulated bus services in England, Scotland and Wales did not apply to London Buses.
3067:
2619:
1969:
1569:
725:
552:
304:
289:
69:
8:
2180:
1946:
1919:
1458:
1454:
1303:
1189:
1179:
932:
622:
422:
342:
323:
3113:
3103:
3098:
3093:
2970:
677:
proposed "Deregulating buses in London and privatising the London Buses subsidiaries".
665:
131:
1079:
2825:
2793:
2355:
Young, Ian (10 September 1994). "CentreWest first red-bus operation to be sold off".
1793:
1647:
1429:
1339:
1224:
1118:
1029:
968:
847:
745:
717:
285:
274:
104:
73:
2846:
2761:
1815:
1676:
1474:
1450:
1193:
1137:
1115:
1053:
962:
841:
3037:
3032:
2788:
2724:
2714:
1378:
1307:
1284:
1203:
1093:
1086:
1046:
780:
749:
311:
226:
47:
32:
1111:
2815:
2781:
2734:
2729:
2493:
1552:
1493:
1288:
1238:
1234:
1173:
1159:
1104:
1073:
972:
896:
879:
851:
645:
568:
357:
293:
36:
29:
1042:
127:
was incorporated as an LRT subsidiary amid a wider split of LRT's operations.
3164:
2980:
2719:
2709:
2697:
2607:. No. 325. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. 22 September 1995. p. 2.
1633:
1561:
1547:
1372:
1326:
1261:
1253:
1215:
1169:
951:
917:
830:
768:
349:
308:
2562:
Simpson, Richard (17 December 1994). "Cowie buys South London for £17m...".
1279:
735:
pledged to bring bus routes back into public ownership as contracts expire.
16:
Transfer of bus operations in London from public bodies to private companies
3137:
2741:
1579:
1516:
1425:
1386:
1335:
1257:
1211:
1100:
822:
757:
124:
100:
25:
2641:
330:
2746:
1601:
1344:
1183:
1083:
784:
776:
649:
629:
318:
1819:. No. 530. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. May 1999. pp. 32–33.
1129:
2776:
1520:
1462:
1382:
1368:
1331:
1318:
1207:
1197:
936:
818:
732:
713:
708:
that 60% of respondents to the consultation were against the proposal.
690:
281:
238:
215:
208:
176: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
2443:. No. 360. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. 31 May 1996. p. 2
2924:
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1534:
1503:
1392:
1354:
1313:
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1163:
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913:
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641:
619:
2517:. No. 541. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. April 2000. p. 6
151:
1270:
1122:
756:, itself an expanding company formed from the privatisation of the
2908:
2388:
Simpson, Richard (8 October 1994). "Leaside Buses goes to Cowie".
2316:"Sadiq Khan to review bringing London buses into public ownership"
1564:
in June 2005, remaining Tellings-Golden Miller operations sold to
2841:
2803:
1606:
1478:
1064:
633:
614:
2425:. No. 142. Peterborough: Emap. 12 November 1994. p. 6.
269:
One such controversial route was the arrangements for tendering
2687:
2673:
1616:
1565:
1396:
1322:
1025:
983:
862:
697:
from an overarching body like London Transport. In July 1991,
935:
in July 1997 and later rebranded as Transdev London, sold to
821:
in March 1997 and rebranded as First CentreWest and later as
1334:, ceased trading in December 1999, operations taken over by
2181:"The Best Future For Britain - 1992 Conservative Manifesto"
975:
in August 2006, re-acquired by Stagecoach in October 2010
854:
in August 2006, re-acquired by Stagecoach in October 2010
1838:. No. 540. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. p. 13
1210:
in July 1998 and rebranded as First Capital and later as
1144:
list of private operators, some of which still operate.
2344:. No. 124. Spalding. 27 September 1991. p. 4.
1764:"Colour transparency; London Buses roundel, circa 1990"
2377:. No. 133. Peterborough: Emap. 10 September 1994.
1967:
1912:
1424:, ceased trading August 2002 operations taken over by
2245:""A Bus Strategy for London" (Hansard, 25 July 1991)"
2219:""A Bus Strategy for London" (Hansard, 22 July 1991)"
2153:""A Bus Strategy for London" (Hansard, 22 July 1991)"
2543:. No. 277. Spalding. 14 October 1994. p. 5
2466:. No. 141. Peterborough: Emap. 5 November 1994.
1347:(originally London Country South East), now part of
775:
and Leaside Buses, although 11 of its routes in the
2407:. No. 136. Peterborough: Emap. 1 October 1994.
1915:"The sale of London Buses' ten operating companies"
1813:"Route 60: the highs and lows of a London fiasco".
