Rodoviária Nacional was the state-ownedbus network in Portugal, resulting from the nationalization, in 1975, of the largest bus operators in the country, basically the criteria used for nationalization was the fleet size : more than 60 vehicles.
Operations
The services were first organized in ten "Centros Operacionais de Passageiros" managing the activities of a similar number of nationalized corporate groups, such organization meant a confusing geographical distribution of operations, so still in 1976 a reorganization into nine "Centros de Exploração de Passageiros" settled on a more logical regional organization was set up. In 1977, CEP10 was created for managing hire and special services in Lisbon. This division along with other CEPs started to promote medium to long distance services that would be labeled as "Expresso" from 1979. The CEP10 headquarters and terminal for long distance services was located on former Claras Transportes' station at Av. Casal Ribeiro, opened in 1973. The passenger amenities and ticket booths were located on the ground floor, the arrival and departure lanes on the first underground level, the workshops and depot on the second underground level, parcels and cargo section on third underground level, for such reasons this station was known as "the cave". In 1984, the CEP5 became the DGRL split in 4 COPs, the process of fleet reorganization would last until September 1986. Also in 1984, Vila Franca de Xira, Arruda dos Vinhos, Alenquer, Torres Vedras and Ericeira/Mafra corridors were passed to CEP10. The creation of DGRL along with CEP10 incorporations meant the extinction of CEP5 and CEP6. A cargo section was also created, operating under the name RNTrans.
Ultrena
This division was created to manage other activities from nationalized companies, such as the floriculture business of Arboricultora, the car hiring operations from Claras, or EVA Hotel. The workshops were also managed by Ultrena.
Numbering
The coach fleet was numbered with four digits, corresponding the first to the CEP which the vehicle was affected. For CEP 10 fleet, the first digit was a 0, the DGRL was three digit, preceded by the letter L or CS , with the numbering strictly distributed by chassis manufacturer.
In 1992, the privatization process started, with Rodoviária do Algarve being acquired by Barraqueiro Transportes, REDM by Resende, Caima and Barraqueiro, as well as the cargo sections. In 1993, RBL by Barraqueiro, Rodoviária do Tejo by REDM, Joalto and AVIC, RBI by Joalto and Rodoviária do Alentejo by Barraqueiro and Belo family. In 1994, Rodoviária da Estremadura was acquired by Barraqueiro. Finally in 1995 Rodoviária Sul do Tejo and Rodoviária de Lisboa were privatized, the latter to Innotrans consortium, which subsequently was split through the following companies:
COP 1 operations sold to Vimeca that created the brand Lisboa Transportes for such operations;
COP 2 and 3 kept Rodoviária de Lisboa brand and Barraqueiro ownership;
Rodoviária do Algarve was immediately renamed as EVA, remembering the nationalized Empresa de Viação Algarvia. Rodoviária Sul do Tejo became, in late 1990s, TST - Transportes Sul do Tejo. Since 2003 is owned by Arriva group, which entered in the Portuguese market in 2000 acquiring some medium-sized operators in the northwest of Portugal. Rodoviária do Alentejo became Belos Alentejana, Belos Ribatejana and Belos Setubalense. When Belo family left the consortium with Barraqueiro, in early 2000s, Belos Alentejana became again Rodoviária do Alentejo, Belos Ribatejana became simply Ribatejana and Setubalense operations were incorporated on TST. Rodoviária da Estremadura, or simply Estremadura, became a brand for excursion or hiring services from Barraqueiro group, with some coaches affected to Rede de Expressos. The corridors were renamed as Boa Viagem, EVM - Mafrense, Barraqueiro Oeste and Barraqueiro, for Frielas operations. REDM and RBL operations owned by Caima, were taken by Transdev, known respectively as Transdev Norte and Transdev Centro. RBI brand still exists and is owned by Joalto Group, who sold their operations to Transdev in 2010. Stagecoach sold its operations to Vimeca owners in the early 2000s and a new operator was born, ScottUrb.
