Transport Holding Company, The

The Transport Holding Company (THC) was a British Government owned company created by the Transport Act 1962 to administer a range of state-owned transport, travel and engineering companies that were previously managed by the British Transport Commission (BTC) THC came into existence on 1st January 1963.

There were essentially six areas of activity :

Bus companies, some part-owned with the British Electric Traction Co but later acquired by the THC, as well as the former Tilling Motor Services companies

Bus manufacturing companies Bristol Commercial Vehicles and Eastern Coach Works

Road haulage companies including British Road Services (BRS) and Pickfords Shipping lines including the BTC's shares in Associated Humber Lines and the Atlantic Steam Navigation Co

Travel agents (Thomas Cook and Son, to which Lunn Poly was later added)

Miscellaneous (the BTC's shares in the Penarth Dock Engineering Co)

1962 - The Transport Act 1962 - Part IV of the Act listed under Other Bodies : The Penarth Dock Engineering Company Limited.

1969 With the coming into effect of the Transport Act 1968 on 1 January 1969, the THC's road transport and shipping interests passed to the National Bus Co, the National Freight Corporation and the Scottish Transport Group. Its remaining assets were privatised and the company dissolved in the early 1970s. - Grace's Guide [1125]

1971 - The Transport Holding Company was debated in Parliament on Wednesday 17th February 1971 between Sir Gerald Nabarro and Mr. John Peyton, the Minister for Transport Industries. It was stated during discussion that the Transport Holding Company held a 38 per cent. holding in the Penarth Dock Company, and that there is not much left to hive off!. [931]