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.

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OPERATORS : LETTER R

R & B Travel (Radnor) of Clee Hill : 764 (Tenbury - Hereford via Brimfield and Kimbolton, 3rd W of month) was gained from Lugg Valley Motors from 20 August 1997.

Red Arrow Express of Worcester : 42 (Malvern Link - Barnards Green, S) was curtailed to start at Leos in Malvern Link and finish at Barnards Green shops from 1 June 1997. This was in connection with the registration of a multitude of positioning journeys as 144 (Birming- ham - Great Malvern) with additional NSu oddments between Birmingham and Worcester including a 2340 Worcester - Bham, plus S morning journeys Worcester - Malvern Link and Barnards Green - Droitwich and extra Su oddments Worcester - Birmingham including early morning and late evening journeys. Red Arrow Express of Worcester : 358/365 are new circular commercial Worcester city services, in competition with Midland Red West, from 1 September 1997. 358 runs from the Bus Station via Rainbow Hill and Brickfields (MRW 35 route) to Warndon, returning via Tolladine Road to the Bus Station (MRW 38 route). 365 runs in the opposite direction. Each run about every 30 minutes NESu. From the same date, some positioning journeys on 144 (Worcester - Birmingham) become X44, running via the M5 for some or all of the Droitwich - Birmingham section. Also, late night FS (actually very early SSu morning) journeys on 62N (Birmingham - Longbridge) will extend on request to Rednal and/or Rubery. Red Arrow Express of Worcester : The Warndon terminal loop of 365 (Worcester - Warndon Circular, NESu) was revised from 20 October 1997, to enable inbound buses to all serve the same stop. Red Arrow Express of Smethwick : 29 Nov 1997 : All Worcestershire services were deregistered after this date, with those operated under contract being transferred to Midland Red West and those operated commercially ceasing. Thus ended the only significant competition in Worcester since deregulation. Night service 62N (Birmingham - Rubery), which operates mainly in the CENTRO area, also ceased from the same date.

Red & White (National Welsh) of Cardiff :

X49 Cardiff - Monmouth - Hereford

6 May 1987 : Additional Wednesday journey added in each direction, running to/from Wyesham in Monmouth.

22 June 1988 : Additional Wednesday journey withdrawn after this date.

4 (Ross-on-Wye - Newent School via Weston-under-Penyard, Pontshill, The Lea, Longhope, Huntley, Ganders Green, Glasshouse and Cliffords Mesne) (Sch)

5 January 1994 : Started

20 (Hereford - Abergavenny - Pontypool - Newport, NSu)

1 April 1993 : Rerouted in the Cwmbran area

32 (Hereford - Ross-on-Wye - Gloucester , Su)

28 August 1993 : Renumbered from 34

34 (Newport - Monmouth - Ross-on-Wye -Gloucester)

11 December 1989 : curtailed to operate between Ross-on-Wye and Gloucester only. The Monmouth -Ross-on-Wye section was acquired by Smith's Motors on emergency tender.

12 April 1993 : Peak journeys between Ross-on-Wye, Gorsley and Newent previously operated by David Field won

7 June 1993 : M-F evening peak journey added from Ross-on-Wye to Newent, running via Greystone in Ross

28 August 1993 : Extended back to start at Monmouth, incorporating service 61 and improving the Newent - Gloucester frequency. Su service renumbered 32.

5 February 1994 : The 1750NSu journey from Ross-on-Wye ceased

35 (Mireystock - Lydbrook - Ross, M-F)

3 January 1992 : Withdrawn , without replacement.

36 (Ross Local, S)

7 June 1993 : Commenced

5 February 1994 : Ceased

37 (Ross - Hoarwithy - Hereford)

16 September 1989 : Saturday service ceased, with a replacement service being provided by extension back of a Midland Red West service 118 journey.

