Talks of Liverpools bus network being "council" run

[Barney]

RE: Talks of Liverpools bus network being "council" run
Prior to deregulation in what ways were the services better? I can think of a few:
1. 85-90% of the fleets operated by MPTE and NBC were double-decker.
2. With the exception of industrial services all services operated every day of the week.
3. With the exception of industrial services most services operated from early morning
(5am) till midnight.
4. Last buses from the city centre (Pier Head, Old Haymarket, PSBS) departed at
midnight.
5. Frequencies of most routes were greater than they are now.
6. The route network was far more comprehensive than it is now.
7. Sunday services were more frequent and this in an era when shops and stores were
not allowed to open.
8. Virtually a full service was provided over the entirety of the Christmas period, again
in an era when retail outlets were rarely open for trading and drink-driving was not as
big an issue as it is now.
9. A comprehensive network of 'Football Special' services was provided to transport the
majority of spectators to and from Everton and Liverpool home games.
10.Changes to services were not left to the whim of the operator but were planned with
the aim of reacting to the needs of the passenger.

Am I looking at the past through rose-tinted glasses or were things actually better when bus services were controlled by elected and accountable local officials rather than accountants employed by large multi-national companies?