In 1978,
#London #Transport (LT) trialled the Multi-ride ticket system in
#Havering, aiming to achieve 100% one-man bus operations. The scheme, introduced in February, simplified the fare structure, offering discounts for regular travellers. London Country’s route 370, running between
#Romford and Corbets Tey, also participated, as did Eastern National, which started later in May. Multi-ride stickers were carried by BT vehicles at Grays garage. The trial aimed to reduce boarding times and streamline fare collection, but although passenger uptake exceeded expectations (with around 75% using Multi-ride tickets), boarding times only dropped to 3 seconds, still far from the 2-second target for efficient one-man operation. Despite being popular with passengers, the scheme didn’t achieve the desired operational efficiency. As a result, LT reconsidered expanding the scheme fleetwide and reassessed future vehicle replacements.