Route Branding and Special Liveries on British Buses

The deregulation of bus services in the UK in 1986 led to the domination of the market by the big five bus companies, with their identities and liveries appearing throughout Scotland, Wales, and England. In recent years, these companies have introduced revised color schemes and local identities to entice more people to use local public transport.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2022
Publisher: Amberley Publishing

Following the deregulation of bus services in the United Kingdom in 1986, a swift decline set in, leading to the disappearance of numerous distinctive local liveries. Only a handful of operators remained under the control of local authorities and Transport for London, which had the authority to decide on the services required for their network. Within a short span, the big five bus companies, namely First, Stagecoach, Arriva, Go-Ahead, and National Express, emerged as dominant forces, controlling a staggering seventy percent of the market. Their distinct identities and liveries began to spread across Scotland, Wales, and England, with some featuring relatively low-key route branding. In more recent years, these big companies and other operators have introduced revised color schemes and local identities, even reviving pre-regulation retro liveries. Richard Walter embarks on a journey across the UK to showcase a selection of ambitious and bold styles and campaigns that have been introduced to encourage more people to utilize their local public transport.

Following the deregulation of bus services in the United Kingdom in 1986, a swift decline set in, leading to the disappearance of numerous distinctive local liveries. Only a handful of operators remained under the control of local authorities and Transport for London, which had the authority to decide on the services required for their network. Within a short span, the big five bus companies, namely First, Stagecoach, Arriva, Go-Ahead, and National Express, emerged as dominant forces, controlling a staggering seventy percent of the market. Their distinct identities and liveries began to spread across Scotland, Wales, and England, with some featuring relatively low-key route branding. In more recent years, these big companies and other operators have introduced revised color schemes and local identities, even reviving pre-regulation retro liveries. Richard Walter embarks on a journey across the UK to showcase a selection of ambitious and bold styles and campaigns that have been introduced to encourage more people to utilize their local public transport.

Weight: 286g
Dimension: 166 x 233 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781445696430