The Shires (LDT Limited) buses at The Square, Dunstable – 2 Jun 1997 (358-15)

Monday 2 June 1997 (approx. 1400) – The Shires (LDT Limited) buses seen in The Square at Dunstable. The earlier Luton and District red and cream livery just visible on the bus far right was being replaced by a more striking yellow, blue and grey with local fleetnames used in the various towns/areas the company serves.

In January 1986 United Counties, then owned by the National Bus Company, was split into a number of smaller operating units in readiness for privatisation. Luton and District Transport was created to take over the garages at Aylesbury, Hitchin and Luton. The new company was sold to its management in August 1987. It later became titled ‘The Shires’.

Left is 3145 (N695 EUR), an East Lancs European bodied Scania L113CRL new in October 1995 and right is 5143 (N143 JPP), a Northern Counties bodied Volvo Olympian new in May 1996. Both carry the new livery with additional branding for different services on the Luton to Dunstable corridor.

The bus in the old red and cream livery is 5013 (LBD 837P), an Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR new to United Counties (837) in October 1975.