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• Few new operators have registered post-deregulation commercial bus services, but fears of a massive decline in services from October may have been overstated.
The Traffic Commissioners' special editions of Notices and Proceedings, detailing commercial route registrations ready for operation from October 26, show many networks are being kept intact, but with evening and Sunday services being put out to tender.
In the Metropolitan Traffic Area, one of the biggest surprises is the registration by London Buses of several new routes running outside Greater London in direct competition with existing services operated by London Country.
Surrey County Council
public transport co-ordinator Donald Allison told CM that the registrations contain no real surprises, although he is "not pessimistic" about the future.
A few service registrations have been lodged in most traffic areas by taxi and new minibus operators.
In Northumberland, registrations are much as expected, with most routes covered. There are a few evening or Sunday registrations.
Northumberland County Council will secure schools and shopping and workers' bus journeys through tendering as a priority and will leave evening services until later in the summer when it sees "how much money is left".
In north west England, the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Author has warned that the county will face massive reductions services in October.
Greater Manchester Buse: has registered only around 3 of its present 600 services.
Some operators which fought for road service licences in the past have registered commercial services. These include Yeowarts of Whitehaven, an Finglands and Mayne's in Manchester.
The Scottish Bus Group is being locked into battle with Strathclyde PTE and Lothian Region in Glasgow and Edinburgh, but one of the fe• expansionary plans by a Scottish independent is a Stagecoach of Perth plan to operate to Castlemilk, a Glasgow housing scheme, an to East Kilbride new town.