3 January 1992 : Withdrawn, the tender being gained by Blue Line. The solitary afternoon peak journey from Hereford that diverted via Hoarwithy before returning to the 38 route now carries service number 38.

38 (Hereford - Ross - Gloucester)

11 April 1993 : Sunday service won by Cheltenham and Gloucester

61 (Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth via Tudorville, Kerne Bridge, Goodrich and Whitchurch but one journey in each direction running direct between Whitchurch and Ross) (NSu)

2 July 1990 : Reintroduced , although as the journeys are mainly positioning journeys for Ross-on-Wye Garage there are few clashes with A H Martin and Sons service.

10 April 1993 : Tendered portion of service won from A H Martin and Sons

28 August 1993 : Incoroporated in 34

416 (Hereford - Monmouth, NSu)

4 May 1993 : Started in competition with Phil Anslow Travel

7 June 1993 : Withdrawn

Redline Bus Company (Pemberton & Elkins) of Bromsgrove :

7/8 Redditch - Woodrow -Matchborough - Church Hill - Redditch Circulars

18 April 1988 : Improved. All-day services are now provided on both routes on Saturday, and both routes run in the morning and afternoon on Monday to Friday, although there is still a gap in service during the middle of the day.

6 September 1988, two journeys in each direction Schooldays extended to/from St Augustines School, replacing Midland Red West S77.

Late October 1989 : Partnership broken up. Services R7,R8,R7E and R8E operated by a new Kingfisher Bus Company.

Redline Bus Company (Pemberton) of Bromsgrove :

33 (Catshill Middle School -> Lickey End, Sch)

27 February 1995 : Commenced, replacing Midland Red West S33.

30 October 1995 : Morning journey commenced

92 (Bromsgrove - Catshill via Sidemoor, NESu 30m)

30 October 1995 : Commenced, increasing the competition with Midland Red West.

95 (Bromsgrove - Stoke Heath (Hanbury Road) via Charford and Wheatridge Road, ev 30 mins NSu inter-peak)

5 September 1994: Commenced This provides competition for Midland Red West service 93.

3 January 1995 : Reduced to 2 journeys only, most journeys becoming 96 (qv)

21 February 1997 : Withdrawn without replacement, insufficient passengers being carried to justify continued County Council subsidy.

96 (Bromsgrove - Charford, NESu)

3 January 1995 : Commenced on a 20 minute frequency

6 November 1995 : Additional peak journeys

97 (Bromsgrove - Sidesmoor Circular, M-F),

3 September 1990 : New service commenced in competition with Rover Coaches, following the winning of a tender by Redline for the services but continued commercial operation by Rover.

3 November 1990 : Saturday service added

25 February 1991 : Extension of peak journeys to and from Recreation Road in Bromsgrove reinstated

18 July 1991 until 3 August 1991 , 2 January 1992: Not operated

2 September 1995 : Additional afternoon journeys

98 (Bromsgrove - Deansway/Foxwalks Circular, M-F)

3 September 1990 : New service commenced in competition with Rover Coaches, following the winning of a tender by Redline for the services but continued commercial operation by Rover.

3 November 1990 : Saturday service added

18 July 1991 until 3 August 1991 , 2 January 1992: Not operated

2 September 1995 : Additional afternoon journeys

318 (Bromsgrove - Catshill - Stourbridge, M-F)

3 September 1990 : New service commenced (One afternoon peak journey on an otherwise Midland Red West route).

18 July 1991 until 3 August 1991: Not operated

19 February 1994 : Afternoon diversion via Hagley Village ceased having been little used.

31 August 1993 : One Monday to Friday morning peak journey gained from Midland Red West and added to this operator's evening peak service. Evening journey from Stourbridge diverted via Hagley village, providing a return facility for passengers using Midland Red West 195 for the forward journey.

