National Bus Company (UK) - Deregulation and Privatisation

Deregulation and Privatisation

From October 1986 buses were deregulated and progressively privatised, and the remaining larger companies were forcibly broken up. The sales spawned a renewed interest in individual liveries, and the "double-N" logo disappeared, except on express services (becoming the property of National Express). Most local companies passed from state control to their managers. The independence of many, however, was short lived, as they were acquired by the emerging large private bus groups, represented today by:

• Arriva
• First Group
• Go-Ahead Group
• National Express Group
• Stagecoach Group
• Transdev