National Bus Company: The Early Years

National Bus Company: The Early Years

by Kevin Lane

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	7407 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	182 pages

FREE

The National Bus Company (NBC) was a state-owned bus operator in the United Kingdom from 1969 to 1988. It was formed from the merger of 11 regional bus companies and initially operated a fleet of over 20,000 buses.

Formation of the NBC

The NBC was formed as part of the Transport Act 1968, which sought to rationalise the bus industry in the UK. Prior to the formation of the NBC, the bus industry was a fragmented one, with over 1,000 different operators. This led to inefficiencies and duplication of services.

The NBC was tasked with creating a more efficient and coordinated bus network. It did this by merging the 11 largest regional bus companies into a single entity. These companies were:

• Berkshire and Midland Motor Services
• Bristol Omnibus Company
• East Kent Road Car Company
• East Midland Motor Services
• Eastern Counties Omnibus Company
• Hants and Dorset Motor Services
• Hebble Motor Services
• Maidstone and District Motor Services
• Northern General Transport Company
• Southdown Motor Services
• Western National Omnibus Company

The NBC also took over the operations of the Scottish Bus Group, which had been formed in 1965.

The NBC Fleet

The NBC inherited a fleet of over 20,000 buses from the 11 regional bus companies. The fleet was a mix of different types of buses, including single-deckers, double-deckers, and coaches.

The NBC introduced a new corporate identity for its buses. The buses were painted in a two-tone livery of blue and white, with the NBC logo on the side. The NBC also introduced a new fleet of standard buses, which were known as the "NBC Standard Bus".

The NBC Network

The NBC operated a network of bus services throughout the UK. The network was divided into 11 regions, each of which was managed by a regional director. The regions were:

• Berkshire and Hampshire
• Bristol and Gloucestershire
• East Anglia
• East Midlands
• London and South East
• Northern
• Scotland
• South Wales
• West Midlands
• Western
• Yorkshire

The NBC network was designed to provide a comprehensive bus service to all parts of the UK. The network included both urban and rural services, and it connected towns and cities with villages and hamlets.

The NBC's Impact

The NBC had a major impact on the bus industry in the UK. It created a more efficient and coordinated bus network, and it introduced a new standard of bus service.

The NBC also played a major role in the development of new bus technologies. It was the first bus operator in the UK to introduce a fleet of low-floor buses. It also invested in new ticketing systems and in new bus depots.

The NBC was privatised in 1988, and its constituent parts were sold off to a variety of private operators. However, the NBC's legacy lives on in the form of the modern bus network in the UK.

The National Bus Company was a major force in the bus industry in the UK for nearly 20 years. It created a more efficient and coordinated bus network, and it introduced a new standard of bus service.

The NBC's legacy lives on in the form of the modern bus network in the UK.

Image Gallery

Here is a gallery of images of NBC buses:

National Bus Company: The Early Years

by Kevin Lane

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	7407 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	182 pages

FREE