21 April 1995 : Afternoon peak round trip withdrawn leaving just the morning trip operated under contract.

319 (Bromsgrove to Catshill, Cobnal Road via Sidemoor, M-F pks)

19 February 1994 : Commence

30 December 1994 : Withdrawn

B23 (Stoke Heath - Charford - Aston Fields Middle School, Sch)

8 September 1992 : Commenced

23 October 1992 : Cancelled

8 September 1993 : Re-commenced.

18 November 1994 : Cancelled

10 February 1997 : Re-registered

Red Rider (PMT Ltd) of Stoke-on-Trent : 202 (Halesowen - Rednal) was withdrawn after op- eration on 19 July 1991 due to poor patronage. 203 (Rednal - Halesowen via Longbridge, Frankley, Woodgate, Quinton, M-F) commenced 3 September 1990, being one early morning journey under contract on this mainly Stevensons route.

Regency Minibuses (Owen) of Kidderminster :

1 (Kidderminster - Rifle Range) :

24/10/87 : Monday to Saturday evening service started, ex - Midland Red West

4/5 (Kidderminster - Franche/Puxton - Fairfield),

24/10/87 : Monday to Saturday evening service started, ex - Midland Red West. The last journey on route 4 diverts via Habberley.

8 (Kidderminster - Habberley),

24/10/87 : Monday to Saturday evening service started, ex - Midland Red West. One journey extends to/from Bewdley

18A(Kidderminster - Offmore - Spennells).

24/10/87 : Monday to Saturday evening service started, ex - Midland Red West

Kidderminster - Bewdley (Eves)

24/10/87 : Withdrawn and replaced by the extension of one journey on route 8

Hartlebury - Stourport via Waresley Court, Hartlebury Church, Charlton, Wilden Top, Wilden, Mill Road (TThFS)

3 June 1986 : Gained from Harries Coaches

1 June 1988 : Lost to Hollands Coaches

Ombersley - Stourport via Dunhampton, Crossway Green, Titton (F)

3 June 1986 : Gained from Harries Coaches

1 June 1988 : Lost to Hollands Coaches

Caunsall - Cookley - Kidderminster (NSu)

8 March 1986 : Evening journey gained from Midland Red West

7 June 1986 : Ceased

30 August 1986 : Gained from Midland Red West

28/12/88 : Peak hour frequency reduced to half-hourly, the limited lateevening service with- drawn and the number of journeys via Gaymore Road and Broadwaters Heath slightly re- duced.

Churchill - Iverley Turn - Broadwaters Heath - Kidderminster (NSu)

30 August 1986 : Gained from Midland Red West

28/12/88 : Completely rerouted to run as a circular from Kidderminster via Blakedown, Chur- chill and Blakedown (Sculthorpe Road Estate) back to Kidderminster.

Kinver - Kidderminster (Th)

27 August 1987 : Extra journeys added on Kidderminster - Wolverley Village section, routed via Franche Road and Fairfield Estate

29 June 1989 : Discontinued after this date and replaced by a service operated by Mini Hire Services.

Kidderminster - Aggborough Circular via Chester Road South (NSu)

30 August 1986 : Gained from Midland Red West

Churchill - Kidderminster (NSu) and Kidderminster - Aggborough Circular (NSu) were with- drawn after 2 September 1989, being replaced by Go Whittle and Midland Red West respec- tively. Also acquired by Go Whittle were the extra morning Kidderminster - Broadwaters Heath - Cookley Lionfields Estate journeys on 9 (Kidderminster - Caunsall), althougth the main service remains with Regency on a commercial basis. The evening services on Kidderminster Town routes 1,4,5,6,8 and 18A ceased after operation on 23 October 1989, being replaced by Midland Red West following retendering. 9(Kidderminster - Caunsall, NSu) was transferred to Hollands Coaches from 24 June 1991. 4A (Kidderminster - Wolverley Vil- lage via Fairfield, Th), the company's last remaining taxibus service, was deregistered with effect from 4 March 1992.

