Stevenson on 303/4

Bus and Coach operations, new or changed services and timetables for Arriva Midlands North Limited or its predecessor, Midland Red (North) Limited.
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AdamH
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Stevenson on 303/4

Post by AdamH » 18:20 Saturday 11th March 2017

Flicking through some timetables from 1993/4, I notice it says that Stevensons of Uttoxeter were operating journeys on the 303 and 304 between Worcester and Kidderminster.

This seems rather a long way from home for them, but I know they did some Centro contact work so I'm guessing it could have been inter-worked with that from the Kidderminster end. I don't recall ever seeing any of their vehicles in Worcester, but I had only recently started bus driving then so it is unlikely I would have paid much attention anyway.

I started working the 293/4 and 303/4 routes from mid-1996 ish and Midland Red West were the only operator by then, so I'm guessing they didn't last very long.

Does anyone remember this or can give more information? Thanks.

bringstybeast
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Re: Stevenson on 303/4

Post by bringstybeast » 23:21 Saturday 11th March 2017

Try this website for dates and other routes they had in the area: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/worcesterfolk/BulletS.htm

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AdamH
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Re: Stevenson on 303/4

Post by AdamH » 23:49 Saturday 11th March 2017

They had quite a bit of work in the Kidderminster area then. I didn't know that.

Interesting to see a lot of their work passed to WMT in August 1994 then to MRW about 6 weeks later. Did WMT buy out Stevensons? Or did Stevensons run into problems and WMT step in with an emergancy contract?

asb
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Re: Stevenson on 303/4

Post by asb » 00:12 Sunday 12th March 2017

If I remember correctly, Stevensons were a big thorn in the side of WMT, to the extent that after WMT had purchased Your Bus they set up a network in Burton on Trent to compete with Stevensons on their home turf. It had the desired effect, and Stevensons left the West Midlands pretty quickly!

asb
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Re: Stevenson on 303/4

Post by asb » 00:16 Sunday 12th March 2017

bringstybeast wrote:
23:21 Saturday 11th March 2017
Try this website for dates and other routes they had in the area: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/worcesterfolk/BulletS.htm
This is a great site BTW!

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AdamH
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Re: Stevenson on 303/4

Post by AdamH » 08:52 Sunday 12th March 2017

asb wrote:
00:12 Sunday 12th March 2017
If I remember correctly, Stevensons were a big thorn in the side of WMT, to the extent that after WMT had purchased Your Bus they set up a network in Burton on Trent to compete with Stevensons on their home turf. It had the desired effect, and Stevensons left the West Midlands pretty quickly!
It sounds like very interesting times! I found a reference on the internet that says Stevensons sold their West Midlands operations to West Midlands Travel... Did WMT run the 303/4 for that short time themselves or did Stevensons continue to operate the service "oh hire" to WMT? The comment about the route not being de-licenced until the MRW take-over would imply the latter.

The next question is; does anyone have any photos of Stevensons or WMT working the 303/4?

TimBrown
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Re: Stevenson on 303/4

Post by TimBrown » 12:21 Sunday 12th March 2017

AdamH wrote:
23:49 Saturday 11th March 2017
They had quite a bit of work in the Kidderminster area then. I didn't know that.

Interesting to see a lot of their work passed to WMT in August 1994 then to MRW about 6 weeks later. Did WMT buy out Stevensons? Or did Stevensons run into problems and WMT step in with an emergancy contract?
Something tells me that there was no link by 303 between Worcester and Kidderminster once Stevensons pulled off this service, and that the 303 ran between Kidderminster and Hartlebury only. Just how the good people of Ombersley, who didn't own cars, coped I don't know. Correct me if I am wrong, but the 303 wasn't revived until Worcestershire County Council decided there should be a link between Kidderminster Hospital and the then new Worcestershire Royal Hospital at Newtown. Two leased Darts 371 (X371 CUY) and 372 (X372 CUY) in white livery with 303 route branding operated from Kidderminster garage from September 2000 until April 2002. I believe another operator ran it for a short while but I can't remember if it was Whittles or Birmingham Bus? It was back in the hands of First Midland Red by December 2004 when Dart SLF 42889 - 42893 arrived. The service passed to Rotala Diamond in March 2013 when they acquired Kidderminster garage.

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AdamH
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Re: Stevenson on 303/4

Post by AdamH » 13:15 Sunday 12th March 2017

You are partly right...

The 304 ran between Worcester, Ombersley and Kidderminster so there was still a direct link, but that only ran every two hours. The 303 only ran between Worcester and Ombersley except for a few peak-time journeys in the week. Ombersley also had the 22A during that time.

I don't have a timetable for 1996-2000, but I was driving it regularly then and the 303 ran the whole route by then.

Ridercross
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Re: Stevenson on 303/4

Post by Ridercross » 12:10 Monday 13th March 2017

TimBrown wrote:
12:21 Sunday 12th March 2017

Something tells me that there was no link by 303 between Worcester and Kidderminster once Stevensons pulled off this service, and that the 303 ran between Kidderminster and Hartlebury only. Just how the good people of Ombersley, who didn't own cars, coped I don't know. Correct me if I am wrong, but the 303 wasn't revived until Worcestershire County Council decided there should be a link between Kidderminster Hospital and the then new Worcestershire Royal Hospital at Newtown. Two leased Darts 371 (X371 CUY) and 372 (X372 CUY) in white livery with 303 route branding operated from Kidderminster garage from September 2000 until April 2002. I believe another operator ran it for a short while but I can't remember if it was Whittles or Birmingham Bus? It was back in the hands of First Midland Red by December 2004 when Dart SLF 42889 - 42893 arrived. The service passed to Rotala Diamond in March 2013 when they acquired Kidderminster garage.
It recall it was Petes Travel who ran the 303 between First's stints. They came off the servile when they went through their financial problems, not sure of this was voluntary or they were chucked off by WCC.

TimBrown
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Re: Stevenson on 303/4

Post by TimBrown » 13:52 Tuesday 14th March 2017

Ridercross wrote:
12:10 Monday 13th March 2017
It recall it was Petes Travel who ran the 303 between First's stints. They came off the servile when they went through their financial problems, not sure of this was voluntary or they were chucked off by WCC.
Thanks; you have jogged my memory, I seem to have it in mind that there were rumours about the time of Pete's Travel working route 303 that the first few hours of takings had to be used to fuel the buses up between trips - never did find out if this was actually true or mischief making by the opposition!

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