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Service 364: Service History

Introduction

Service 364

Historically Service 364 was operated by Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company Limited (BMMO—Midland “Red” Motor Services) between Great Malvern, Upton-upon-Severn and Tewkesbury.

In modern times, the route number 364 has been revived for services between Worcester, Upton-upon-Severn and Great Malvern. Initially, the services were operated under contract from Worcestershire County Council by a number of operators, but from September 2014 they have been operated commercially by First Midland Red Buses Limited.

Service 364 (1993–1994)

Operated by Midland Red West Limited

For a short period starting from Wednesday 1^st September 1993, Midland Red West Limited operated Service 364 between Great Malvern and Upton-upon-Severn, running via Guarlford, Hanley Swan, Gilberts End and Hanley Castle. The service ran on Wednesdays only under contract from Hereford & Worcester County Council, with one journey from Great Malvern to Upton-upon-Severn at 0920 in the morning, and the return journey to Great Malvern at 1115.

This service was withdrawn after only eight months, with the last journey being operated on Wednesday 11^th May 1994.

Route Summary

Service 364 (1998–2001)

Operated by Midland Red West Limited

On Monday 26^th October 1998, Midland Red West Limited (soon to be renamed First Midland Red Buses Limited) resurrected the 364 route number for a variation of Service 363 between Worcester and Great Malvern. This service was interworked with Service 363 as part of a Worcestershire County Council contract, with two journeys run as a Service 364 per day towards Great Malvern, and three journeys towards Worcester. The route was almost the same as Service 363 but ran via Three Counties Showground rather than Welland and Malvern Wells.

On Sunday 1^st April 2001, the bulk of the contract passed to Astons Coaches without being contested by First Midland Red due to staff shortages. All journeys on Service 364 and nearly all journeys on Service 363 are withdrawn by First Midland Red and passed to Astons Coaches.

Service 364 (2004–2005)

Operated by First Midland Red Buses Limited

From Tuesday 1^st June 2004 First Midland Red regained the contract for the Service 363 and Service 364 group, running between Worcester, Upton-upon-Severn and Great Malvern. By this time Worcestershire County Council were keen to promote these routes and the service frequency had increased from just a handful of journeys to one return journey every two hours, interworked with Service 363 to give an hourly frequency on key parts of the route.

The services were promoted using the Worcestershire County Council “easyLINK” brand name and were operated by First Midland Red using Optare Solo buses purchased by the Council.

In c. June 2005 the contract again past to Astons Coaches, who later lost the contract to Diamond Bus.

Route Summary

Service 364 (2012–2016)

Operated by First Midland Red Buses Limited

After only about a year of operation, Diamond Bus decided to surrender their contract to operate the Upton-upon-Severn group of services. The contract was put out for tender and First Midland Red won. Service 364 was part of a group of services that included Service 362 and Service 363, which were interworked to provide a 30-minute frequency between Worcester and Upton-upon-Severn. All journeys terminated at Upton-upon-Severn, but the vehicle usually continued to Malvern Retail Park as one of the services from the 41, 42, 42F, 42G, 43 or 43F group, with passengers being able to buy through-tickets.

In September 2014, the contract for these services came to an end, and with large budget cuts planned by Worcestershire County Council, the future of the route was unclear. First Midland Red offered to operate the group of services on a commercial basis at a reduced frequency. A new simplified timetable was introduced which had most services extended to Great Malvern (Link Top), and the 42, 43 etc services were withdrawn. Service 364 was part of a group of services that also include Service 362 and Service 365, and operates one journey every two hours in each direction, interworked with other services in the group to provide an hourly frequency at the major points on the route.

Service 364 and Service 362 were withdrawn from the end of operations on Saturday 9^th April 2016, with the Worcester to Upton-upon-Severn section of the 364 route being replaced by new Service 333 during peak times only, and the Upton-upon-Severn, The Graftons and Welland section of the journey being replaced by a route change to Service 373. The Welland to Malvern Wells and Great Malvern section of the route is not replaced, but a small number of Service 365 journeys continue to operate along this part of the route.

Route Summary