MidlandRed.net

All operators
 

• Service X93

• Search
• Service History
• Current Timetable
• Timetable Archive9
• Timetable Changes
• Routes
• Route Maps
• Photographs13
• Fares
• Stopping Places
• Miscellaneous

Service X93: Service History

Service X93 (1967–1974)

Operated by Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company Limited

From Saturday 12^th April 1930, Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company Limited (BMMO—Midland “Red” Motor Services) operated Service X96 as a long-distance service between Northampton, Coventry, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Shrewsbury*. At just over 100-miles in length, this was one of the longest stage-carriage services operated, taking 5-hours to complete in each direction. Two or three full journeys were operated in each direction, seven days a week, with additional short-working journeys on certain parts of the route.

On Saturday 2^nd September 1967, additional short-working journeys were introduced on Service X96 corridor to provide extra capacity on the busiest parts of the route, but to avoid confusion these were given different route numbers in the range X93–X95. These were…

• Service X93: Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Ironbridge, Shrewsbury
• Service X94: Coventry, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Ironbridge, Wellington
• Service X95: Coventry, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Oakengates, Wellington
• Service X96: Northampton, Coventry, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Oakengates, Shrewsbury (full service)

Service X96 had previously called at all stops, but with introduction of this new group of services all ran as Limited Stop between Coventry and Wolverhampton in both directions, and were inter-worked to give an hourly frequency between Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Shifnal. On sections of the route before and after those locations, the short-working journeys resulted in timings being less regular.

* The Birmingham to Northampton section of the route first operated on 8^th December 1928, as Service 196, being renumbered to Service X96 on 25^th February 1929. The route was extended to Shrewsbury on 12^th April 1930.

Service X93 (1981–2002)

Operated by Midland Red (West) Limited

Midland Red (West) Limited started trading on Sunday 6^th September 1981 and Service X93 was one of the services inherited from Midland Red Omnibus Company Limited (MROC), which had ceased trading at the end of operations on the previous day.

From the late 1980s Service X94 was extended past Kidderminster to Hartlebury, Ombersley, Hallow and Worcester, running as a variation to Service X93.

By August 1992, all Service X94 and many Service X93 journeys had been withdrawn and the few that remained had been cut back to only run between Birmingham and Kidderminster, with certain journeys continuing to The Walshes. The primary route between Birmingham and Kidderminster was Service 192 which called at all stops and ran over a similar route to Service X93 but additionally served Quinton and Hagley Village. From Kidderminster, Service 192 continued to Bewdley, Ludlow and Hereford, so journeys that replace Service X93 to Stourport and The Walshes ran as Service 193.

Service X93 struggled on with only one or two journeys each day for many years. Towards the end of the 1990s a few more journeys were added to give a more regular service, but this was short-lived and the service was withdrawn on Sunday 1^st September 2002.