Bristol RE Buses and Coaches

In 1961 the maximum length of single-deckers was increased to 36 feet. Bristol Commercial Vehicles and Eastern Coach Works designed their first rear-engined single-decker to take advantage of this new length. Two prototypes were built and tested in service in 1962. United Automobile Services had the RELL version with a low chassis frame for bus work. South Midland had the RELH version with a high frame for coach work. Production started in 1963, with Eastern Coach Works-bodied buses and coaches for the nationalised Tilling Group companies, plus some Alexander bodied coaches for the nationalised Scottish Motor Traction Group companies. In this book the author will illustrate the Bristol RE in service from 1970 to 1994 in England and North Wales. This will include Tilling Group companies, National Bus Company subsidiaries, municipal operators and independents, plus a few of the new companies created from bus deregulation and privatisation in 1986.