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 :-

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OPERATORS : LETTER L

L.C.K. Taxis of Ross-on-Wye : This operator took over certain services from J and M Taxis from 2 April 1991:
30 Ruardean Crooked End - Howle Hill - Tudorville - Ross (T) or Ruradean Crooked End - Forest Green - Howle Hill - Tudorville - Ross (Th)
32 Symonds Yat - Llangrove - Llangarron - Glewstone - Ross (T)
L.C.K. Taxis (Knowles) of Ross-on-Wye : This firm has ceased tading, and as a result 30 (Crooked End - Howle Hill - Ross, TTh) and 32 (Symonds Yat - Llangarron - Ross, T) were transferred to Soudley Valley Coaches from 20 August 1991.  L.C.K. Taxis (Knowles) of Ross-on-Wye : This firm has ceased trading, and as a result 30 (Crooked End - Howle Hill - Ross, TTh) and 32 (Symonds Yat - Llangarron - Ross, T) were transferred to Soudley Valley Coaches from 20 August 1991.

Little Red Bus Co (Traction Motors) : Operation of the early journey on 146 (Redditch - Birmingham, M-F) was short-lived, ceasing 19 April 1994.  The former Midland Red West passengers who had mainly used area travel tickets deserted the service when they had to pay !  As passengers have obviously found acceptable alternative means of travel, the journey has not been replaced.  Little Red Bus of Smethwick : 617A (Northfield - Rubery Circulars, NSu) was gained from Pattersons  from 25 January 1995.  Little Red Bus Company of Birmingham : The temporary subsidy contract for 671A (Northfield - Rubery, NESu) ceased after 29 April 1995, with WM Buses taking over on a commercial basis.  Little Red Bus of Smethwick : Following the deregistration of Sunday evening journeys on West Midlands Travel 62 (Rednal - Birmingham) from 20 August 1995, Little Red Bus has commenced service 47Bunder contract to CENTRO, running from Cotteridge to Groveley Lane via the 47 route, thence via Rednal Island and Lickey Road to Longbridge Island, every half-hour Sundays from 2020 on.  Little Red Bus : 47B (Cotteridge - Longbridge, Su eves) was withdrawn after operation on 21 April 1996.  Little Red Bus  (Red Arrow Express Ltd.) of Smethwick : This company gained several contracts in the recent round of Hereford and Worcester County Council tendering, effective from 31 August 1996, as follows.  All services gained from Midland Red West unless otherwise stated.

20A Droitwich - New Chawson (NSu 2 jnys)
22 Droitwich - Claines - Worcester (NSu early journeys)
23 Worcester - Lower Wick (1 early S jny)
26  Worcester - Henwick Park (E every 30m)
28 Worcester - County Hall (S early jny)
30A Worcester - Ronkswood - Baynham - Worcester (E hourly) : The service in the opposite direction, 29A, is still operated by Midland Red West.
33 Worcester - Dines Green (Su every 30m + S early)
34 Worcester - Blackpole - Warndon - Brickfields - Worcester (ESu hourly)
35 Worcester - Brickfields - Warndon - Blackpole - Worcester (ESu hourly)
 34/35 were won from Boomerang Bus Company.
41/41AWorcester - Ronkswood - Warndon - Worcester (E hourly plus S early jny) : The evening   service in the opposite direction, 43A, is still operated by Midland Red West.
42 Malvern Link - Barnards Green (1 S single early jny)
140 Droitwich - Hanbury - Stoke Prior - Bromsgrove (NSu 1 jny)
141 Droitwich - Stoke Works - Stoke Prior - Bromsgrove (NESu hourly) : Evening service withdrawn
144 Birmingham - Bromsgrove - Worcester - Malvern - British Camp (Su every 2 hours) : This is inter-timed with Midland Red West, also operating every 2 hours.
157 Droitwich - The Ridings (NPESu hourly)
355 Droitwich - Hampton Lovett (TF)

Little Red Bus Company (Red Arrow Express) of Smethwick : 41A (Worcester - Wood Green Circulars, E) was diverted via Brindley Road, Wainwright Road and Ebrington Drive in the Warndon industrial area from 4 January 1997.  141 (Bromsgrove - Stoke Prior - Droitwich, NSu) was extended on one journey start at Droitwich High School from 4 January 1997.