1465:
in March 2014 and resumed London Sovereign identity
1200:
in March 2014 and resumed London Sovereign identity
2584:. No. 251. Spalding. 15 April 1994. p. 5
2002:. No. 117. Spalding. 9 August 1991. p. 4
1923:. No. 109. Peterborough: Emap. pp. 30–31
659:
348:On 1 April 1989, London Buses was divided into 12
3028:History of public transport authorities in London
939:in March 2011 and resumed London United identity
530:South East London & Kent Bus Company Limited
284:in December 1999 led to London Transport forming
3162:
2626:. No. 299. Peterborough: Emap. pp. 4–5
1499:Mitcham Belle, acquired by Centra in August 2004
1037:
794:The sell-off of the units proceeded as follows:
46:was the process of the transfer of operation of
2272:"Delivering the best bus services for London".
1395:in November 1994, other operations acquired by
2566:. No. 147. Peterborough: Emap. p. 5.
2392:. No. 137. Peterborough: Emap. p. 5.
1391:London Coaches, London operations acquired by
1196:, later rebranded as Transdev London, sold to
141:
2894:
2657:
2106:. Temple Press. 13 September 1990. p. 20
1976:. No. 63. Peterborough: Emap. p. 26
1744:. Temple Press. 11 February 1988. p. 24
1444:(originally London Country South West), now
1434:LondonLinks, merger of London operations of
1405:, acquired by Luton & District Transport
414:East London Bus & Coach Company Limited
245:were also operating numerous London routes.
90:
2671:
2313:
2132:. Temple Press. 18 October 1990. p. 18
2028:. Temple Press. 14 January 1988. p. 15
1970:"Sale of Westlink (Stanwell Buses Limited)"
299:
2901:
2887:
2664:
2650:
2054:. Temple Press. 7 January 1988. p. 17
1247:Cityrama, sightseeing company acquired by
474:London General Transport Services Limited
371:The separate business units created were:
2416:
2414:
2290:"Buses (London) (Hansard, 22 April 1996)"
1680:. Temple Press. 23 March 1985. p. 21
1461:and rebranded as Transdev London sold to
738:
693:scheme, as well as the loss of strategic
609:
192:Learn how and when to remove this message
50:from public bodies to private companies.
2373:"Selkent and East London go to Souter".
2368:
2366:
1913:Barclays de Zoete Wedd (26 March 1994).
1894:. Temple Press. 6 April 1989. p. 20
1829:
1790:London Bus Handbook Part 2: Independents
1738:"End of the road for London's big reds?"
1188:Borehamwood Travel Services acquired by
1128:
1110:
1092:
1078:
1063:
1041:
916:in July 1998, which in turn was sold to
758:Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive
613:
329:
317:
303:
203:
94:
20:
2603:"WMT sells Westlink to London United".
2561:
2387:
2242:
2216:
2150:
2080:. Temple Press. 3 March 1988. p. 6
1705:
1312:Frontrunner, London operations sold to
3191:Transport policy in the United Kingdom
3163:
2617:
2505:
2503:
2411:
2314:Frank-Keyes, Jessica (16 April 2024).
1609:acquired by Metroline in November 2004
699:Minister of State for Public Transport
2882:
2645:
2620:"Arriva signs for open-top operation"
2363:
2354:
2212:
2210:
1968:Barclays de Zoete Wedd (1 May 1993).
767:The only unit not to be sold off was
3063:Privatisation of London bus services
1787:
1701:
1699:
1697:
1695:
1483:Luton & District Transport, now
488:London Northern Bus Company Limited
174:adding citations to reliable sources
145:
44:privatisation of London bus services
3181:Privatisation in the United Kingdom
2911:bus transport in the United Kingdom
2500:
2359:. No. 133. Peterborough: Emap.
1158:Atlas Bus & Coach, acquired by
444:London Central Bus Company Limited
13:
3109:London Regional Transport Act 1984
2511:"Metroline sells to foreign buyer"
2484:. London. 2 July 1998. p. 105
2207:
1888:"LRT launches 11 fleets for dereg"
1708:"Buses: deregulation in the 1980s"
1446:Arriva Guildford & West Surrey
1260:in February 2004 and rebranded as
121:London Regional Transport Act 1984
59:London Regional Transport Act 1984
14:
3207:
3012:History of the PTE bus operations
2618:Barton, Mark (11 December 1997).
2537:"Metroline sold to MEBO for £20m"
2437:"London General sell to Go-Ahead"
2340:"London Forest closure details".
2217:Rifkind, Malcolm (22 July 1991).
2195:from the original on 19 June 2013
2151:Rifkind, Malcolm (22 July 1991).
1996:"London Coaches to be privatised"
1945:. Companies House. Archived from
1858:"Go-Ahead buys East Thames Buses"
1692:
1306:and renamed Ensign Citybus, then
779:area passed to private operators
254:services that were passed to the
3144:
3131:
2863:
1706:Butcher, Louise (18 June 2010).
1598:Eastern National Omnibus Company
1172:, London operations acquired by
400:CentreWest London Buses Limited
150:
3053:London Omnibus Traction Society
2611:
2596:
2570:
2555:
2529:
2470:
2455:
2429:
2396:
2381:
2348:
2333:
2307:
2282:
2265:
2243:Freeman, Roger (25 July 1991).
