On Sunday 1st May 1988, Midland Red West extended a number of their Service 372 and Service 373 journeys between Worcester, Upton-upon-Severn and Gloucester, to Birmingham City Centre via the M5 Motorway as Service X73 and Service X74.
Between Birmingham and Worcester, Service X73 ran via Bearwood, the M5 Motorway, Droitwich Spa, and Fernhill Heath, following the same route as Service X43 at that time. Service X74 ran via Selly Oak, Northfield, the M5 Motorway, Droitwich Spa and Fernhill Heath along the Service X44 route. Journeys that were not extended to Birmingham continued to operate as Service 372 and Service 373.
The Birmingham extension was short-lived and withdrawn just four-months later, after the end of operations on Saturday 3rd September 1988. The Worcester to Gloucester section of the route was replaced by additional Service 372 and Service 373 journeys, timed to connect at Worcester with Service X43 and Service X44 journeys to Birmingham.
| X | 7 | 4 |
| New May | 1988 | Birmingham ↔ Worcester ↔ Tewkesbury ↔ Gloucester | Withdrawn Sep 1988 |