Doncaster Buses in Transition Before & After SYPTE

April 1974 brought about major changes to bus operations in Doncaster and the surrounding communities. The reorganisation of local government in England from 1974 had been brought about by the Local Government Act of 1972. It created six metropolitan counties each responsible for running transport operations in their regions through a passenger transport executive. The newly formed South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive took control of Doncaster Corporation Transport in April 1974 and brought to an end the 70-plus years of local council organisation of tramway, trolleybus and motorbus services. At first the changes were minimal insofar as the appearance of the buses was concerned; they retained their Doncaster livery with the addition of new fleet numbers until they became due for a repaint or replacement. The independent companies remained unchanged at first. This situation was to change over the following few years as one by one the independent operators were acquired by the PTE.