2236:
2173:
2144:
2118:
2092:
2066:
2040:
2014:
1988:
1961:
1935:
1906:
1864:. 3 August 2009. Archived from
660:Proposed deregulation of routes
544:South London Transport Limited
273:which was initially awarded to
161:needs additional citations for
57:known as London Transport. The
3058:London General Omnibus Company
3007:Former municipal bus companies
2478:"Metroline takes rival aboard"
1943:"London Forest Travel Limited"
1880:
1850:
1823:
1806:
1781:
1756:
1730:
1664:
644:, tendering for routes in the
502:London United Busways Limited
362:London General Omnibus Company
1:
2022:"Bexleybus leads London race"
1830:Aldridge, John (March 2000).
1657:
1625:Arriva East Herts & Essex
1526:R&I Coaches, acquired by
1468:London Suburban, acquired by
1363:Arriva East Herts & Essex
1038:List of independent operators
460:London Forest Travel Limited
72:did operate its own company,
2951:British Transport Commission
1862:Bus & Coach Professional
1560:, London operations sold to
1325:subsidiary, integrated into
1302:, London operations sold to
1149:Armchair Passenger Transport
632:midibus as well as numerous
430:Leaside Bus Company Limited
7:
3048:London Country Bus Services
3043:Former London bus operators
2870:London transport portal
2403:"GAG buys London Central".
2126:"Subsidiaries restructured"
1650:based operator acquired by
1572:operator again in June 2014
1568:in December 2007, became a
1537:based operator acquired by
1273:based operator acquired by
764:their original identities.
356:having routes running into
260:London Country Bus Services
142:Introduction of competition
10:
3212:
2986:Ulster Transport Authority
2462:"MTL moves into capital".
1832:"Harris Bus - LT steps in"
1640:in May 2009 and rebranded
1295:Ealing Community Transport
971:in November 2000, sold to
850:in November 2000, sold to
664:The implementation of the
130:The implementation of the
3151:United Kingdom portal
3127:
3076:
3020:
2994:
2976:Transport Holding Company
2966:National Bus Company (UK)
2946:British Electric Traction
2938:
2917:
2860:
2834:
2680:
1588:Arriva Shires & Essex
1485:Arriva Shires & Essex
1417:Sovereign Bus & Coach
1409:London Country North East
1403:London Country North West
1244:Centra ceased in May 2006
731:In 2024, Mayor of London
683:London Regional Transport
516:Metroline Travel Limited
117:London Regional Transport
91:Formation of London Buses
63:London Regional Transport
3186:Public policy in England
2961:Former PTE bus operators
2703:Arriva Southern Counties
2693:Arriva Herts & Essex
2275:Department for Transport
1716:House of Commons Library
1592:Arriva Southern Counties
1590:), later transferred to
1502:NCP Challenger, renamed
1162:in July 1994, resold to
600:Hillingdon local service
300:Break-up of London Buses
3171:Bus transport in London
3084:London Traffic Act 1924
2821:Transport UK London Bus
2757:RATP Dev Transit London
2074:"Bexleybus falls flat?"
1788:King, Nicholas (1990).
1768:London Transport Museum
1182:operations acquired by
576:London Coaches Limited
560:Stanwell Buses Limited
76:between 1999 and 2009.
2421:"LBL companies sold".
1652:Tellings-Golden Miller
1621:County Bus & Coach
1584:County Bus & Coach
1558:Tellings-Golden Miller
1539:County Bus & Coach
1275:Tellings-Golden Miller
1229:Tellings-Golden Miller
1140:
1126:
1108:
1090:
1076:
1061:
1028:in 1997, rebranded as
739:Business unit sell-off
625:
610:Intermediate operation
366:London United Tramways
345:
327:
315:
222:
113:Greater London Council
108:
39:
3119:Bus Services Act 2017
3089:Road Traffic Act 1930
2956:Defunct manufacturers
2605:Bus & Coach Buyer
2582:Bus & Coach Buyer
2541:Bus & Coach Buyer
2441:Bus & Coach Buyer
2342:Bus & Coach Buyer
2185:politicsresources.net
2000:Bus & Coach Buyer
1792:. Capital Transport.
1349:Arriva Kent Thameside
1132:
1114:
1096:
1082:
1067:
1045:
722:1997 general election
675:1992 general election
617:
333:
321:
307:
207:
98:
24:
3068:Star Omnibus Company
2624:Coach & Bus Week
2564:Coach & Bus Week
2464:Coach & Bus Week
2423:Coach & Bus Week
2405:Coach & Bus Week
2390:Coach & Bus Week
2375:Coach & Bus Week
2357:Coach & Bus Week
1974:Coach & Bus Week
1920:Coach & Bus Week
1619:based operations of
1582:based operations of
1570:Transport for London
1442:London & Country
1436:London & Country
1385:and integrated into
1357:based operations of
1192:in 1994 and renamed
1098:London & Country
1007:West Midlands Travel
726:Transport for London
652:areas respectively.
