ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Transport Act 1968 saw the creation of the National Bus Company (NBC), and the shift of ownership of the two parts of London Transport (LT). The red buses passed to the Greater London Council while the green buses passed to the newly created NBC.

The green buses became London Country Bus Services (LCBS) under NBC. LCBS had a difficult start in life. Elderly vehicles were the worst problem, with several RT-class AEC Regents, RF-class AEC Regals and large numbers of long Routemasters (RMLs) and Routemaster coaches (RMCs and RCLs) making a bad impression on the fleet.

Quickly, a new livery was introduced, called light LT green (although it was darker than LT green!), and this was applied to much of the fleet along with the new 'Flying Polo' logo representing LCBS's teritory, which circled London.

All the Routemasters were sold in 1978-1981, mainly back to LT, who turned them into driver trainers or put them back into service after light refurbishment.

In 1986, NBC was privatised, and LCBS was broken into four parts, London Country North West, London Country North East, London Country South East and London Country South West. All were sold, all but North East and South East to their management, London Country North West selling to Luton & District, South West later sold to Drawlane and became London & Country, South East was sold to Proudmutual (Northumbria) and became Kentish Bus, North East was sold to the AJS Group, and was broken in two, Sovereign and County Bus.

All are now with Arriva Group.

Michael Wooley

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