'A service that never was (?) - shown in the National Travel (NBC) Limited Coach Guide - Winter 1973/1974

The National Bus Company's 'National Travel' and 'National' coach branding had recently been launched. The first coach guide to be published with that image was for the Winter period 1973/1974 and it contained details of this Southend-on-Sea to Liverpool service numbered 112 which was to be a flagship of the new order. As far as I am aware, although I would stand to be corrected, the service never operated due to opposition by, amongst others, Premier Travel and Yelloway who claimed their joint services from East Anglia to the North West would lose traffic as a result of a licence being granted.

The road service licences remained in the names of the different NBC operators for some time prior to being pulled together under National Travel and National Express. Circled codes are shown at the bottom of each timetable column to indicate the licenced operator(s). In this table service 112 carries a 'TS' code which signifies Tillings Travel (NBC) Limited. The feeder service carries the code 'EL' indicating the 'Eastlander' joint services operated by Associated Motorways, Grey-Green Coaches, Premier Travel Services and Travel House (Luton).