290:Transport for London
256:National Bus Company
170:improve this article
125:London Buses Limited
70:Transport for London
55:a number of entities
3141: •
2578:"WMT buys Westlink"
1221:Capital Connections
990:Arriva London South
869:Arriva London North
235:Boro'line Maidstone
3114:Transport Act 1985
3104:Transport Act 1968
3099:Transport Act 1962
3094:Transport Act 1947
3077:Parliamentary Acts
2971:Scottish Bus Group
2278:. 8 November 1993.
2189:Conservative Party
2100:"Harrow Buses hit"
1630:Town & Country
1141:
1127:
1125:BLE in August 1999
1109:
1091:
1077:
1062:
1013:in September 1995
695:transport planning
671:Conservative Party
666:Transport Act 1985
626:
346:
328:
316:
223:
132:Transport Act 1985
109:
40:
3176:Economy of London
3158:
3157:
2876:
2875:
2794:Stagecoach London
2672:Bus operators in
2294:api.parliament.uk
2249:api.parliament.uk
2223:api.parliament.uk
2157:api.parliament.uk
1596:Thamesway Buses (
1533:Sampson Coaches,
1496:in September 1999
1430:East Thames Buses
1340:East Thames Buses
1304:Hong Kong Citybus
1291:in September 2006
1225:Capital Logistics
1119:East Lancs Spryte
1058:Chingford station
1050:Northern Counties
1035:
1034:
1030:The Original Tour
969:Stagecoach London
848:Stagecoach London
746:management buyout
673:manifesto at the
580:
579:
286:East Thames Buses
275:Capital Logistics
202:
201:
194:
105:Piccadilly Circus
74:East Thames Buses
3203:
3149:
3148:
3147:
3138:Buses portal
3136:
3135:
3134:
3002:Bus deregulation
2903:
2896:
2889:
2880:
2879:
2868:
2867:
2866:
2852:National Express
2762:London Sovereign
2666:
2659:
2652:
2643:
2642:
2636:
2635:
2633:
2631:
2615:
2609:
2608:
2600:
2594:
2593:
2591:
2589:
2574:
2568:
2567:
2559:
2553:
2552:
2550:
2548:
2533:
2527:
2526:
2524:
2522:
2507:
2498:
2497:
2491:
2489:
2482:Evening Standard
2474:
2468:
2467:
2459:
2453:
2452:
2450:
2448:
2433:
2427:
2426:
2418:
2409:
2408:
2400:
2394:
2393:
2385:
2379:
2378:
2370:
2361:
2360:
2352:
2346:
2345:
2337:
2331:
2330:
2328:
2326:
2311:
2305:
2304:
2302:
2300:
2286:
2280:
2279:
2269:
2263:
2262:
2257:
2255:
2240:
2234:
2233:
2231:
2229:
2214:
2205:
2204:
2202:
2200:
2177:
2171:
2170:
2165:
2163:
2148:
2142:
2141:
2139:
2137:
2130:Commercial Motor
2122:
2116:
2115:
2113:
2111:
2104:Commercial Motor
2096:
2090:
2089:
2087:
2085:
2078:Commercial Motor
2070:
2064:
2063:
2061:
2059:
2052:Commercial Motor
2044:
2038:
2037:
2035:
2033:
2026:Commercial Motor
2018:
2012:
2011:
2009:
2007:
1992:
1986:
1985:
1983:
1981:
1965:
1959:
1958:
1956:
1954:
1939:
1933:
1932:
1930:
1928:
1910:
1904:
1903:
1901:
1899:
1892:Commercial Motor
1884:
1878:
1877:
1875:
1873:
1854:
1848:
1847:
1845:
1843:
1827:
1821:
1820:
1810:
1804:
1803:
1785:
1779:
1778:
1776:
1774:
1760:
1754:
1753:
1751:
1749:
1742:Commercial Motor
1734:
1728:
1727:
1725:
1723:
1712:
1703:
1690:
1689:
1687:
1685:
1677:Commercial Motor
1668:
1541:in February 1989
1510:in November 2009
1475:London Traveller
1455:Blazefield Group
1451:London Sovereign
1399:in December 1997
1387:First CentreWest
1258:National Express
1194:London Sovereign
1190:Blazefield Group
1180:Boro'line London
1166:in November 1994
1155:in November 2004
1138:Leyland Olympian
1116:London Traveller
1054:Leyland Olympian
904:London Northern
806:Subsequent fate
797:
796:
706:House of Commons
479:London Northern
374:
373:
322:London Northern
280:The collapse of
197:
190:
186:
183:
177:
154:
146:
33:AEC Routemasters
3211:
3210:
3206:
3205:
3204:
3202:
3201:
3200:
3196:1980s in London
3161:
3160:
3159:
3154:
3145:
3143:
3132:
3130:
3123:
3072:
3038:Buses in London
3033:AEC Routemaster
3016:
2990:
2934:
2913:
2907:
