Cover picture:First Hampshire & Dorset 37581, a Wright Eclipse Gemini-bodied Volvo B9TL in the Jurassic Coast X53 livery for one of the routes developed since First acquired Cawlett-owned Southern National 10 years ago.

Contents

NEWS
OFT refers industry to Competition Commission; Preston ruling against Stagecoach; NatEx West Midlands heading for Stagecoach; First launches Greyhound; Plymouth faces bus war; Optare reveals product plans
BUS PEOPLE
Winners of Bus Driver of the Year finals
INSIDE TRACK
A bus can never be a tram... but could be a better bus
GLOBAL NEWS
Megabus expands in Canada; SBS Transit orders Wright; new coach from Viseon
IN LONDON
Accelerated plans to axe artics; more contract awards but nothing on TG1
MILLAR’S TALES
Remembering E. J. Smith, our admired second editor
WHEN CAWLETT CALLED IT A DAY
Ten years on, what has fi rst done in the South West
PICTUREVIEW
Royal Blue anniversary epic
SERVICE EXTRA
Fond memories of Midland Reds, dark blues and Tilling greens
YOU WRITE
Municipals may be the answer; diesel emissions; scrappage scheme; bus heaters; contravision — cases for and against
FENTON FILE
A most unusual six-wheel Fiat minibus
OUR BIG PARTY AT WROUGHTON
What to see and do at our 60th anniversary event
FLEET NEWS ENGLAND & WALES
Compiled by John G. Lidstone
REGISTRATION NOTES
Plate changes in Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man
FLEET NEWS SCOTLAND
Compiled by Sandy Macdonald
FLEET NEWS IRELAND
Compiled by G. Irvine Millar and Ian Molloy
PRESERVATION UPDATE
Restored buses and coaches, old and not-so-old
REVIEWS
Books on preservation, Glasgow trams and modern fleets