Bus industry should be concerned by the ever shrinking independant sector

The sale of Inverness-based bus and coach group Rapsons to Stagecoach sees another long standing independent operator pass into the hands of the Big Five.

Immediately following deregulation there was a flurry of deals that quickly saw the consolidation of the industry and the creation of the major groups we see today. That pace slowed, but three years ago there was a second flurry of activity. Why?

Following ‘D-Day’ in October 1986, a plethora of experienced bus managers, freed...