Bexleybus

Bexleybus
Preserved Leyland Titan (B15) in April 2010
ParentSelkent
Founded16 January 1988
Ceased operation24 January 1991
HeadquartersBexleyheath
Service areaBexleyheath
Woolwich
Routes17 (January 1988)
Depots1
Fleet107 (January 1988)

Bexleybus[1] was an English bus operator. A subsidiary of Selkent, it was established as a low cost operator. It operated services under contract to London Regional Transport from January 1988 until January 1991.

History

Bexleybus was formed by Selkent as a low cost operator to operate tendered services in the Bexleyheath and Woolwich areas. With London Buses having to tender for routes as part of the London Regional Transport Act 1984, low cost units were established with the hope that reduced costs would allow them to be able to competitively bid.

Bexleybus commenced operating on 16 January 1988 operating 17 routes with 107 buses from a reopened Bexleyheath garage.[2] Routes operated included 96, 99, 178, 229, 269, 272, 401, 422, 469, and 492. Buses included new leased Leyland Olympians and reactivated Daimler Fleetlines and Leyland Nationals.[3]

However the operation was beset with industrial unrest, and in October 1988 routes 422 and 492 were transferred to Boro'line Maidstone.[4]

Bexleybus ceased after losing its routes when re-tendered in January 1991 with the garage passing to London Central.[5][6]

References

  1. ^ Companies House extract company no 2158491 Bexleybus Limited
  2. ^ Bexleybus leads London race Commercial Motor 14 January 1988 page 15
  3. ^ Capital boost for Olympians Commercial Motor 20 August 1987
  4. ^ In Brief Commercial Motor 27 October 1988 page 16
  5. ^ Subsidiaries restructured Commercial Motor 18 October 1990 page 18
  6. ^ Development of Organised Transportation in London Transport for London January 2013