Public Transport is a comprehensive textbook covering the planning of all public transport systems (bus, coach, rail, taxi and domestic air travel) in Britain and other countries with similar systems. The term ‘planning’ is used both in the context of local authority and central government roles and in the work done by transport operators for example, network structures, vehicle type selection. In addition to the various types of transport, the differing needs of the urban, rural and long distance markets are examined. This restructured new edition gives greater emphasis to service quality and marketing issues as well as covering recent changes in legislation, statistics and research findings. Public Transport is of particular interest to transport planners in local authorities and consultancies, managers in transport operations, as well as undergraduates and MSc students of transport planning and those studying for the membership examinations of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.

In 1979, fresh from its general election victory, the Conservative government began formulating plans to deregulate bus services and privatise the companies operating them in England, Scotland and Wales. London was not to be excluded, so from the outset, London Buses was broken up into several areas and from 1985, a tendering system was introduced which permitted other operators to bid for the routes. Opposition from the Labour group at the Greater London Council had to be dealt with – eventually achieved by abolishing it in 1986. However, as each subsequent year passed, promises that deregulation was coming were not met. In late 1992, the privatisation timetable was set, and was ultimately completed at the end of 1994. The issue of deregulation never resurfaced. Copiously illustrated with over 270 photographs, virtually all of which are being published for the first time, this is the story of London Buses over those sixteen tumultuous years. To give greater context to the narrative, annual vehicle acquisition listings show how purchasing policy changed over the period; important route changes, tendering gains and losses and a fleet list for the entire period are also included.