2877:
2872:
2864:
2862:
2856:
2830:
2789:Redwing Coaches
2725:Docklands Buses
2715:Go-Ahead London
2676:
2670:
2640:
2639:
2629:
2627:
2616:
2612:
2602:
2601:
2597:
2587:
2585:
2576:
2575:
2571:
2560:
2556:
2546:
2544:
2535:
2534:
2530:
2520:
2518:
2509:
2508:
2501:
2487:
2485:
2476:
2475:
2471:
2461:
2460:
2456:
2446:
2444:
2435:
2434:
2430:
2420:
2419:
2412:
2402:
2401:
2397:
2386:
2382:
2372:
2371:
2364:
2353:
2349:
2339:
2338:
2334:
2324:
2322:
2312:
2308:
2298:
2296:
2288:
2287:
2283:
2271:
2270:
2266:
2253:
2251:
2241:
2237:
2227:
2225:
2215:
2208:
2198:
2196:
2179:
2178:
2174:
2161:
2159:
2149:
2145:
2135:
2133:
2124:
2123:
2119:
2109:
2107:
2098:
2097:
2093:
2083:
2081:
2072:
2071:
2067:
2057:
2055:
2046:
2045:
2041:
2031:
2029:
2020:
2019:
2015:
2005:
2003:
1994:
1993:
1989:
1979:
1977:
1966:
1962:
1952:
1950:
1949:on 4 March 2016
1941:
1940:
1936:
1926:
1924:
1911:
1907:
1897:
1895:
1886:
1885:
1881:
1871:
1869:
1856:
1855:
1851:
1841:
1839:
1828:
1824:
1812:
1811:
1807:
1800:
1786:
1782:
1772:
1770:
1762:
1761:
1757:
1747:
1745:
1736:
1735:
1731:
1721:
1719:
1710:
1704:
1693:
1683:
1681:
1670:
1669:
1665:
1660:
1600:), now part of
1508:Transdev London
1477:, purchased by
1438:and Kentish Bus
1422:London Easylink
1411:, divided into
1381:, purchased by
1379:London Buslines
1308:Capital Citybus
1285:Docklands Buses
1204:Capital Citybus
1087:AEC Routemaster
1047:Capital Citybus
1040:
1018:London Coaches
889:London General
876:London Central
785:Thamesway Buses
781:Capital Citybus
750:employee buyout
741:
662:
612:
604:Orpington Buses
565:London Coaches
465:London General
435:London Central
312:AEC Routemaster
302:
227:London Buslines
198:
187:
181:
178:
167:
155:
144:
107:in October 1987
93:
48:buses in London
17:
12:
11:
5:
3209:
3199:
3198:
3193:
3188:
3183:
3178:
3173:
3156:
3155:
3128:
3125:
3124:
3122:
3121:
3116:
3111:
3106:
3101:
3096:
3091:
3086:
3080:
3078:
3074:
3073:
3071:
3070:
3065:
3060:
3055:
3050:
3045:
3040:
3035:
3030:
3024:
3022:
3018:
3017:
3015:
3014:
3009:
3004:
2998:
2996:
2992:
2991:
2989:
2988:
2983:
2978:
2973:
2968:
2963:
2958:
2953:
2948:
2942:
2940:
2936:
2935:
2933:
2932:
2930:John Greenwood
2927:
2921:
2919:
2915:
2914:
2906:
2905:
2898:
2891:
2883:
2874:
2873:
2861:
2858:
2857:
2855:
2854:
2849:
2844:
2838:
2836:
2832:
2831:
2829:
2828:
2823:
2818:
2816:Sullivan Buses
2813:
2812:
2811:
2806:
2801:
2791:
2786:
2785:
2784:
2782:Tootbus London
2774:
2773:
2772:
2767:
2766:London Transit
2764:
2754:
2749:
2744:
2739:
2738:
2737:
2735:London General
2732:
2730:London Central
2727:
2722:
2712:
2707:
2706:
2705:
2700:
2695:
2684:
2682:
2678:
2677:
2669:
2668:
2661:
2654:
2646:
2638:
2637:
2610:
2595:
2569:
2554:
2528:
2499:
2494:Newspapers.com
2469:
2454:
2428:
2410:
2395:
2380:
2362:
2347:
2332:
2306:
2281:
2264:
2235:
2206:
2172:
2143:
2117:
2091:
2065:
2039:
2013:
1987:
1960:
1934:
1905:
1879:
1868:on 24 May 2014
1849:
1822:
1805:
1798:
1780:
1755:
1729:
1691:
1662:
1661:
1659:
1656:
1655:
1654:
1644:
1642:Abellio London
1636:, acquired by
1631:
1628:
1613:
1610:
1604:
1594:
1576:
1573:
1555:
1553:Sullivan Buses
1550:
1545:
1542:
1531:
1524:
1519:, acquired by
1514:
1511:
1506:, acquired by
1500:
1497:
1494:Go-Ahead Group
1492:, acquired by
1487:
1481:
1472:
1466:
1448:
1439:
1432:
1419:
1406:
1400:
1389:
1376:
1371:, acquired by
1366:
1351:
1342:
1329:
1316:
1310:
1297:
1292:
1289:Go-Ahead Group
1287:, acquired by
1282:
1277:
1267:
1264:
1251:
1245:
1242:
1239:Go-Ahead Group
1237:, acquired by
1235:Carousel Buses
1232:
1227:, acquired by
1222:
1219:
1214:, acquired by
1201:
1186:
1177:
1174:Go-Ahead Group
