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Post by ruislip on Jul 11, 2008 16:34:08 GMT
When this happened, did this imply any increased services for both Underground and BR services in the region?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2008 15:33:05 GMT
No offence, but a link to the story for a bit of background would have been appreciated, as some of us had never heard about this before.
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Post by ruislip on Jul 12, 2008 18:14:38 GMT
No offence, but a link to the story for a bit of background would have been appreciated, as some of us had never heard about this before. Go to www.busmap.org, and click on "Historical." One of Mike Harris' historical bus maps lists the LT Central Area services as of April 30 of that year, prior to this devistating strike. The strike lasted seven weeks, during which no LT bus (Central, Country, or Green Line) left the depots. As a consequence, a series of service reductions took effect later in 1958. I also used the London Bus File 1955-62, authored by Ken Glazier and published by Capital Transport as a source. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2008 19:34:07 GMT
The 1958 bus strike was a turning point for LT. Until then, the buses had made a profit that offset the losses on the Underground and even turned in an overall profit.
With the buses off the roads for seven weeks, people found other means of transport. Those who could afford it bought new cars; others bought used ones. The change from buses to cars was greatly accelerated.
So the buses stopped making profits and LT plunged into the red. Since then London's public transport has required subsidy, which I believe is now several million pounds a day.
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Oracle
In memoriam
RIP 2012
Writing is such sweet sorrow: like heck it is!
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Post by Oracle on Jul 12, 2008 21:31:24 GMT
I have no memory or knowledge of the strike, but would suggest that others did as my dad did. I asked him what he had to do to get to work in Feltham and he said he went by bike and then fitted a Cyclemaster powered rear wheel. Then he bought a Lambretta scooter and finally a Ford Popular. Those who could not afford a car, or did not have families, must have found the scooter perfect. In addition this was the time of the bubble car, pre-Mini, and to a certain extent motorcycle & sidecar combo. In 1957 petrol prices rocketed as a result of the Suez Crisis, and of course it was rationed. By 1958 I believe prices had dropped back to normal.
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