Editing AEC Routemaster (section)

===Decline in London===
[[File:London DMS Fleetline and Routemaster.jpg|left|thumb|[[Daimler Fleetline]] DMS1 and RM1737 at the [[London Transport Museum]] in January 2008]]

Many routes were converted to [[driver-only operation]] ("DOO" or "OMO") in the 1970s, to reduce operating costs and in response to staff shortages. There was also for a time a parts shortage for Routemasters, aggravated by the closure of AEC.<ref name=CountryBusRML3>[http://www.countrybus.org/RML/RML3.html#top The Long Buses Part 3] Country Bus</ref> With the introduction of single-deck [[Red Arrow (London Buses)|Red Arrow]] services and successful conversion to modern, rear-engined OMO buses around the country, London Transport considered replacing Routemasters with modern buses.

The operation of the Routemaster gradually contracted to central areas only, with RMLs replacing RMs, where it was felt that the Routemaster still provided an efficient means of transporting large enough numbers of people to justify the economics of two-crew operation.<ref name=CountryBusRML2>[http://www.countrybus.org/RML/RML2.html#top The Long Buses 2] Country Bus</ref> The rapid acceleration and rugged construction of the Routemaster proved to be more suited to urban conditions than some more modern designs.<ref name=CountryBusRML2/>

The fleet remained largely intact for around 15 years after production ended in 1968, with withdrawals mainly due to fires. Following the defeat of the [[Greater London Council]] in the [[House of Lords]] over [[London Transport Executive (GLC)#Fares policy|its subsidised fare scheme]], major service reductions followed in September 1982. Consequently, the first withdrawals commenced, with many of these early disposals being for scrap. The continued practice of route conversion to one-person operation resulted in a steady trickle of withdrawals. This practice had largely halted by 1988, with comparatively few withdrawn up to 1992. 12 of the withdrawals were purchased by [[Southend-on-Sea Corporation Transport|Southend Transport]] in 1988 and were run until 1993.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sct61.org.uk/gallery/psrpm/ssn113|title=Don't forget the crews|website=SCT61|access-date=16 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FBIMEQAAQBAJ&dq=%22southend+transport%22&pg=PA1992|title=RM70 – Seventy Years of a London Icon|author=Malcolm Batten|date=2024|isbn=9781398123625|publisher=Amberley Publishing}}</ref>

In 1986 some of the Routemasters purchased from British European Airways, London Country and Northern General, which had doors rather than an open platform, were overhauled at Aldenham Works and put in service on London Transport's revived sightseeing operation [[London Coaches|The Original London Sightseeing Tour]], alongside RCLs (some converted to open top buses),<ref name=CountryBusRCL2>[http://www.countrybus.org/RCL/RCL2.html The Long Coaches] Country Bus</ref> RMFs<ref name=CountryBusRMF/> and RMAs.<ref name=CountryBusRMA2/><ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/17th-may-1986/14/london-buses-steps-up-sightseeing London Buses steps up sightseeing] ''Commercial Motor'' 17 May 1986</ref>