London Buses in the 1970s: 1970-1974: From Division to Crisis

This book explores the turbulent period in the history of London's buses after London Transport lost its Country Buses and Green Line Coaches to the National Bus Company. It inherited a largely elderly fleet of buses from London Transport, including almost 500 RT-class AEC Regent double-deckers, which were not suitable for London conditions. The shorter SM class superseded them but were equally unreliable. London Transport had to resurrect elderly RTs to keep services going and even repurchased some from London Country. The mid-1970s saw a shortage of spare parts, and both operators were plagued with problems.

Format: Hardback
Length: 164 pages
Publication date: 01 May 2018
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

This book delves into the tumultuous era that followed London Transport's loss of its Country Buses and Green Line Coaches to the newly established National Bus Company, under their subsidiary company, London Country Bus Services Ltd. The newly formed entity inherited a predominantly aged fleet of buses from London Transport, including nearly 500 RT-class AEC Regent double-deckers, which were already undergoing replacement with new AEC MB and SM class Swift single-deckers. At the time of the split, it became evident that the 36ft-long MB class single-deckers were unsuitable for London's conditions, particularly in navigating suburban streets cluttered with cars, and were also mechanically unreliable. The shorter SM class superseded them, but they, too, were equally unreliable.

In January 1971, London Transport introduced its first purpose-built one-man operated double-decker, the DMS class. However, these vehicles encountered various issues, including mechanical problems and a shortage of spare parts. Both operators faced challenges due to the three-day week imposed by the Heath regime in 1973-4, exacerbating the shortage of spare parts. Despite these challenges, London Transport and London Country remained closely connected, with the latter's buses continuing to undergo overhauls at LT's Aldenham Works.

To address the issues with the MB, SM, and DMS types, London Transport had to resort to resurrecting elderly RTs to maintain services. Additionally, they even repurchased some RTs from London Country to supplement their fleet. In turn, London Country hired a number of MB-types from London Transport, which had been abandoned as useless, from 1974 onwards to address their own vehicle shortages.

The mid-1970s marked a period of uncertainty and hardship for both operators. The decline in passenger numbers and the financial constraints imposed by the government further strained their resources. It was a challenging time, and both operators were forced to make difficult decisions to survive.

However, despite the challenges, there were also some positive developments during this period. London Transport introduced new bus routes and services, including the iconic Routemaster, which helped to boost passenger numbers and improve the overall quality of bus services in the city. London Country also made efforts to modernize its fleet and improve its services, although it faced its own set of challenges.

In conclusion, the period following London Transport's loss of its Country Buses and Green Line Coaches to the National Bus Company was a turbulent and challenging time for both operators. However, through resilience and innovation, they were able to adapt and survive, and their contributions to the history of London's buses continue to be significant.

Weight: 1008g
Dimension: 226 x 289 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781473887206