HISTORY OF
HEREFORD & WORCESTER COUNTY
SMALL OPERATORS BUS SERVICES

This section is planned to show all changes to smaller operators' routes in Hereford and Worcester from just pre-deregulation (Summer 1986) until the end of the County (March 1999).  I am slowly improving the format of the section by reformatting each alphabetical section.

To move to another page choose the first letter for the operator in which you are interested :-

A B C D F G H J K L M N-O P R S T W Y
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OPERATORS : LETTER H

H & H Motors (Horlick & Harris) of Ross-on-Wye

37 (Little Dewchurch - Ross-on-Wye via Hoarwithy and Claytons Estate, Th)

6 October 1994 : Gained from Blue Line

2 March 1995. : Lost to Smiths Motors

31 August 1996 : Main Ross - Hoarwithy - Hereford Nsu service gained from Bromyard Omnibus Company

9 January 1997 : Th Little Dewchurch shorts regained from Smiths of Ledbury

38 (Ross - Gloucester, NSu pks)

4 January 1994 : Gained from Blue Line, former Hereford - Ross positioning section withdrawn.

31 August 1996 : Ross - Hereford supplementary M-F jnys gained from Bromyard Omnibus Company

68 (Ross-on- Wye - Dancing Green Circular via Tudorville, Parkfields, Hope Mansell, Dancing Green, Pontshill and Weston-under-Penyard, Th)

6 October 1994 : Gained from Blue Line

2 March 1995. : Lost to Smiths Motors

9 January 1997 : Regained from Smiths of Ledbury

81 (Garway - Ross, S)

14 October 1995 : Taken over from Nicholls

416 (Monmouth - Hereford, NSu)

22 February 1997 : Gained from Phil Anslow Travel although the diversion via Much Dewchurch and Haywood was reduced to S only.

830 (Star Beech - Ross John Kyrle School via Howle Hill, Forest Green, Walford, Kerne Bridge and Goodrich, Sch)

6 January 1997 : Gained from Dukes Travel

858 (Harewood End - Ross via Hoarwithy, Kings Caple, Brockhampton, How Caple and Brampton Abbotts, Sch)

24 January 1994 Gained from Dukes Travel

Hardings Coaches (Tanners Croft Garage Ltd.) of Redditch :

1  (Droitsich - Westlands Estate Circular, NSu)
June 1986 : Revised to operate Droitwich - Chawson Lane via Westlands (not circular), increased to ev 15 mins off-peak
29 August 1986 : Withdrawn

Droitwich - Chawson/Primsland Circular, NSu
June 1986 : Split into 2 services as 2 (Circular via Stalls Farm Rd, Blake Ave, newland Rd, Primsland Way, Celvestune Way, Stalls Farm Road) and 3 (Droitwich - The Holloway - Primsland Estate), each hourly.
29 August 1986 : Withdrawn

Holt Heath - Ombersley - Hadley - Droitwich (TF)
June 1986 : Reduced to F only.
26 October 1986 : Taken over by Midland Red West

Droitwich Circular via Hanbury, Stoke Prior, Wychbold (TF)
June 1986 : Reduced to Hanbury - Hanbury Wharf - Droitwich
26 October 1986 : Taken over by Midland Red West

Cutnall Green - Droitwich (T)
26 October 1986 : Taken over by Midland Red West

Crutch Lane - Droitwich via Cutnall Green (Sch)
July 1986 : Taken over by Swan Street Coaches

Droitwich - Oddingley/Earls Common - Tibberton - Crowle - Worcester (NSu):
June 1986 : Reduced to TWThF off-peak only.  Peak jnys lost to Midland Red West.
30 August 1986 : Increased from TWThF to M-F (M jnys Droitwich - Primsland only)
26 January 1987 : Taken over by Midland Red West

Earls Common - Stock Green - Himbleton - Crowle - Tibberton Worcester (WS)
June 1986 : Extended to operate through from Droitwich via Hanbury
26 January 1987 : Taken over by Midland Red West

Worcester - Norton - Defford - Eckington (- Tewkesbury W) (NSu) :
28 May 1986 : Tewkesbury extension diverted via Beckford, Overbury and Kemerton, increased to NSu.
26 January 1987 : Taken over by Astons Coaches