Ludlow Taxis (Taylor) of Ludlow : New services due to start on 27 January 1988 are Leominster - Orleton - Richards Castle - Ludlow (Sch) and Leominster - Stockton Cross - Ashton - Ludlow (Sch). A new service commenced on 4 April 1988, running on school and college days only from Ludlow to Leominster via Brimfield (on request), Ashton and Stockton Cross, returning via Luston, Orleton and Richards Castle. New service 735 (Wigmore - Ludlow via Leinthall Starkes, Elton and Aston, M) commenced 24 September 1990. This replaces the Tuesday and Thursday service of Galdeford Taxibus. Ludlow Travel (Taylor) of Ludlow : Apparently 892 (Ludlow - Leominster, Sch) ceased after operation on 14 May 1994.

Ludlow's Coaches of Halesowen

002 (Halesowen - Quinton - Kitwell, NESu)
31 August 1990 : New service, operating half-hourly, competitive with Stevensons Bus Services routes 202-204.
29 July 1991 : Route revised in Kitwell, operating a loop from Wood Lane via Kitwell Lane, Ravenhayes Lane, Balmoral Road, Scotland Lane, Field Lane back to Wood Lane. 0705 from Halesowen withdrawn.
19 August 1991: Completely revised, to run Merry Hill - Halesowen - Bartley Green - Weoley Castle. From Merry Hill the service runs via Quarry Bank High Street, Cradley Forge, Maypole Hill, Lyde Green, Colley lane, Windmill Hill, Drews Holloway, Stourbridge Road and Richmond Street to Halesowen, thence via the existing route to Wood Lane, Kitwell Lane, Ravenshaye Lane, Balmoral Road, Scotland Lane, Field Lane, Romsley Road, Adams Hill, Genners Lane, Cromwell Lane, Woodcock Lane, Shenley Lane and Weoley Castle Road to Weoley Castle Square. The morning peak service runs Halesowen - Kitwell only as at present, then the service is half-hourly on the full route until 1715/1800.

007 (Halesowen - Hunnington - Romsley, M-F):
26 January 1987 : Commenced, hourly plus peak extras.
9 April 1987 : No longer serves Halesmere Estate, reduced to run hourly throughout the day.

Saturday service added, previously 009.
6 February 1989 : Extra M-F morning journey from Halesowen to Hunnington (Toffee Factory), under contract to West Midlands P.T.E., commenced
9 September 1991 : Frequency increased  to every 30 minutes off-peak

009 (Birmingham - Halesowen - Romsley, S)
26 January 1987 : Commenced.
9 April 1987 : Curtailed to run Halesowen - Romsley only, becomes part of 007.

192 (Kidderminster - Hagley -Halesowen)
2 January 1988 : Commenced, subsidised
19 February 1988 : Ceased. Subsidy arrangements made when it appeared that there would otherwise be no all-stops services between Kidderminster and Halesowen. Services continued, therefore subsidy ceased.

195 (Kidderminster - Hagley - Stourbridge)
2 January 1988 : Commenced, subsidised
19 February 1988 : Ceased. Subsidy arrangements made when it appeared that there would otherwise be no all-stops services between Kidderminster and Halesowen. Services continued, therefore subsidy ceased.

335 (Halesowen - Bromsgrove):
3 January 1989 : Taken over from Midland Red West at a much reduced frequency of peak journeys each way Monday to Saturday.
18 September 1989 : Reduced to Monday to Friday only
31 August 1990 : Withdrawn after this date without replacement.

