A Era of Public Transport in 1960s and 1970s London: An Examination of Bus Services

In the 1960s and 1970s, the Greater London area was heavily reliant on its bus system. A journey in this period would reveal a transportation network that was quite deficient in terms of coverage and reliability, yet still managed to serve the needs of commuters and residents, especially in the poorer sections of the city.

Key Elements of London's Bus System

The buses running in this period were not part of some modern infrastructure; rather, they were the prime means of public transportation in the Greater London area. The entire network was under the control of London Transport, which was under the Ministry of Transport. This ministry later became the London Transport Board under the Greater London Council.

From 1962, trolleybuses were withdrawn, leaving behind a network that was almost identical to what we see today. The bus routes were provided as a public service, which is why they were denser in the poorer areas of the city. This ensured that those who needed transportation the most still had access to it.

Missteps and Innovations

A major reorganization attempt was made in 1966, but it largely fell short of expectations. At this time, Routemasters were temporarily replaced by single-decker Merlins, a move that also saw the withdrawal of conductors in favor of the driver handling tickets. Despite the innovation, this system proved too challenging to manage effectively.

The bus routes running into the surrounding Home Counties were colored green and were managed by London Country. In 1986, London Country was sold off as part of a restructuring of nationalized companies. Now mostly owned by Arriva (part of Deutsche Bahn), the efficiency concerns were beside the point. This privatization move would eventually lead to another significant change.

In 1986, a new development emerged: the London routes, while still branded as London Transport, were actually franchised to private operations. This shift marked a meaningful change in the way London's bus system was managed.

First Impressions and Experiences

For me, the first journey into London took place in 1976, a few years after the mentioned period. The week-long stay was my first introduction to a major metropolis on my own, and I was struck by the impressive public transportation system, particularly the underground subways. The bus lines of this era were also noteworthy and provided reliable transportation.

Compared to other cities in Europe, such as Paris, Hamburg, Warsaw, Budapest, or Moscow, people in London certainly walked more and longer. However, this was not the case when compared to cities in the United States. Nonetheless, if one were to get more soaked on the streets of London, it was primarily due to the unpredictable nature of the English weather.

Traffic jams were a universal problem. Delays due to bus breakdowns or late arrivals were common. However, the trains and the tubes (underground) in London made this situation more manageable. They were not as prone to delays as the buses were.

My experiences in London of the 1970s left a lasting impression, uniting me with the city for my future visits on both sides of the Iron Curtain. While the transportation system may seem less advanced from a modern perspective, it was a functional and essential part of daily life in London during those decades.