The early years of bus tendering in London

10 March 2022

Len Wright

We are pleased to announce the resumption of LHRG London meetings

The March 2022 LHRG meeting will feature a talk by Len Wright on the early years of bus tendering from the perspective of an independent operator. 

The meeting will be held at 18.00 for 18.30 on Thursday, 10 March 2022 in Conference Room 1 at Palestra, TfL's Headquarters, 197 Blackfriars Rd, London SE1 8JZ. 

Palestra is opposite Southwark station on the Jubilee Line and bus routes 40 and 63. It is around 10 minutes’ walk from Blackfriars station and about 15 minutes’ walk from Waterloo station. 

Before setting up his own luxury coach business, Len Wright had worked for East Kent and Grey-Green.  Following the opening of London bus routes to competitive tendering, he formed a subsidiary company, London Buslines, to bid for bus services.  London Buslines became the first private operator to operate a tendered route when it took over route 81 on 13 July 1985.

London Buslines' Daimler Fleetline GHV19N, former LT DMS1019, operating route 81 in Bath Road, Hounslow in July 1985.  Tendering introduced the need for the 'London Regional Transport service' sign.

Photo © Richard Cripps