First Edinburgh - Edinburgh Bus War

Edinburgh Bus War

First sought to increase their market share of Edinburgh city services in 2001, cutting fares and increasing traffic on certain routes, while cutting back on more traditional routes. This sparked a very bitter 'bus war' between First and Edinburgh city operator Lothian Buses, with fares being cut, extra vehicles being drafted in, timetables altered and routes being diverted. Lothian complained to the Office of Fair Trading, claiming First was engaging in anti-competitive behaviour in an effort to become the dominant operator in Edinburgh. However, the OfT ruled that First Scotland East's conduct represented legitimate competition; that it did not intend to 'drive Lothian off the streets', and that its fares were low enough in comparison to its costs. Regardless of this decision, the First network in Edinburgh was curtailed, ending the bus war and leaving Lothian as the dominant city operator.