1167:
1160:London Coaches
1156:
1151:, acquired by
1074:Volvo Olympian
1072:Royale bodied
1039:
1036:
1033:
1032:
1022:
1019:
1015:
1014:
1009:in 1994, then
1003:
1000:
994:
993:
992:in April 1998
986:
981:
977:
976:
973:Macquarie Bank
965:
960:
956:
955:
954:in March 2000
948:
945:
941:
940:
929:
926:
925:London United
922:
921:
920:in March 2000
910:
905:
901:
900:
897:Go-Ahead Group
893:
890:
886:
885:
882:
880:Go-Ahead Group
877:
873:
872:
871:in April 1998
865:
860:
856:
855:
852:Macquarie Bank
844:
839:
835:
834:
815:
812:
808:
807:
804:
801:
740:
737:
720:following the
704:stated in the
661:
658:
611:
608:
596:Uxbridge Buses
578:
577:
574:
571:
569:Central London
566:
562:
561:
558:
555:
550:
546:
545:
542:
539:
536:
532:
531:
528:
525:
522:
518:
517:
514:
511:
508:
504:
503:
500:
497:
494:
493:London United
490:
489:
486:
483:
480:
476:
475:
472:
469:
466:
462:
461:
458:
455:
453:Waltham Forest
450:
449:London Forest
446:
445:
442:
439:
438:South central
436:
432:
431:
428:
425:
420:
416:
415:
412:
409:
406:
402:
401:
398:
395:
392:
388:
387:
384:
381:
378:
377:Business unit
358:Central London
350:business units
301:
298:
294:Go-Ahead Group
258:'s control as
200:
199:
158:
156:
149:
143:
140:
92:
89:
30:London General
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
3208:
3197:
3194:
3192:
3189:
3187:
3184:
3182:
3179:
3177:
3174:
3172:
3169:
3168:
3166:
3153:
3152:
3140:
3139:
3126:
3120:
3117:
3115:
3112:
3110:
3107:
3105:
3102:
3100:
3097:
3095:
3092:
3090:
3087:
3085:
3082:
3081:
3079:
3075:
3069:
3066:
3064:
3061:
3059:
3056:
3054:
3051:
3049:
3046:
3044:
3041:
3039:
3036:
3034:
3031:
3029:
3026:
3025:
3023:
3019:
3013:
3010:
3008:
3005:
3003:
3000:
2999:
2997:
2993:
2987:
2984:
2982:
2981:Tilling Group
2979:
2977:
2974:
2972:
2969:
2967:
2964:
2962:
2959:
2957:
2954:
2952:
2949:
2947:
2944:
2943:
2941:
2939:Organisations
2937:
2931:
2928:
2926:
2923:
2922:
2920:
2916:
2912:
2904:
2899:
2897:
2892:
2890:
2885:
2884:
2881:
2871:
2859:
2853:
2850:
2848:
2845:
2843:
2840:
2839:
2837:
2833:
2827:
2824:
2822:
2819:
2817:
2814:
2810:
2807:
2805:
2802:
2800:
2797:
2796:
2795:
2792:
2790:
2787:
2783:
2780:
2779:
2778:
2775:
2771:
2770:London United
2768:
2765:
2763:
2760:
2759:
2758:
2755:
2753:
2750:
2748:
2745:
2743:
2740:
2736:
2733:
2731:
2728:
2726:
2723:
2721:
2720:Blue Triangle
2718:
2717:
2716:
2713:
2711:
2710:Big Bus Tours
2708:
2704:
2701:
2699:
2698:Arriva London
2696:
2694:
2691:
2690:
2689:
2686:
2685:
2683:
2679:
2675:
2667:
2662:
2660:
2655:
2653:
2648:
2647:
2644:
2625:
2621:
2614:
2606:
2599:
2583:
2579:
2573:
2565:
2558:
2542:
2538:
2532:
2516:
2512:
2506:
2504:
2495:
2483:
2479:
2473:
2465:
2458:
2442:
2438:
2432:
2424:
2417:
2415:
2406:
2399:
2391:
2384:
2376:
2369:
2367:
2358:
2351:
2343:
2336:
2321:
2317:
2310:
2295:
2291:
2285:
2277:
2276:
2268:
2261:
2250:
2246:
2239:
2224:
2220:
2213:
2211:
2194:
2190:
2186:
2182:
2176:
2169:
2158:
2154:
2147:
2131:
2127:
2121:
2105:
2101:
2095:
2079:
2075:
2069:
2053:
2049:
2043:
2027:
2023:
2017:
2001:
1997:
1991:
1975:
1971:
1964:
1948:
1944:
1938:
1922:
1921:
1916:
1909:
1893:
1889:
1883:
1867:
1863:
1859:
1853:
1837:
1833:
1826:
1818:
1817:
1809:
1801:
1799:1-85414-127-9
1795:
1791:
1784:
1769:
1765:
1759:
1743:
1739:
1733:
1718:
1717:
1709:
1702:
1700:
1698:
1696:
1679:
1678:
1673:
1667:
1663:
1653:
1649:
1646:Wings Buses,
1645:
1643:
1639:
1635:
1634:Travel London
1632:
1629:
1626:
1622:
1618:
1614:
1611:
1608:
1605:
1603:
1599:
1595:
1593:
1589:
1585:
1581:
1577:
1574:
1571:
1567:
1563:
1562:Travel London
1559:
1556:
1554:
1551:
1549:
1548:Southdown PSV
1546:
1543:
1540:
1536:
1532:
1529:
1525:
1523:in April 2012
1522:
1518:
1515:
1512:
1509:
1505:
1501:
1498:
1495:
1491:
1488:
1486:
1482:
1480:
1476:
1473:
1471:
1467:
1464:
1460:
1456:
1452:
1449:
1447:
1443:
1440:
1437:
1433:
1431:
1427:
1423:
1420:
1418:
1414:
1410:
1407:
1404:
1401:
1398:
1394:
1390:
1388:
1384:
1380:
1377:
1374:
1370:
1367:
1364:
1360:
1356:
1352:
1350:
1346:
1343:
1341:
1337:
1333:
1330:
1328:
1327:Arriva London
1324:
1320:
1317:
1315:
1311:
1309:
1305:
1301:
1298:
1296:
1293:
1290:
1286:
1283:
1281:
1278:
1276:
1272:
1268:
1265:
1263:
1262:Travel London
1259:
1255:
1252:
1250:
1246:
1243:
1241:in March 2012
1240:
1236:
1233:
1230:
1226:
1223:
1220:
1217:
1216:Tower Transit
1213:
1209:
1206:purchased by
1205:
1202:
1199:
1195:
1191:
1187:
1185:
1181:
1178:
1175:
1171:
1170:Blue Triangle
1168:
1165:
1161:
1157:
1154:
1150:
1147:
1146:
1145:
1139:
1136:
1131:
1124:
1120:
1117:
1113:
1106:
1102:
1099:
1095:
1088:
1085:
1081:
1075:
1071:
1066:
1059:
1055:
1051:
1048:
1044:
1031:
1027:
1023:
1020:
1017:
1016:
1012:
1011:London United
1008:
1004:
1001:
999:
996:
995:
991:
988:rebranded as
987:
985:
982:
980:South London
979:
978:
974:
970:
967:rebranded as
966:
964:
961:
958:
957:
953:
952:ComfortDelGro
949:
946:
943:
942:
938:
934:
930:
927:
924:
923:
919:
918:ComfortDelGro
915:
911:
909:
906:
903:
902:
898:
894:
891:
888:
887:
883:
881:
878:
875:
874:
870:
867:rebranded as
866:
864:
861:
858:
857:
853:
849:
846:rebranded as
845:
843:
840:
837:
836:
833:in June 2013
832:
831:Tower Transit
828:
824:
820:
816:
813:
810:
809:
805:
802:
799:
798:
795:
792:
790:
786:
782:
778:
774:
770:
769:London Forest
765:
761:
760:bus company.
759:
755:
751:
747:
736:
734:
729:
727:
723:
719:
715:
709:
707:
703:
702:Roger Freeman
700:
696:
692:
686:
684:
678:
676:
672:
667:
657:
653:
651:
647:
643:
637:
635:
631:
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623:Leyland Titan
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216:Volvo Citybus
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159:This section
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99:London Buses
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2742:Golden Tours
2628:. Retrieved
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2492:– via
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1947:the original
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1682:. Retrieved
1675:
1666:
1530:in June 1996
1517:Quality Line
1513:Nostalgiabus
1426:London Buses
1375:in July 2001
1353:Lea Valley,
1336:London Buses
1231:in June 1999
1218:in June 2013
1212:First London
1176:in June 2007
1142:
1101:Leyland Lynx
1089:in July 1993
1060:in June 1999
899:in May 1996
838:East London
823:First London
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718:Labour Party
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405:East London
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188:
179:
168:Please help
163:verification
160:
136:
129:
110:
101:MCW Metrobus
86:
78:
67:
61:resulted in
52:
43:
41:
26:First London
18:
2909:History of
2799:East London
2747:Hotel Hoppa
2136:14 December
2110:14 December
2084:14 December
2058:14 December
2032:14 December
1672:"LRT split"
1615:Town Link,
1602:First Essex
1578:Thameside,
1428:subsidiary
1345:Kentish Bus
1338:subsidiary
1184:Kentish Bus
1107:in May 1993
1084:Kentish Bus
1021:Management
984:Cowie Group
947:Management
928:Management
892:Management
863:Cowie Group
814:Management
811:CentreWest
777:Walthamstow
773:East London
650:Bexleyheath
630:Dennis Dart
485:Parliament
391:CentreWest
334:CentreWest
262:, in 1969.