Droitwich - Longbridge Works (Wks)
August 1986 : Passed to KCS Tours

New service 176 (Earlswood - Tanworth-in-Arden - Bransons Cross - Mappleborough Green - Redditch, Th) commenced on 26 April 1990, partially replacing a Midland Red West service 176 (Earlswood - Redditch) was withdrawn after 27 September 1990. The Redditch - Longbridge Works service was withdrawn after 28 September 1990, being partially replaced by Kingfisher 946.  Warwickshire schools service 147 (Crabbs Cross, Garage - Alcester Schools via Dunnington, Bidford and Broom) commenced on 25 September 1995.  854 (Kington (Wychavon) - Evesham College via Peopleton, Pinvin, Wyre Piddle, Charlton, Cropthorne, Fladbury, Rous Lench, Church Lench, Harvington and Norton, College Days) is a college contract available to the public from 15 April 1996.  Hardings Coaches (Tanners Croft Garage Ltd,) of Redditch : 76 (Redditch - Beoley Road West, M-F), 77 (Redditch - Astwood Bank, M-F), 150 (Feckenham - Redditch, W), 153 (Broom - Redditch, F), 154 (Holberrow Green - Redditch, Th), 185 (Astwood Bank - Sambourne - Redditch, Th), 186 (Portway - Earlwswood - Redditch, Th) and 187 (Mappleborough Green - Wootton Wawen - Redditch, T) were acquired from Dale Hire with effect frin 1 February 1997.

Harries Coaches of Stourport :

Hartlebury - Stourport (TThFS)
3 June 1986 : Lost to Regency Taxis

Ombersley - Stourport (F)
3 June 1986 : Lost to Regency Taxis

Bewdley - Lickhill - Stourport (NSu, hourly inter-peak + pk jnys)
5 May 1987 : Commenced

Stourport - Astley Burf - Astley - Dunley - Stourport (F)
5 May 1987 : Commenced

Stourport - Shrawley - Sankyns Green (Th)
5 May 1987 : Commenced
2 October 1987 : Withdrawn because of lack of patronage.

Hartlebury School to Waresley (Sch) passed to Go Whittle with effect from 10 April 1989. 214 (Stourport -Bewdley) was acquired by Mini Hire Services on tendering from 6 April 1991.

Harris Coaches of Bromsgrove : 845 (Marlbrook - Waseley Hills High School, Sch) was diverted via Cofton Hackett and Rednal from 3 March 1995, although the registration is to be cancelled in April.  845 (Marlbrook - Waseley Hills, Sch) was withdrawnafter 7 April 1995, being replaced by the diversion of one journey on Ludlow's 202 (Halesowen - Bromsgrove, NESu) to be a 204 and serve the Parsonage Drive area of Cofton Hackett.
 

The Hedgehog (North Cotswold Community Bus) of Chipping Campden

New services from the Campden area into the County of Hereford and Worcester started on 14 June 1989. All services run from Mickleton via Long Marston, Mickleton, Chipping Campden, Aston-sub-Edge and Weston-sub-Edge:
Mickleton - Bretforton - Evesham (W)
Mickleton - Honeybourne - Alcester - Redditch (1st Th of month)
Mickleton - Bretforton - Evesham - Pershore - Worcester (2nd Th of month)
Mickleton - Honeybourne - Alcester (2nd and 4th Th of month)

H5a (Mickleton - Alcester/Redditch, Th) was withdrawn in early 1990.  Mickleton - Alcester/Redditch apparently ceased in February 1990, whilst Mickleton - Evesham/Worcester now runs to Evesham on every Thursday, Worcester on the second Thursday of the month only.

The Hedgehog (North Cotswold Community Bus) : H5 (Mickleton - Evesham/Worcester, 2nd and 4th Th of month) ceased at the end of 1991.  Presumably its last day of operation was 12 December, as its subsequent scheduled day was Boxing Day.

Hemming Coachways of Hatfield :

Grendon Green /Hatfield - Risbury - Bodenham - Hereford (NSu)
1 April 1986 : Reduced to WF only (rest lost to Lugg Valley). Diverted via Stoke Prior
9/12/87 : Timetable revised. 1200 and 1400 journeys from Hereford now operate via St Owen Street to serve the City Centre.
2/12/88 : Ceased, being replaced by extra journeys on Lugg Valley Motors Leominster - Bodenham - Hereford (NSu) service.

