Buses in the Border Towns of London Country 1969-2019 (South of the Thames)

London Transport was created in 1933 with monopoly powers to run bus services in the Greater London area. It also ran services in a Country Area all around London, linking the country towns to London and other country towns. In 1970, the London Transport Country Area was transferred to the National Bus Company to form London Country Bus Services. Deregulation in 1985 and privatisation in the 1990s led to further changes in the names and ownership of bus companies. Consolidation since then has seen the emergence of national bus groups, but retrenchment has given an opportunity for new independent companies to fill the gaps.

Format: Hardback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 22 February 2024
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

London Transport, established in 1933, held a monopoly over bus (and tram and trolleybus) services in the Greater London area, as well as operating services in a Country Area spanning across London. The Green Line express services, connecting various country towns to London and in many cases extending to other country towns on the other side of the metropolis, played a significant role in this network. This Country Area extended northward to Hitchin, eastward to Brentwood, southward to Crawley, and westward to Windsor. However, what about the towns situated at the periphery of this Country Area? Here, the Green London Transport buses would intersect with bus companies operating in the rest of Berkshire, Surrey, Kent, and other counties. In some cases, the town served as a node where multiple companies collaborated in providing services. In other locations, such as Guildford, local independent operators had a stake in the town's services.

A significant transformation occurred in 1970 when the London Transport Country Area was transferred to the National Bus Company, leading to the formation of London Country Bus Services. Over the years, this company underwent several divisions and mergers, eventually giving rise to four distinct companies: Stagecoach, First Group, Arriva, and Go-Ahead. The deregulation of the bus industry in 1985 and the subsequent privatization in the 1990s brought about further changes in the names and ownership of bus companies. Consolidation has been a prominent trend since then, with national bus groups emerging as dominant players. However, these companies have also experienced retrenchments, creating opportunities for new independent companies to enter the market and fill the gaps.

This book, presented in an anti-clockwise tour format, takes readers on a journey around the perimeter of the London Country area, south of the Thames, showcasing a selection of key towns, beginning at Slough and Windsor and culminating at Gravesend. Through its illustrations, it highlights some of the significant changes that have transpired within the bus companies operating in this region.

Weight: 872g
Dimension: 224 x 292 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399096218