Welwyn Hatfield Line FCY 295W and London Country (North East) SNC168 (HPF 318N) in Welwyn Garden City – 18 Jan 1989 (80-24)

Wednesday 18 January 1989 – Competition in Welwyn Garden City.

Right is London Country (North East) SNC168 (HPF 318N), a Leyland National I new in April 1975.
London Country (North East) was created in 1986 when London Country Bus Services Limited, owned by the National Bus Company, was split into four smaller companies in preparation for privatisation. In April 1988 LC (NE) was purchased by the AJS Group and later the new owners spilt the business to create Sovereign Bus and Coach (operating from Hatfield, Stevenage and St. Albans garages) and County Bus and Coach (operating from Harlow, Grays and Hertford garages).

Left is Welwyn Hatfield Line FCY 295W, a Duple Dominant bodied Bedford YMQ that had been new to South Wales Transport (295) in January 1981. This business was a post deregulation company set up in August 1987 by a group of former London Country drivers. Sovereign took over the business in January 1990 and operated it as a subsidiary for a few years.
The photograph was taken in the area used as a temporary bus station during the construction of the Howard Shopping Centre (off camera left).