Service 144 (Birmingham–The Malverns) — History
1st October 1976
Malvern Depot closed
With the closure of Malvern depot on 1st October 1976, all local
services and many long distance services in Malvern are withdrawn and replaced with a new network of services operated
by Worcester depot.
- The Worcester to The Malverns section of Service 144 is withdrawn and replaced, in part, by new Service 412 running
between Worcester, Powick, Malvern Link, Pound Bank, Barnards Green and Great Malvern (Post Office).
- The Great Malvern to Malvern Wells section of Service 144 is replaced by new Servive 478 running between Ledbury,
Colwall, West Malvern, Great Malvern and Malvern Wells.
13th January 1979
“Severnlink” Network Introduced
On the 13th January 1979, MROC
introduced the “Severnlink” Market Anaysis Project (MAP)
network of services in Bromsgrove, Worcester and Malvern.
- Service 144 is extended from Worcester to Great Malvern, running via Powick, Malvern Link, Pound Bank and Barnards
Green, along the former Service 412 route.
- Two morning peak-time Service 144 journeys continue to Malvern Wells.
- Sunday journeys continue as Service M43 or M44 to British Camp.
- New timetable introduced with a 30-minute frequency.
- Timings adjusted between The Malverns and Worcester to provide better connections with the Birmingham motorway
services at Worcester.
26th May 1979
Worcester to The Malverns section Withdrawn
In an attempt to improve reliability, the 144 service was split into two separate routes on 26th May 1979.
- The Worcester to The Malverns section of Service 144 is withdrawn and replaced by new Service 344 running between
Worcester, Powick, Malvern Link, Pound Bank, Barnards Green and Great Malvern (Post Office). Certain Service
344 journeys continue to Malvern Wells.
- Through journeys between The Malverns and Birmingham are now provided by extending the X43 and X44 motorway service
to The Malverns.
20th June 1999
Bull Ring Bus Station closed
On 20th June 1999, the Bull Ring Shopping Centre, Market and Bus Station are Closed for demolition.
First Midland Red publish a small booklet titled “All Change in Birmingham” detailing all the changes made
to their bus services in Birmingham.
- Services 144 departing Birmingham now depart from Smallbrook Queensway (Stand Ge) running via St. Martin's Circus
and Holloway Circus, and then existing route to Bromsgrove and Worcester.
- Services 144 arriving at Birmingham now operate via existing route to Navigation Street then via Hill Street to
Smallbrook Queensway (Stand Ge).
- New Timetable for all Service 144. Most journeys departing Worcester now run 7 minutes later.
2nd April 2000
Navigation Street closed
On 2nd April 2000, Navigation Street in Birmingham was closed due to the demolition of the main Post Office.
- Routes for all Service 144 arriving at Birmingham are changed to operate direct to Smallbrook Queensway from Bristol
Road. Navigation Street and Hill Street Bus Stops are replaced with a new stop at Holloway Circus.
- Routes for Service 144 Departing Birmingham are unchanged.
3rd September 2000
Timetable change (Sundays only)
- New Timetable for Service 144 (Sundays only). Most journeys now run up to 20 minutes
earlier on various parts of the route.
- Most journeys from Birmingham to The Malverns (Sundays only) now terminate at Worcester
Bus Station, with a connecting bus operating from Worcester to The Malverns.
- (No change to Service 144, Monday - Saturday timetable)
1st April 2001
Timetable change
- 0622 Bromsgrove to Worcester (Monday - Friday only) New Journey.
- 0638 Droitwich Spa to Worcester (Saturday only) New Journey.
- 0748 Bromsgrove to Worcester journey now also operates on Saturdays (previously Monday - Friday only)
22nd April 2001
Timetable change
- 0523 Birmingham to Longbridge (Monday - Saturday) journey renumbered to Service 143.
- 2332 Droitwich Spa to Worcester (Fridays only) journey Withdrawn.
7th January 2002
Timetable change
- 0748 Bromsgrove to Worcester (Monday - Friday only) journey now departs at 0740 and runs 8 minutes earlier to Fernhill
Heath (0808) and arrives at Worcester Bus Station at 0830. This journey continues to Sixth Form College and County
Hall when required.
- 0718 Birmingham to Worcester (Monday - Friday only) journey now runs 5 minutes earlier between Bromsgrove Bus Station
(departs 0803) and Fernhill Heath (0830) and arrives at Worcester Bus Station at 0850.
18th April 2004
Route and Timetable change
- Service 144 is re-routed in Bromsgrove to serve Stourbridge Road, Princess of Wales Hospital and Catshill.
Lickey End is no longer served.
- Service 144 no longer operates between Worcester Bus Station and The Malverns on Sundays. This section of
the service is replaced in part by Service 44.
- Service 142 is withdrawn.
- Most journeys now run 6 minutes earlier between Worcester and Bromsgrove.
- Certain evening journeys now withdrawn or only operate on Fridays and Saturdays.
- Service frequency is reduced to every 2 hours on Sundays.
6th September 2004
Timetable change
12th June 2005
Vehicle change
5th September 2005
Timetable change
- New timetable with service frequency increased to run every 20 minutes in each direction during the daytime.