Here is and was to be found a certain freedom to choose a different way of doing things, often with a more personal touch closely attuned to the needs of both the passengers and the communities served. Those apparent differences might be in the choice of vehicles, the working practices, the routes operated, the ticketing or even the fares charged. The latter in many cases often proving to be relatively more affordable than those of the larger group companies.
Some operators have a long history stretching back over the years, others were short lived. In these pages we set out to celebrate and record some of those firms and businesses who were recognisably independent in so many different ways.
A colleague sent me this rhyme from the 1970s, found in the long defunct magazine Coaching Journal
The author does seem to rather neatly sum up the epitome of independent bus operation!
If you have any information that you can add to the story of the operators described in these pages, please email peterATcountrybusDOTcom
Latest updates to the site were made on 17th September 2023