218:as used on
81:deregulated
3165:Categories
2995:Regulation
2777:RATP Group
2048:"In brief"
1658:References
1575:Thames bus
1521:RATP Group
1463:RATP Group
1453:, sold by
1413:County Bus
1383:FirstGroup
1369:Limebourne
1359:County Bus
1332:Harris Bus
1319:Grey-Green
1269:Crystals,
1266:Connexions
1256:, sold to
1208:FirstGroup
1198:RATP Group
1133:Preserved
1002:Employees
963:Stagecoach
944:Metroline
937:RATP Group
884:no change
842:Stagecoach
825:, sold to
819:FirstGroup
789:County Bus
733:Sadiq Khan
714:Tony Blair
691:Travelcard
618:Preserved
592:Gold Arrow
584:Challenger
524:Southeast
510:Northwest
507:Metroline
496:Southwest
468:Southwest
336:Challenger
282:Harris Bus
239:Grey-Green
233:. By 1988
209:Grey-Green
119:under the
37:The Strand
2925:Charabanc
2809:Thameside
2752:Metroline
2299:10 August
2254:10 August
2228:10 August
2199:10 August
2162:10 August
1722:10 August
1535:Hoddesdon
1504:NSL Buses
1393:Metroline
1355:Hoddesdon
1314:Ensignbus
1300:Ensignbus
1249:Ensignbus
1164:Metroline
1153:Metroline
1070:Alexander
914:Metroline
827:Metroline
800:Division
642:Bexleybus
634:minibuses
620:Bexleybus
549:Westlink
457:Oak tree
423:River Lea
339:Alexander
212:Alexander
182:June 2024
2835:National
2588:10 April
2547:10 April
2447:10 April
2193:Archived
2191:. 1992.
1490:Metrobus
1459:Transdev
1271:Dartford
1135:Metrobus
1123:Volvo B6
1024:sold to
1005:sold to
998:Westlink
959:Selkent
950:sold to
933:Transdev
931:sold to
912:sold to
895:sold to
859:Leaside
817:sold to
716:and the
553:Kingston
521:Selkent
513:Stripes
471:Omnibus
419:Leaside
397:Arrow †
354:Westlink
271:route 60
251:route 24
243:Metrobus
231:route 81
220:route 24
2918:General
2847:Megabus
2842:FlixBus
2804:Selkent
2006:29 June
1980:29 June
1953:17 June
1927:29 June
1898:10 June
1872:17 June
1842:29 June
1773:29 June
1748:29 June
1684:29 June
1638:Abellio
1612:Timebus
1607:Thorpes
1544:Scanbus
1479:Thorpes
1280:CT Plus
1121:bodied
1068:Centra
1052:bodied
341:bodied
326:in 1992
314:in 1991
214:bodied
3021:London
2688:Arriva
2681:London
2674:London
2630:1 June
2521:10 May
2488:10 May
2325:10 May
2320:CityAM
1796:
1617:Harlow
1566:Arriva
1397:Arriva
1373:Connex
1323:Arriva
1254:Connex
1105:Purley
1026:Arriva
829:&
803:Buyer
646:Harrow
538:South
499:Crest
482:North
411:Barge
2515:Buses
1836:Buses
1816:Buses
1711:(PDF)
1648:Hayes
1623:(now
1586:(now
1580:Grays
1361:(now
681:from
527:Hops
441:Ship
427:Swan
408:East
394:West
383:Logo
380:Area
2632:2024
2590:2024
2549:2024
2523:2024
2490:2024
2449:2024
2327:2024
2301:2021
2256:2021
2230:2021
2201:2021
2164:2021
2138:2022
2112:2022
2086:2022
2060:2022
2034:2022
2008:2024
1982:2024
1955:2014
1929:2024
1900:2023
1874:2014
1844:2024
1794:ISBN
1775:2024
1750:2024
1724:2021
1686:2024
1415:and
787:and
648:and
602:and
573:n/a
557:n/a
364:and
241:and
42:The
28:and
2826:Uno
1528:MTL
1470:MTL
1457:to
1103:in
1056:at
908:MTL
754:MTL
748:or
728:.
229:on
172:by
115:to
103:at
35:on
3167::
2622:.
2580:.
2539:.
2513:.
2502:^
2480:.
2439:.
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2365:^
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2024:.
1998:.
1972:.
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1694:^
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783:,
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598:,
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368:.
296:.
237:,
2902:e
2895:t
2888:v
2665:e
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2010:.
1984:.
1957:.
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189:(
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
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