Hatfield - Tenbury via Hampton Charles, Romers Common, Newtown, Cockspur Hall, Leysters, St Michaels (T)
28 July 1987 : Service resumed, replacing Yarrantons Kitcastle - Tenbury service.
5/1/88 : Passed to Lugg Valley Motors

Bromyard - Hatfield - Leominster (F)
6/5/88 : Reduced to run Hampton Charles - Hatfield - Ford Abbey - Drum Crossroads (F) only, passengers normally transferring to the direct Bromyard - Leominster service at Drum Crossroads.
29/7/88 : Withdrawn

Bodenham - Stoke Prior - Leominster (F)
1 July 1986 : Gained from Yeomans Motors
19/8/88 : Passed to Lugg Valley Motors

Little Hereford- Brimfield - Middleton-on-the-Hill - Leominster (F)
1 July 1986 : Gained from Lugg Valley Motrs
8 May 1987 : Loop from Little Hereford to Bleathwood withdrawn.
19/8/88 : Passed to Lugg Valley Motors

Leominster - Bromyard - Worcester (Sch)
29 September 1986 : Additional through journeys on TTh.
26 January 1987 : Reduced to Sch only.
7/88 : Ceased at the end of the school term

Bromyard - Bredenbury Leominster (NSu)
1 July 1986 : FS service gained from Lugg Valley motors
8 May 1987 : Ceased to serve Stoke Prior, plus other reductions.
27/7/88 : Passed to Morris's Coaches

Hollands Coaches (Mole) of Kidderminster :

Bromsgrove - Chaddesley Corbett - Kidderminster (Sch Hols)
5/9/88 : Commenced, ex-Woodstones Coaches

Cutnall Green - Chaddesley Corbett - Kidderminster (S)
3/9/88 : Commenced, ex-Woodstones Coaches
 29/12/88: Expanded to include Tuesday and Thursday journeys following the withdrawal of Woodstones Coaches commercial Thursday service. On Tuesdays, there is a journey from Chaddesley Corbett via Harvington and Stone to Kidderminster at 1015, returning 1300 via Summerfield and Stanklyn; on Thursdays, the 1015 runs together with a journey at 0930 from Cutnall Green via Chaddesley Turn and Stone; two journeys return via Stone at 1300, one to Chaddesley and one to Cutnall Green (returning at 1330), and one at 1615 to Chaddesley, extended to Cutnall Green on request.

2A (Kidderminster - Wribbenhall Estate - Bewdley)
1 September 1990 : Acquired from Midland Red West, running at a slightly reduced frequency to/from Bewdley Town Centre only.

2c (Kidderminster - Meadow Rise Estate - Wribbenhall - Bewdley) (TTh)
24/1/89 : This operator's expansion on minor services continues with this new service
1 September 1990 : Diverted via Springhill Rise in Wribbenhall and became 2D.

7 (Kidderminster - Greenhill, NESu)
24/10/87 : Midland Red West "Wyre Forest Shuttle" service taken over under contract to the County Council.
27 July 1989 : Extended to form a circular, returning to Kidderminster via Radford Avenue rather than Offmore Road. Alternate journeys run in the opposite direction as 7A.

7B (Comberton Hill - Offmore Road - Comberton - Greenhill - Linden Avenue (Stanmore House Surgery)
3 September 1990 : New service, with one journey each way.
22 December 1990 : Amended to operate on request only.

7C (Greenhill - Offmore First School)(Sch)
22 December 1990 : Introduced.

9 (Kidderminster - Caunsall, NSu)
24 June 1991 : Acquired from Regency Vehicles.

17 (Kidderminster - Bruce Road Circular)
27 July 1989 : Withdrawn

19 Hartlebury - Stourport (TThFS)
1/6/88 : Acquired from Regency Minibuses and reduced to (TThF) only.

137 (Kidderminster Circular via Summerfield, Mustow Green, Stone, Stanklyn) (T)
6/9/88 : Commenced on an experimental basis
30 January 1990 : Withdrawn after this date.

213 (Stourport - Astley)
6 April 1991 : Taken over by Midland Red West

219 (Hartlebury - Stourport, TThF)
6 December 1990 : Saturday and Thursday afternoon service added 6 April 1991 : Taken over by Midland Red West

306 Ombersley - Stourport (F)

1/6/88 : Acquired from Regency Minibuses.
6 December 1990 : Thursday service between Crossway Green and Stourport only added
6 April 1991 : Taken over by Midland Red WestAugust 2, 2002
 
 