Rogers Coaches of Martley : 427 (Sapey Common - Bromyard - Brockhampton School, Sch) was won from D.R.M. Coaches from 8 September 1993, extended back to start at Martley and extended forward from Brockhampton to Martley, forming a circular service. Fol- lowing a fire on a Rogers vehicle, service 427 (Martley - Upper Sapey - Bromyard, Sch) was acquired by Morris's Coaches from 25 January 1994. Bingo service 911 (Martley - Worces- ter) was cancelled with effect from 31 March 1996. Rogers Coaches of Martley : 22 Nov 1997 : The Worcester Park-and-Ride is again running from the Perdiswell site on the 5 Satur- days prior to Christmas 1997.

Ken Rose Coaches of Broadway :

"Pershore Plumline"

Pinvin - Pershore (Broad Street) via Station, Avon Road, Cherry Orchard (NSu) plus

Pershore (Broad Street) Circular via St Andrews Road, Three Springs Road, The Holloway, Worcester Road, Newlands (NSu)

1 November 1986 : Commenced

23 February 1987 : M-F service after 1500 deleted, together with S jnys at start & end of day. Extra journeys added.

Lower Strensham - Pershore via Defford, St Andrews Road (MTh)

Pirton - Pershore via Wadbrorough, Besford (T)

Pensham - Pershore (WF)

Eckington - Pershore Station via Birlingham, Defford, Pershore (S)

1 November 1986 : Commenced

23 February 1987 : Withdrawn

A Broadway - Chipping Campden School (Sch) service was made available to the public from 21 November 1987. The route was varied at the beginning of the Spring term but now runs via Willersey, Weston-sub-Edge, Mickleton, Lower Quinton and Hidcote. : The Pershore local "PlumLine" service was revised from 16 May 1988 to give better train connections and a more regular service. From 16 January 1989, two journeys NWSu on Pinvin - Pershore Estates (NSu, "Pershore PlumLine" service) were extended back to and from Tilesford Park. Dudley's Coaches provide a commercial service from Tilesford on Wednesdays. Chipping Campden - Evesham (F) was acquired by N N Cresswell from 3 March 1989. Broadway -Chipping Campden (Sch) was also de-registered, from 14 March 1989.: Two journeys on the Pershore Plumline service were diverted via Vineyards Estate from 15 May 1989, when the timetable was revised to tie in with train times. 383 (Pershore Town Service) was amended from 14 May 1990 to fit the revised rail timetable. At the same time, the deviation to Vine- yards Estate was reduced to TThS only, although the return journey will carry passengers on request any day,and the extension to Tilesford Park was reduced to MFS only. 383 (Pershore Local Service, NSu) was retimed from 11 May 1992 to connect with train services. Certain journeys extend on request to the Cottage Hospital and Abbotsmead Medical Centre. 383 (Pershore "PlumLine" Local Service, NSu) was acquired by Boomerang Bus Company from 28 May 1994.

Ross Dial-a-Ride (Barlow) of Weston-under-Penyard : This is another RTDF funded taxibus operator who started the following services from 23 August 1988 or the relevant date thereaf- ter :

(a) Ross-on-Wye - Llangrove Circular via Pencraig, (Symonds Yat on request), Llangrove, Llangarron, Thorn, Skakes, Wilson Cross, Glewstone, Pencraig (T)

(b) Ross-on-Wye - Forest Green Circular via Coughton, Howle Hill, Kiln Green, Forest Green. Bulls Hill, Hom Green (Th)

(c) Ross-on-Wye - Baysham Circular via Bridstow, Sellack Marsh, (Foy on request), Baysham, Sellack Marsh, Bridstow (Th)

(d) Aston Crews - Ross-on-Wye via Linton, Bromsash, Bollitree, Rudhall (S)

(e) Ross-on-Wye - Merrivale Lane Circular (S)

This operator ceased trading from 27 September 1990 and services were taken over by J and M Taxis.