Kentish Bus & Coach 515 (G515 VBB) at Centre Point, London – 25 Sep 1991 (152-28)

Wednesday 25 September 1991 (approx. 0815) – In September 1986 London Country Bus Services was split into four smaller companies. London Country Bus Services (South East) became the operator from four garages in Kent. In April 1987 the LCBS (SE) company was renamed the Kentish Bus and Coach Company. In 1988 the company was purchased by Proudmutual in the privatisation of the National Bus Company.

In early 1990 Kentish Bus was successful in being award tenders to operate London Regional Transport routes 22A, 22B and 55 and placed 43 Northern Counties bodied Leyland Olympians in service on those contracted routes. These were numbered 514-556 (G514-556 VBB).

In this view 515 (G515 VBB) is parked at Centre Point between trips on service 55 from/to Clapton. In the earlier days of the London contracts the ‘all red livery’ edict did not apply and the buses employed carried the operating company’s own livery.

The street layout here is different today. The building spanning the bus and roadway is constructed to ground level. New Oxford Street is in the background. The light blue building is now a Starbucks which stands on the corner of Bainbridge Street.