202 (Halesowen - Quinton - Frankley)
22 July 1991 : Peak journeys added NSu subsidised by CENTRO, partially replacing journeys by Midland Red West and PMT.
The peak-hour extensions to and from Colley Gate on 007 (Halesowen - Romsley) were withdrawn from 13 July 1992, with the frequency being reduced to hourly.  202 (Halesowen - Frankley) was also reduced from 19 July 1992, with just a couple of morning peak journeys remaining. Ludlows Coaches of Halesowen : 007 (Halesowen - Romsley, NSu) was extended at both ends from 31 January 1994 and now runs from Merry Hill via Halesowen, Romsley, Catshill, Bromsgrove, Batchley and Redditch Town Centre to Redditch (Alexandra Hospital), operating out from Redditch via Matchborough and return via Woodrow.  The service runs every hour.  Ludlows Coaches of Halesowen : 202-204 (Halesowen - Quinton - Frankley - Rednal -Bromsgrove, NESu) was acquired from West Midlands Travel from 9 January 1995 under an emergency contract.  Ludlow's of Halesowen : 202-4 (Bromsgrove - Halesowen, NESu) were slightly revised from 22 April 1995, with variant 203 (via Longbridge) withdrawn and additional journeys on variant 204 (via Parsonage Drive) at school times replacing Harris 845.  Ludlows Coaches of Halesowen : 007 (Merry Hill - Halesowen - Bromsgrove - Redditch, NSu) was curtailed to terminate at Redditch Town Centre  (Church Green West) from 7 January 1997, also being rerouted between Redditch and Batchley via Birmingham Road (avoiding Riverside), and via Stratford Road instead of New Road in Bromsgrove.  Ludlows of Halesowen : One morning short journey on 007 (Merry Hill - Redditch, NSu) was extended to Catshill from 15 September 1997, running direct through Romsley village to save time.
 
 
 
 

 
Lugg Valley Motors (Staples) of Leominster :

Richards Castle - Leominster via Orleton (M-F)
1 August 1986 : Reduced to Sch, afternoon jny diverted via Yarpole and Bircher

Leominster - Bromyard via Bredenbury (FS)
1 July 1986 : Lost to Hemming Coachways

Hatfield - Romers Common - Leysters - Tenbury (T)
5/1/88 : Acquired from Hemming Coachways on retendering of the subsidy contract.

Woolhope/Holme Lacy - Mordiford - Hereford (NSu)
1 June 1987 :Gained from Yeomans Canyon Travel
20/6/88 : Certain Wednesday journeys between Holme Lacy and Hereford on were diverted via Rectory Road and Church Lane in Hampton Bishop.

Bodenham - Leominster (F)
26/8/88 : Acquired from Hemming Coachways

Little Hereford - Middleton-on-the-Hill - Leominster (F)
1 July 1986 : Lost to Hemming Coachways
Brimfield - Leominster (F)
26/8/88 : Acquired from Hemming Coachways

Leominster - Steensbridge - Risbury - Bodenham - Hereford (MTThSSch)
1 April 1986 : Gained from Hemmings Coachways
5/12/88 : Extra journeys were added, increasing service to NSu and replacing the service previously operated by Hemming Coachways. Friday journeys to and from Dinmore (A49) are included.

Pembridge - Eardisland - Dilwyn - Hereford (WS)
3 April 1989 : Curtailed to run Eardisland - Hereford only on Wednesdays, with the Saturday service being numbered 503 and operating Eardisland - Pembridge - Bearwood - Luntley - Dilwyn - Westhope - Canon Pyon - Whitecross - Hereford.

107 (Hereford - Newton Farm) (Su)
115 (Hereford - Tupsley) (Su)
15 February 1987 : Gained from Primrose Motors.
21 April 1991 : Ceased after this date (Contract lost)

292 (Leominster - Dinmore Hill - Hereford, M-F)
4 November 1985 : Two peak jnys diverted via Bodenham (Englands Gate)
December 1986 : Diversion of 0750 Hereford-Leominster via Englands Gate ceased.
6 November 1989 : Expanded with 4 journeys being provided in each direction on Monday to Saturday, with most diverted via Wellington and Moreton-on-Lugg villages and all extended to and from Baron's Cross Estate.

