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Service X91: Service History

Service X91 (1981)

Operated by Midland Red (West) Limited

At the formation of the company on Sunday 6^th September 1981, Midland Red (West) Limited took over responsibility for Midland Red Omnibus Company Limited (MROC) stage carriage operations in Gloucestershire, Hereford & Worcester, and Powys. This included the historic Service X91 that had been operated by Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company Limited (BMMO—Midland “Red” Motor Services) between Leicester, Stratford-upon-Avon, Worcester, and Hereford, since the late 1920s.

In 1974, BMMO had renamed to Midland Red Omnibus Company Limited (MROC), and in August 1980 the Leicester to Stratford-upon-Avon section of the route was withdrawn. It was this shortened version of the route that Midland Red (West) inherited when MROC ceased trading at the end of operation on Saturday 5^th September 1981.

Following the Transport Act of 1980, the country of Herefordshire became a trial area for Deregulation of the bus industry, starting on Monday 21^st September 1981, and as a result bus operators were no longer obligated to run loss making routes and no longer had protection from competition. As a result, Service X91 was withdrawn by Midland Red (West) Limited from that date, after only two weeks of operations.

New Service X51 was introduced from the following day as a partial replacement to Service X91. This only ran between Great Malvern, Worcester, Evesham, and Stratford-upon-Avon, and as thus did not enter into the County of Herefordshire and was was not subject to the new deregulated operating conditions.

Service X91 (1983–1986)

Operated by Midland Red (West) Limited

On Saturday 7^th May 1983, Midland Red (West) Limited introduced a “Midland Express” service between Birmingham, Kidderminster and Aberystwyth, operating on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays during the summer season until Sunday 16^th October 1983, then on Saturdays only during the winter season.

Service X91 operated as a Limited Stop service between Birmingham and Kidderminster, then called at all stops on request between Kidderminster and Aberystwyth. Leyland Leopard coaches operated from Kidderminster depot were used on all journeys.

The 1986 summer season, which ran from Sunday 27^th April 1986, was the last for Service X91 as it was withdrawn at the end of the season on Sunday 28^th September 1986.

Route Summary