2A/2D (Kidderminster - Wribbenhall - Bewdley, NSu) were revised from 20 July 1991, most journeys being retimed and extended to Hales Park Estate to supplement the Midland Red West service.  134 (Kidderminster - Chaddesley - Bromsgrove, M-F) was lost to Midland Red West from 2 September 1991.  Hollands retains TThS operation on 136 (Kidderminster - Chaddesley - Cutnall Green).  From 18 November 1991, subsidised service 9A (Cookley - Broadwaters Heath - Kidderminster, NSu), previously operated by Go Whittle, was taken over on a commercial basis.  However, Go Whittle introduced an all-day commercial service as route 9 from 11 November 1991, and competition now exists on this route.  Hollands Coaches (Mole) of Kidderminster : The Saturday afternoon service on 136 (Cutnall Green - Chaddesley Corbet - Kidderminster, ThS) was withdrawn from 2 January 1993. New service 9B (Kidderminster - Greenhill - Cookley - Caunsall, FS evenings), a combination of Hollands existing services, started on 2 January 1993.  291 (Broom Bank - Bewdley - Kidderminster, TThFS) was gained from Go Whittle from the same date.  From 10 April 1993, 2A (Kidderminster - Wribbenhall - Bewdley, NSu) ceased to serve Meadow Rise on all journeys by request.  However, service 2D (which diverts via Meadow Rise on a properly timetabled basis) was slightly increased to compensate.  Hollands Coaches (Mole) of Kidderminster : Midland Red West commenced a morning peak journey on 2A (Kidderminster - Wribbenhall - Hales Park), under tender to the County Council, from 28 August 1993, whilst Hollands gained early morning Saturday journeys on 5A (Fairfield - Ferndale - Wilton Avenue - Kidderminster) and 8 (Kidderminster - Habberley) from Midland Red West from the same date.  136 (Cutnall Green / Chaddesley Corbett -Kidderminster, TThS) was lost to Midland Red West from 28 August 1993, although the full service 136 is continued on Saturdays only, being partially replaced by journeys on 134 (Bromsgrove - Chaddesley Corbett - Kidderminster) on other days.  7B (Greenhill - Offmore First School, Sch) was lost to Stevensons from 8 September 1993 and renumbered 877.  9A (Cookley - Broadwaters Heath - Kidderminster, NSu) was reduced to hourly from 28 August 1993, with certain journeys being diverted on Tuesdays only via Westley Court and Island Pool.  The evening service 9B (Caunsall - Greenhill - Kidderminster) was replaced by an enhanced service 6A operated by Midland Red West from the same date.  213 (Stourport - Astley Burf, F) was gained from Midland Red West from 3 September 1993.  7 (Kidderminster - Greenhill, NSu) was acquired (sic) by Midland Red West from 8 November 1993.  7B (Offmore Road - Stanmore House Surgery, on request) ceased to be available from the same date.  From 28 August 1993 291 (Broom Bank - Kidderminster, TThFS) was revised to omit the long double-run to Heightington. Hollands Coaches (Mole) of Kidderminster : 9/9A (Kidderminster - Cookley - Caunsall) was amended from 28 March 1994.  The Tuesday deviation via Westley Court and Island Pool was withdrawn owing to lack of use, but alternate afternoon journeys on route 9 were changed to route 9A operating via Gaymore Road (but not Broadwaters Heath) to Cookley only.  Hollands Coaches (Mole) of Kidderminster : 213 (Stourport - Astley Burf, F) was extended back to serve Kidderminster from 1 April 1994.  Hollands Coaches (Mole) of Kidderminster : 291 (Broombank - Clows Top -Kidderminster, TThFS) only serves the Broombank - Clows Top section on TF, and all journeys operate via Quarry Road.  This pattern has been in operation for some time.  9 (Kidderminster - Caunsall, NSu) runs via Swan Centre in both directions from 25 February 1995, the inward journeys running via Bromsgrove Street to the Bus Station.  Service 291 also operates via this route inward.  Hollands Coaches (Mole) of Kidderminster : 213 (Stourport - Astley Burf, F) was lost to Go Whittle from 8 September 1995.  Hollands Coaches (Mole) of Kidderminster : The early Saturday morning journey on 5A (Fairfield - Kidderminster) was withdrawn without replacement after 20 April 1996.

Hollywood Travel of Wythall : 865 (Bransons Cross - Solihull Schools, Sch) was taken over from Wythall Coach Services with effect from 22 April 1996.  Hollywood Travel of Wythall : 865 (Bransons Cross - Solihull Schools via Earlswood and Majors Green, Sch) was gained from Wythall Coach Services (who have ceased operation) with effect from 22 April 1996.