LONDON AND COUNTRY: DEALING WITH MARKET CHANGES

The break-up of the London and Country Bus services into four parts as part of government policy to encourage competition initially led to difficulties but vehicles, driver's and engineer's conditions and the structure of the new company have undergone considerable change to make them more competitive. The initial purchase of secondhand buses to operate the London Regional Transport area was unsuccessful due to their unreliability. Consequently, the company has lost some routes to retendering but has kept or regained other routes. Garages are being rationalised with several being vacated and a new garage is being built near Croydon. Replacement of the older National buses is now underway. Airport operations have been transfered to a new organisation known as Speedlink Airport Services based at Gatwick. A shuttle service is run as frequently as every fifteen minutes between Gatwick and Heathrow and there are links with Luton airport and central London. Specially modified coaches, with extended luggage space, have been introduced on these short journey operations.