2008 in 300 Words

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That was the year that was. Tricky summing it all up in 300 words but here goes. Let us know if we've missed anything...

April’s national free travel continually causes concerns. The fuel crisis came and went, leaving some on the wrong side of the ‘hedge’. Both contribute to passenger growth. The industry looks forward to its contribution to the environment and looks over its shoulder at recession. The 50km rule farcically concludes… after operators chop services.

As London implements the emissions zone, Boris and Ken ensure buses rise up the political agenda. Boris wins, artics lose… as Clarkson blows up a Routemaster. TfL announces rear loader design winning potential bus of the future. Meanwhile, bus manufacturing looks confident, though DDA deadlines remain bleak.

Coach sales slump in face of recession as ADL Plaxton launches top-flight Elite. Darwen’s reverse take-over of Jamesstan rebrands as Optare… while previewing Rapta… and receiving little praise for Solo+.

Arriva sells UK’s first ground-breaking SLFs, expands in Spain, Slovakia, Hungary and Portugal, announces North Wales/north west split… as First merges its four Yorkshire bus operations. First buys Truronian while concluding its official-sounding Yellow School Bus Commission.

Transdev acquires York’s Top Line Travel. The Big Lemon gets squeezed. Newcomer Velvet gets a little beeped. Rotala buys Ludlows and turns round Go West Midlands. Profits slide at award-winning Lothian, embroiled in buggie protest.

Manchester rejects the £3bil TIF… while it continues with England’s slowest morning peak traffic. Council brokers peace in Preston. Stagecoach trials in-cab eco-driving behaviour experiment… and buys Mayne’s, Bullock’s, Rapson’s & Eastbourne… and sells Huddersfield to part Centrebus partnership… while Centrebus sells St Albans to Uno.

NatEx undertakes restructure & super-rebrand, places dot2dot for sale, while seeing M4/M25 crash driver jailed. For others, the driver CPC becomes a reality.

Gwyneth Dunwoody and Reg Varney die. Lockhead is knighted.

Meanwhile, 2008 sets the scene for the Local Transport Act, BSOG reform, Passenger Focus, Wallace Arnold and even possibly Greyhound.