Shropshire Routes to Roots

11. Market forces rule: 1986 to 1997

Competition

The "big bang" came in October 1986 when all bus and coach services were deregulated. This enabled any fit operator to run any commercial service they wished to. In some cases this led to competition that was reminiscent of the period between 1919 and 1930. Many new operators entered the scene. Some were low cost operators using very old vehicles that cut down on overhead costs wherever possible. They offered cheap travel for a while, but not a viable long-term service which the public could support with any confidence. Many routes in Shropshire required a subsidy to survive. These were won through competitive tendering to the County Council. Operators had to prove that they could offer the best value for money before being awarded a contract for a specific route for affixed period of time. Serious attempts were made to reverse the flow of traffic away from public transport. New park and ride services were established in Shrewsbury and accessible low floor buses were introduced onto some busy commercial journeys and some subsidised rural routes. Overall, bus operators between 1986 and 1997 succeeded or failed in an era where market forces ruled.

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