Just who wants to run in London?

As National Express quits the capital with the sale of Travel London to NedRailways, just what are the prospects for London’s operators?

NedRailways paid just £32m to buy Travel London from NEG

NedRailways paid just £32m to buy Travel London from NEG

The sale of National?Express Group’s London bus operations to NedRailways, the overseas arm of the Dutch state railway, is the latest move in a musical chairs process by the industry’s major players as they take their positions in the London bus market.

While it has been a clearly attractive growth area for some, the attitude of others has been ambiguous to say the least. Currently there are eleven contract holders in the London bus market ranging from Arriva with over 100 routes in...