National Bus Company Coaches : From Formation to Privatisation, 1969–88

Malcolm Batten charts the development of coaches in the National Bus Company fleet from formation to privatisation.

When the National Bus Company was formed in 1969, it didn’t just inherit buses but coaches as well. These worked on a network of express services, on holidays, tours, contracts and private hire. There was a whole variety of different names and liveries. At first there was little change, but from 1972 a new nationwide brand emerged for coaches – National Travel, with a common white livery. This evolved into National Express, National Holidays and National Express Rapide. A dual-purpose livery of half red (or green)/half white was applied to coaches and coach-seated buses on lesser duties. Later, a range of livery variations also evolved for commuter services and contract work. The National Bus Company has long gone, having been privatised in the late 1980s, but the National Express brand and white livery survive today. This book looks back at the establishment of National Travel and the development of coaches and coach liveries during the NBC years.