Iles – BRITAINS BUSES MOVE WITH THE TIMES 1965

Description

British bus operators (except municipals and independents) are standardising timetables following a conference of the BET Federation, Tilling Association and Scottish Bus Group. Beyond adopting the 24‑hour clock, the overhaul specifies page size (standard 8½” x 5″), Monotype Grotesque typeface, horizontal table layout, limited use of rulings, four‑digit time entries (e.g., 1435), dotted fillers for gaps, and standard codes for days and annotations (e.g., M T W Th F S Su, with an N prefix for non‑running days; R, L, C, G for common notes). Pictorial symbols may mark connections. Headings will show termini left and service number right; route details and via points sit above the table. The changes aim to improve legibility, storage, and cross‑operator area timetables. Conversion will be done by printers, incurring initial costs, and an annual combined timetable with supplements is proposed to save repeated resetting. While the 24‑hour clock’s merits are debated, the new format is seen as a clear presentation improvement.