Break-up and Privatisation
In 1981 Midland Red, which had lost its core area, was broken into smaller operating companies. Most of the National Travel companies were closed down in the mid 1980s, with coaches mainly going to local bus companies. Wessex National was formed from part of National Travel South West, and Pilgrim Coaches from part of National Travel West.
In preparation for the introduction of bus deregulation in 1986, and for privatisation soon after, many of the companies were broken up into smaller units. In some cases the names of earlier companies - such as Wilts & Dorset or North Western - were revived, although often with quite different areas to their namesakes.
NBC bus-operating subsidiaries at privatisation | ||
|
|
Original company | Year of split | Companies formed | Privatisation |
---|---|---|---|
Alder Valley | 1986 | Alder Valley North - renamed The Beeline | 1987 |
Alder Valley | 1986 | Alder Valley South | 1987 |
Bristol | 1983 | Bristol (Cityline) | 1987 |
Bristol | 1983 | Badgerline | 1986 |
Bristol | 1983 | Cheltenham & Gloucester | 1986 |
Crosville | 1986 | Crosville | 1988 |
Crosville | 1986 | Crosville Wales | 1987 |
Cumberland | Gained Ribble's North Cumbrian operations in 1986 | Cumberland | 1987 |
East Kent | n/a | East Kent | 1987 |
East Midland | n/a | East Midland | 1988 |
East Yorkshire | n/a | East Yorkshire | 1987 |
Eastern Counties | 1984 | Ambassador Coaches | 1987 |
Eastern Counties | 1984 | Cambus | 1986 |
Eastern Counties | 1984 | Eastern Counties | 1986 |
Eastern National | 1986 | Eastern National/Thamesway | 1986 |
Hants & Dorset | 1983 | Hampshire Bus | 1987 |
Hants & Dorset | 1983 | Shamrock and Rambler | 1987 |
Hants & Dorset | 1983 | Wilts & Dorset | 1987 |
Lincolnshire | n/a | Lincolnshire | 1988 |
London Country | 1987 | London Country North East | 1988 |
London Country | 1987 | London Country North West | 1988 |
London Country | 1987 | London Country South East - renamed Kentish Bus | 1988 |
London Country | 1987 | London Country South West | 1988 |
Maidstone & District | 1986 | Hastings & District | 1987 |
Maidstone & District | 1986 | Maidstone & District | 1987 |
Midland Red | 1981 | Midland Red East renamed Midland Fox | 1987 |
Midland Red | 1981 | Midland Red Express - renamed Midland Red Coaches | 1986 |
Midland Red | 1981 | Midland Red North | 1988 |
Midland Red | 1981 | Midland Red South | 1987 |
Midland Red | 1981 | Midland Red West | 1986 |
National Travel East | n/a | National Travel East | 1987 |
National Welsh | n/a | National Welsh | 1987 |
Northern General | n/a | Northern General | 1987 |
Oxford | 1986 | Oxford Bus Company | 1987 |
Oxford | 1986 | South Midland | 1986 |
Pilgrim Coaches | n/a | Pilgrim Coaches Limited | 1987 |
Potteries | n/a | PMT Limited | 1986 |
Provincial | Gained part of Hants & Dorset 1983 | Provincial Bus Company | 1987 |
Ribble | 1986 Transfer of North Cumbrian operations | Cumberland | 1988 |
Ribble | 1986 | North Western | 1988 |
Ribble | 1986 | Ribble | 1988 |
South Wales | n/a | SWT | 1987 |
Southdown | 1986 | Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company | 1987 |
Southdown | 1986 | Southdown | 1987 |
Southern Vectis | n/a | Southern Vectis | 1986 |
Trent | n/a | Trent Motor Traction | 1986 |
United | 1986 | Northumbria | 1987 |
United | 1986 | United | 1987 |
United Counties | 1986 | Luton & District | 1987 |
United Counties | 1986 | Milton Keynes City Bus | 1987 |
United Counties | 1986 | United Counties | 1987 |
Wessex National | n/a | Wessex National Limited | 1987 |
West Riding / Yorkshire Woollen | n/a | West Riding | 1987 |
West Yorkshire | n/a | West Yorkshire | 1987 |
Western National / Devon General | 1983 | Devon General | 1986 |
Western National / Devon General | 1983 | North Devon (Red Bus) | 1988 |
Western National / Devon General | 1983 | Southern National | 1988 |
Western National / Devon General | 1983 | Western National | 1987 |
Yorkshire Traction | n/a | Yorkshire Traction | 1987 |
Two additional non-bus-operating subsidiaries were also disposed of in 1988:
- National Express Limited was sold to its management.
- Victoria Coach Station Limited passed to the state-owned London Transport.
The Scarborough operations of United passed to East Yorkshire Motor Services in September 1986.
Read more about this topic: National Bus Company (UK), Subsidiaries