Following the deregulation of bus services in 1986, West Yorkshire became flooded by small independent operators, some of whom survived while others were swallowed up by larger companies. Only a small handful remain today. The wide variety of liveries and vehicle types will bring memories flooding back, and the wealth of previously unpublished photographs give this book a wide appeal.

Carrying on the story of Stagecoach, this volume looks at the company's continuing growth across the UK and its various overseas ventures, which took it to Hong Kong, mainland Europe, the USA, Canada and New Zealand. In addition to its ongoing expansion and the continual upgrading of its bus and coach fleet, it also introduced numerous innovative ventures including Magicbus, megabus and Stagecoach Gold, all of which heralded new travel concepts across the UK and overseas. No doubt, in the years ahead, Stagecoach will continue to expand whenever, and wherever, opportunities arise, and also continue in its bid to further minimise the impact of its operations on the environment with an increase in alternatively powered buses, including hybrid, gas, hydrogen and electric. Here, Keith A. Jenkinson brings the Stagecoach story up to the present time, leaving no stone unturned and illustrating it fully with colour photography.

In addition to the major operators such as National Welsh, South Wales Transport, First Group and Stagecoach, South Wales boasted a number of municipal bus operators, most of which have since been acquired by the major groups. In addition, South Wales also had (and still has) numerous privately owned companies who have operated bus services across the company. All of these can be seen in the wide variety of photographs featured in this book, which will bring back memories of an interesting period in transport history.

Manchester and its surrounds, such as Bolton, Wigan, Rochdale, Oldham and Stockport, have always been a haven for bus enthusiasts, with a wide variety of operators and liveries to be seen. Deregulation in 1986 changed the scene dramatically with the appearance of numerous independent companies - some of which were short-lived while others survived for many years or were swallowed up by the major national conglomerates such as Arriva, FirstBus and Stagecoach. Added to the mix is the Metrolink tramway system, which continues to grow and now reaches the airport where numerous buses can also be seen. Never failing to fascinate, and a city whose transport continually changes, Manchester is always worthy of a visit and can be recommended to all transport enthusiasts whether their interests are buses, rail or air.

Starting in October 1980 as a small coach operator with two coaches and a service from Glasgow to London, Stagecoach rapidly developed throughout Scotland in the 1980s and 1990s when it purchased three major Scottish Bus Group companies and a number of smaller independent operators before floating on the stock market as a plc. After initially relying on the second-hand vehicle market, which produced a wide variety of buses, it ultimately began purchasing new vehicles that like their predecessors were painted in the company's corporate livery. Stagecoach has always been an operator that has attracted a wide enthusiast following and this book traces the development of the company from its humble beginnings to its current major status.

The origins of Dennis Brothers dates back to the 1890s, when John Dennis moved from his home in Devon to Guildford and began building bicycles. In 1901, he diversified into motor vehicles, at first cars and two years later vans, fire engines, and buses. While car production ceased in 1913, development of the larger vehicles grew and after the First World War the company’s products were to be seen across the whole of the UK and several overseas countries. In 1972, it was sold to the Hestair Group and between 1989 and 2004, when it was purchased by consortium Alexander Dennis, it changed ownership several times. Over the years Dennis has produced a wide and varied range of buses and coaches and is now the UK’s largest manufacturer of passenger transport vehicles. This book will trace the development of Dennis, complimented by a selection of carefully chosen photographs, none of which have ever previously been published.

Following deregulation in 1986, the established bus operators suddenly found themselves being challenged by new independent operators, some of whom ultimately disappeared from the scene while others were swallowed up by the larger groups. After Yorkshire Rider, an arm of West Yorkshire PTE was privatised in 1988 and grew following its acquisition of former NBC subsidiary West Yorkshire Road Car Co. It was subsequently purchased by Badgerline/FirstBus, who became the dominant operator in the city. Arriva and Transdev also have a presence in Leeds. This book takes a look at all the transport developments and changes that have taken place within the city between 1986 and 2022 and, with many new liveries and vehicle types, illustrates the ever-fascinating scene.

Since deregulation in 1986, Merseyside has offered a wealth of variety to bus enthusiasts with numerous new independent operators entering the scene, and some soon departing again, while the major companies have gained strength through takeovers and area expansion. The area covered here includes Liverpool, the Wirral, St Helens and Southport, all of which have seen wide changes, particularly in the 1990s, and all are captured with a selection of previously unpublished colour photographs.

Sheffield has seen an influx of new independent operators with a wide range of new and second-hand buses, diverse liveries, and, of course, trams and trambuses. Looking at Sheffield and its suburbs, this book will provide enthusiasts with an insight into an ever-changing scene, supported by numerous previously unpublished colour photographs.

Unlike other parts of the world, Britain was slow to start operating bendy buses and, despite the first ones appearing in service in Sheffield in 1978, it was not until 1985 that the next examples made their appearance, again in Sheffield. Somewhat surprisingly it took a further thirteen years before bendy buses gained wider acceptance in the UK and began to appear in other towns and cities, with the largest number being operated in London from 2002. Never reaching their potential, however, their number failed to grow to any extent and only 858 were ever placed in service, with their mass withdrawal commencing as early as 2009. Profusely illustrated in colour, this book takes a detailed look at the bendy buses operated in the UK and their lives since their disposal by major operators.