449 Hereford - Newton Farm - Kingstone - Madley (Archenfield) (Su)
15 February 1987 : Gained from Primrose Motors.
2 April 1989 : Timetable amended with Newton Farm journeys starting from Fryzers Court (Tesco's)

via Widemarsh Street. 21 April 1991 : Ceased after this date (Contract lost)

482 (Steensbridge - Leominster)
4 December 1989 : M-F peak journeys on Bromyard - Leominster acquired from Morris's Coaches, curtailed to commence at Steensbridge.
15 June 1990 : Withdrawn after this date, leaving only the Morris's Coaches off-peak service on the route, which was also amended (q.v.).

489 (Hatfield - Tenbury Wells) (T)
2 January 1990 : Withdrawn after this date, without replacement.
492 (Leominster - Richards Castle / Brimfield Circular, Sch)
6 April 1990 : Evening journey withdrawn after this date. The morning journey remains but runs Richards Castle -> Luston -> Leominster only.

501 (Leominster - Upperhill - Canon Pyon - Hereford, NSu)
28 October 1989 : Withdrawn and replaced by a similar service operated by Primrose Motors under subsidy contract.

507 (Weobley - Dilwyn - Leominster) (F)
5 January 1990 : Retimed, now connects at Weobley with Sargeant Bros service 461 from Kington, allowing journeys from Eardisley and Almeley to Leominster.

Dilwyn - Leominster via Monkland (Sch)
18 February 1986 : Increased to M-F

801 (Leominster - Bush Bank - Ivington School - Leominster) (Sch)
5/1/88 : Route modified to run via Ivington, Upper Hill, Bush Bank, Birley, Aulden, then double run to Hyde Ash and return via Ivington to Leominster.
19/9/88 : Diverted via Barons Cross in one direction
9 January 1990 : Acquired by Primrose Motors.

