Depots and Garages in Redditch
Church Road depot, Redditch
- Red brick garage, purpose built by Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company Limited (BMMO—Midland “Red” Motor Services), with an initial capacity for 25 vehicles.
- Opened on Wednesday 1st July 1931, with an initial allocation of approximately 18 vehicles.
- Extended at one end in November 1938, increasing capacity to 35 vehicles.
- Allocation of three ambulance buses during the Second World War.
- From c. June 1953, all buses operating in Redditch operate to or from the New Bus Station (Red Lion Street, at rear of Select Cinema).
- Garage operating at maximum capacity of 35 vehicles during 1956.
- Company renamed to Midland Red Omnibus Company Limited (MROC) on Friday 29th March 1974, with a depot allocation of 40 vehicles and approximately 107 staff at this time.
- Overflow parking at Plymouth Road North site from Saturday 10th June 1978.
- Control of Redditch depot passed to the newly formed Midland Red (West) Limited on Sunday 6th September 1981 when Midland Red Omnibus Company Limited ceased trading as a bus and coach operator.
- On Monday 22nd December 1986, Midland Red (West) Limited and Midland Red Coaches Limited are privatised and sold by National Bus Campany in a simultaneous bid by the management team from Midland Red (West) Limited led by the General Manager, Mr Ken Mills. The operations and assets of both companies pass to the newly formed Midland Red West Holdings Limited, and the official company name of Midland Red (West) Limited is changed to Midland Red West Limited (without brackets around the word 'West').
- Site closed on Wednesday 21st January 2004, vehicle maintenance transferred to Worcester (Padmore Street) depot and Kidderminster depot, and local administration moved to the Plymouth Road site.
- Midland Red West Limited renamed to First Midland Red Buses Limited on Friday 26th March 1999.
- Site sold in 2004 to a private property developer, and leased to Pete’s Travel, later trading as People’s Express.
- Closed by People’s Express on Saturday 18th June 2005.
- Site now occupied by Diamond Bus Company.
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