LRT allocates 10 bus routes
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• The deregulation of London's bus services continues with the allocation this week of ten bus routes by London Regional Transport on three year contracts.
Two of the routes will be run by LRT's subsidiary London Buses, six by recentlyrestructured companies which were formerly part of London Country Bus Services and two by independent local bus companies.
Midibuses will be used on routes 53 and 153, which were allocated to London Country Bus North West. The company plans to treble the frequency of services at peak times on these routes.
The independent local bus companies which succeeded in gaining the London routes are Grey-Green, which will operate route 173 between Stratford and Beacontree Heath; and Ensign, which will operate route 62 from Barking to Gants Hill.
LRT expects long-term savings from the operation of these services to exceed 2750,000 — equal to around one seventh of existing operating costs.
p The University of London has published a report by Martin Higginson, LRT Bus Service Tendering which says only eight of 56 London bus routes put out to tender have been allocated to independent companies. Independents are wary of vandalism and the size of routes, says Iligginson.