A number of changes, following retendering, took place from 21 April 1992 or the first relevant date thereafter.  453/454 (Hereford - Woolhope / Holme Lacy) was lost to Yeomans Canyon Travel.  483 (Bodenham - Leominster, F) was withdrawn, being partially replaced by diversion of Morris's 482.  488 (Brimfield - Leominster) was withdrawn, being partially replaced by diversion of certain Friday journeys on 491 (Leominster - Orleton, TF) via Ashton, Moreton and Eye, and partially by diversion of 500 (Leominster - Tenbury, F) which was lost to Go Whittle.  The Saturday journeys on 502 (Leominster - Dilwyn - Hereford, NSu) and 503 (Hereford - Dilwyn - Pembridge - Leominster, S) were lost to Yeomans Canyon Travel, and the Wednesday off-peak service was revised.  Lugg Valley Motors (Staples) of Leominster : New service 902 from Bucknell to Hereford via Bedstone, Hopton Heath, Abcott, Clungunford, Leintwardine, Wigmore, and Aymestrey started on 8 September 1993, running on the second Wednesday of the month only.  This service was diverted via Brampton Bryan (Green) from 13 October 1993.  491 (Leominster - Orleton, TF) no longer serves the villages of Eye and Moreton from 3 September 1993.  These villages are not now served by local bus.  507 (Weobley - Dilwyn - Monkland -Leominster, FSch) was curtailed to operate Dilwyn - Leominster on Schooldays, Monkland - Leominster on Fridays from the same date, being replaced by the extension back of 508 (Dilwyn - Ivington - Leominster, F) to start at Weobley and the diversion of Primrose 499 (Leintwardine - Leominster, F) via Monkland.  Previously mentioned, but not under the Lugg Valley heading, is the introduction of T journeys between Leominster and Steens Bridge via Stoke Prior as service 482.  Positioning journeys omit Stoke Prior, and journeys on other days are provided by Primrose and Morris's.  Similarly, the introduction of 114 (Hereford - Venns Lane - Holmer - Bobblestock - Hereford, NSu) from 1 November 1993 has been reported under Yeomans, together with extra Hereford - Venns Lane circular journeys from 15 November. Lugg Valley :
15 November 1993 : extra service 114 journeys operated by Lugg Valley Motors as circulars to and from Venn's Lane only (out via Venn's Lane, Return via College Green).
Lugg valley Motors (Staples) of Leominster : Experimental service 764 (Tenbury Wells, The Crescent - Hereford via Burford, Little Hereford, Brimfield, Ashton and Kimbolton) started on 15 June 1994, running on the 3rd Wednesday in the month only, following requests from Tenbury and Brimfield residents for extra services to Hereford.  Lugg Valley Motors of Leominster : The Friday only journeys between Monkland and Leominster on 507 (Dilwyn - Leominster via Monkland, FSch) were withdrawn after operation on 28 October 1994, leaving the service running Schooldays only.  Lugg Valley Motors (Staples) of Leominster : 483 (Bodenham Moor - Leominster via Englands Gate, Bodenham and Marlbrook) is a new Fridays only service from 12 May 1995.  Lugg Valley Motors of Leominster : An additional Schooldays journey runs between Leominster and Weobley High School on 507 (Leominster - Weobley, FSch) from 5 September 1995.  483 (Bodenham - Leominster, F), is withdrawn after 8 September 1995, whilst 292 (Leominster, Barons Cross Estate - Hereford, NSu) is curtailed to operate only from Leominster Bus Station from 2 October 1995, the Barons Cross section being deleted.  Lugg Valley Motors of Leominster : 902 (Brampton Bryan - Hereford, 2nd W in month) was diverted via Monkland & Leominster from 8 November 1995, to provide a service to Monkland.  Lugg Valley Motors of Leominster : 902 (Brampton Bryan- Hereford, monthly) was increased to run on the 2nd and 4th Weds of each month from 24 January 1996.  Lugg Valley Motors (Staples) of Leominster : 292 (Leominster - Hereford) was amended to terminate at St Peters Square in Hereford from 6 May 1996.  The Tuesday service on 491 (Orleton - Leominster, TF) was lost to Go Whittle from 28 May 1996, and the Friday service reduced to one journey only.  Lugg Valley Motors of Leominster : 114 (Hereford - Bobblestock Circular, NESu) was expanded from 9 September 1996, incorporating some of the journeys previously operated by Yeomans as service 113.  491 (Orleton - Leominster, F) was withdrawn after operation on 30 August 1996 and partly replaced by Primrose Motors 493.  Lugg Valley Motors of Leominster : 496 (Leominster - Eardisland, Sch) was withdrawn at the end of 1996, following the loss of the associated school contract, whilst 888 (Leominster - Eye - Ashton, Sch) was also lost with effect from 6 January 1997, and 292 (Richards Castle - Leominster, Sch) was also withdrawn.  Lugg Valley Motors of Leominster : 482 (Leominster - Steensbridge, T) was discontinued after 18 February 1997.  The subsidy contract for the service had lapsed some time earlier, but the service had continued nevertheless.  Lugg Valley Motorsof Leominster : The Wednesday off-peak round trip on service 502 between Dilwyn and Hereford was replaced with effect from 1 June 1997 by the retiming and diversion of 902 (Brampton Bryan - Hereford, 2nd and 4th Wednesdays) and 764 (Tenbury - Hereford, 3rd Wednesday) plus a short-working between Dilwyn and Hereford on the 1st Wednesday of the month.  Lugg Valley Motors : 764 (Tenbury -Hereford, 3rd W in month) was lost to R & B Travel with effect from 20 August 1997.  735 (Presteigne - Ludlow, Coll) and 802 (Leintwardine - Hereford, Coll) are both gained from Teme Valley from 2 September 1997, although the positioning journeys to/from Leintwardine are withdrawn.  Lugg Valley of Leominster : 735 (Presteigne - Ludlow via Combe, Shobdon, Wigmore, Leinthall Starkes and Elton, Sch) and 802 (Leintwardine - Hereford via Wigmore, Kingsland, Knapton Green and Canon Pyon) were gained from Teme Valley with effect from 1 September 1997.  Lugg Valley Motors of Leominster : 292 (Leominster - Hereford, NESu) was retimed onto a regular hourly frequency from 20 October 1997, running a few minutes away from the Primrose Motors service.  Lugg Valley Motors (Staples) of Leominster : 292 (Leominster - Hereford, NSu) was withdrawn with effect from 6 January 1998, the operator having been taken into the Yeomans group and reformed as a limited company.