Transport Act 1985

Transport Act 1985
Long titleAn Act to amend the law relating to road passenger transport; to make provision for the transfer of the operations of the National Bus Company to the private sector; to provide for the reorganisation of passenger transport in the public sector; to provide for local and central government financial support for certain passenger transport services and travel concessions; to make further provision with respect to the powers of London Regional Transport; to make new provision with respect to the constitution, powers and proceedings of the Transport Tribunal; to make provision with respect to grants payable under section 92 of the Finance Act 1965; to establish a Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee; and for connected purposes.
Citation1985 c. 67
Introduced byNicholas Ridley MP
Territorial extent England, Wales & Scotland
Dates
Royal assent30 October 1985
Commencement26 October 1986
Text of statute as originally enacted
Text of the Transport Act 1985 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The Transport Act 1985 (c. 67) was an act of Parliament in the United Kingdom. It introduced privatised and deregulated bus services throughout Great Britain and came into effect in October 1986.

The act was created as a response to growing concern about the environmental effect the private transportation was having and the public's objection to an increase in road construction.[1] The Act was introduced by Nicholas Ridley and it committed to reduce the amount the public paid for commercial objects. This was achieved by reducing the control governments had of bus systems and reducing the subsidies to bus companies. The Conservative government also believed the removal of subsidies and local government control would lead to an increase in competition between companies. The deregulation of buses applied throughout Great Britain, excluding bus services in Greater London, and was led by the Conservative government.[1][2] Public transport remains under direct public control in Northern Ireland.

  1. ^ a b Poole, Fiona. "Buses". Research Paper 99/59.
  2. ^ Balcombe, RJ. "Effects of the Transport Act 1985 Outside Conurbations: A comparative study". Research Report 247.