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Service X72: Service History

Service X72 (1929–1971)

Operated by Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company Limited

Service X72 was introduced with Service X73 by Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company Limited (BMMO—Midland “Red” Motor Services) in June 1929 partly replacing withdrawn Service 172, which was a Limited Stop version of Service 144 running between Birmingham and Worcester only. The route ran from Birmingham to Worcester over the same route as Service 144, but as Service X72 was not intended for local passengers a minimum fare system was in place, and unlike Service 172 this was not a Limited Stop Service. From Worcester, the service continued on the main road through Kempsey and Severn Stoke then crossed the river Severn to Upton-upon-Severn. Buses were required to turn around in Upton-upon-Severn before crossing back over the river to continue on the main road to Tewkesbury and Gloucester.

The M5 motorway opened on Friday 20th July 1962, and BMMO examined the option or rerouting Service X72 and the other two services in the group to run via the M5 motorway between Rubery and Worcester. In 1964 the company posted a notice in timetables stating the change in route would reduce running times between Birmingham and Worcester from 80-minutes to 64-minutes, or from 172-minutes to 144-minutes between Birmingham and Gloucester. A copy of the proposed timetable was included and there was also a questionnaire inviting passengers who used the service to voice their opinions. Those opinions were clearly not favourable as the service was not changed to run via the motorway.

in c. 1968, the minimum fare system between Birmingham and Worcester ended and all of the services in the group became Limited Stop on certain sections of the route, and the route in Birmingham changed to run via Rednal and Lickey. The Limited Stop sections of the route were Birmingham City Centre to Lickey, Forest Inn to Worcester City Centre, and Tewkesbury to Gloucester, with all other sections of the route being normal stopping. At the same time, a short-working variation was introduced as Service X71, running between Birmingham and Bromsgrove or Worcester only.

This whole group of services was withdrawn on Friday 31st December 1971 and replaced by a new group of services, numbered in the range 371–373, that didn't include the Birmingham to Worcester section of the route. The Worcester to Gloucester section of Service X72 was replaced with new Limited Stop Service 372, and for those still requiring a connection to Birmingham most journeys were advertised with a connection at Worcester Bus Station with Service X43 or Service X44, but this often required a 15-minute wait.

Route Summary

  • Jun 1929–Dec 1971
  • Birmingham
  • Bromsgrove
  • Droitwich Spa
  • Worcester
  • Kempsey
  • Severn Stoke
  • Upton-upon-Severn
  • Tewkesbury
  • Norton
  • Gloucester

X72

Timetable Archive

December1930Birmingham ↔ Worcester ↔ Tewkesbury ↔ Gloucester
March1932Birmingham ↔ Worcester ↔ Tewkesbury ↔ Gloucester
April1933Birmingham ↔ Worcester ↔ Tewkesbury ↔ Gloucester
January1935Birmingham ↔ Worcester ↔ Tewkesbury ↔ Gloucester
June1940Birmingham ↔ Worcester ↔ Tewkesbury ↔ Gloucester
June1957Birmingham ↔ Worcester ↔ Tewkesbury ↔ Gloucester
May1960Birmingham ↔ Worcester ↔ Tewkesbury ↔ Gloucester
June1970Birmingham ↔ Worcester ↔ Tewkesbury ↔ GloucesterWithdrawn Dec 1971

Service X72 (1983)

Operated by Midland Red (West) Limited

From April 1983, “Midland Express” Service X72 and Service X73 ran between Worcester, Upton-upon-Severn, Tewkesbury, Gloucester, and Bristol, as a join operation between Midland Red (West) Limited and Bristol Omnibus Company Limited.

Service X72 operated over the same route as Service 372, direct along the A38 between Worcester and Gloucester, and likewise Service X73 followed the Service 373 which diverted around certain villages between Upton-upon-Severn and Tewkesbury. From Gloucester, both Service X72 and Service 373 then continuing to Bristol as a Limited Stop service.

“Midland Express” Service X72 and Service X73 were short-lived and were withdrawn by the end of 1983.