Quantock Motor Services
Encyclopedia
Quantock Motor Services is a privately owned company based in Bishops Lydeard
, Somerset
, England. that operates a small number of bus services around Minehead
and Taunton
under contract to Somerset County Council
, and one commercial route and rural tourist bus services around Exmoor
. Much of its work is coach trips as well as private hire and school contracts. The company also operates a substantial heritage fleet on its bus route 400 and for private hire and on its crew-operated route 400.
, Sand Bay
and nearby tourist attractions in the summer of 2000. In 2002 the Exmoor
Explorer circular service was started from Minehead.
Rexquote established a new Quantock Motor Services operation in 2001. It was initially based in Ilfracombe
, Devon
, with three vehicles to operate schools contracts and and a service from Combe Martin
to Barnstaple
.
scheme in Taunton for shoppers. They are also often contracted to operate services connecting with special events in the area.
; this is one of the last crew operated bus routes in the UK. The company also holds regular running days when crew operation occurs on the other routes which they operate.
First Day South West Explorer tickets are accepted but not issued on route 400.
(51.0270°N 3.1394°W), to a facility at The Old Coal Yard, Broadgauge Business Park, Bishops Lydeard
, next door to Bishops Lydeard railway station
on the heritage
West Somerset Railway
(51.0544°N 3.1938°W). Heritage vehicles undergoing restoration are at an outstation in Langley Marsh, Wiveliscombe
(51.0545°N 3.3236°W).
which is branded for route 300, and an open-top Bristol VRT. A brand new Alexander Dennis Enviro 200
was purchased in 2010 for new contracts. Most vehicles are painted dark red, but double-deck buses are cream and red.
Bishops Lydeard
Bishops Lydeard is a village and civil parish located in Somerset, England, bypassed, since 1967, by the A358 road and West Somerset Railway north-west of Taunton in the district of Taunton Deane...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, England. that operates a small number of bus services around Minehead
Minehead
Minehead is a coastal town and civil parish in Somerset, England. It lies on the south bank of the Bristol Channel, north-west of the county town of Taunton, from the border with the county of Devon and in proximity of the Exmoor National Park...
and Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
under contract to Somerset County Council
Somerset County Council
Somerset County Council is the county council of Somerset in the South West of England, an elected local government authority responsible for the most significant local government services in most of the county.-Area covered:...
, and one commercial route and rural tourist bus services around Exmoor
Exmoor
Exmoor is an area of hilly open moorland in west Somerset and north Devon in South West England, named after the main river that flows out of the district, the River Exe. The moor has given its name to a National Park, which includes the Brendon Hills, the East Lyn Valley, the Vale of Porlock and ...
. Much of its work is coach trips as well as private hire and school contracts. The company also operates a substantial heritage fleet on its bus route 400 and for private hire and on its crew-operated route 400.
History
Rexquote, a transport engineering business at Bishops Lydeard, operated a fleet of old buses under the name of Rexquote Heritage. As well as private hire, some regular circular tourist routes were advertised. One such was between Weston-super-MareWeston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare is a seaside resort, town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which is within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It is located on the Bristol Channel coast, south west of Bristol, spanning the coast between the bounding high ground of Worlebury...
, Sand Bay
Sand Bay
Sand Bay is a strip of coast in North Somerset bordered to the south by Worlebury Hill and to the north by Middle Hope and Sand Point. It lies north of the seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare, and across the Bristol Channel from South Wales. It is adjacent to the village of Kewstoke.The north end...
and nearby tourist attractions in the summer of 2000. In 2002 the Exmoor
Exmoor
Exmoor is an area of hilly open moorland in west Somerset and north Devon in South West England, named after the main river that flows out of the district, the River Exe. The moor has given its name to a National Park, which includes the Brendon Hills, the East Lyn Valley, the Vale of Porlock and ...
Explorer circular service was started from Minehead.
Rexquote established a new Quantock Motor Services operation in 2001. It was initially based in Ilfracombe
Ilfracombe
Ilfracombe is a seaside resort and civil parish on the North Devon coast, England with a small harbour, surrounded by cliffs.The parish stretches along the coast from 'The Coastguard Cottages' in Hele Bay toward the east and 4 miles along The Torrs to Lee Bay toward the west...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, with three vehicles to operate schools contracts and and a service from Combe Martin
Combe Martin
Combe Martin is a village and civil parish on the North Devon coast about east of Ilfracombe. It is a small seaside resort with a sheltered cove on the edge of the Exmoor National Park...
to Barnstaple
Barnstaple
Barnstaple is a town and civil parish in the local government district of North Devon in the county of Devon, England, UK. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter. The old spelling Barnstable is now obsolete.It is the main town of the...
.
Timetabled services
- 39 MineheadMineheadMinehead is a coastal town and civil parish in Somerset, England. It lies on the south bank of the Bristol Channel, north-west of the county town of Taunton, from the border with the county of Devon and in proximity of the Exmoor National Park...
to Porlock WeirPorlock WeirPorlock Weir lies about 1.5 miles west of Porlock, Somerset, England and is a small settlement which has grown up around the harbour. It is a popular visitor attraction....
via SelworthySelworthySelworthy is a small village and civil parish from Minehead in Somerset, England. It is located in the National Trust's Holnicote Estate on the northern fringes of Exmoor. The parish includes the hamlets of Bossington, Tivington, Lynch, Brandish Street and Allerford.At Selworthy Beacon, which is...
, AllerfordAllerfordAllerford is a village in the county of Somerset, England, located within Exmoor National Park, and is part of the parish of Selworthy in the district of West Somerset. It appears in Domesday Book as “Alresford – forda Ralph de Limesy Mill”....
and PorlockPorlockPorlock is a coastal village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated in a deep hollow below Exmoor, west of Minehead. The parish, which includes Hawkcombe and Doverhay, has a population of 1,377....
- Monday to Saturday only, nine times daily.
- 300 'Exmoor Coastal Link' Minehead to LynmouthLynmouthLynmouth is a village in Devon, England, on the north edge of Exmoor.The village straddles the confluence of the West Lyn and East Lyn rivers, in a gorge below Lynton, to which it is connected by the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway....
via Porlock
- A Somerset County Council contract that runs three or four times daily. On Sundays first and last service extended from or to Taunton.
- The 'Exmoor Coastal Link' appeared in April 2008 in the Daily Telegraph list of the 20 best bus routes in England for over 60s to use free their bus passesTransit passA transit pass is a ticket that allows a passenger of the service take either a certain number of pre-purchased trips, or unlimited trips within a fixed period of time...
. It has also featured on a local BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
programme that featured "great South West journeys".
- 400 'Exmoor Explorer' circular from Minehead to DunsterDunsterDunster is a village and civil parish in west Somerset, England, situated on the Bristol Channel coast south-southeast of Minehead and northwest of Taunton. The village has a population of 862 .The village has numerous restaurants and three pubs...
, TimberscombeTimberscombeTimberscombe is a village and civil parish on the River Avill south-west of Dunster, and south of Minehead within the Exmoor National Park in Somerset, England...
, Wheddon CrossCutcombeCutcombe is a village and civil parish south of Minehead and north of Dulverton straddling the ridge between Exmoor and the Brendon Hills in Somerset...
, ExfordExford, SomersetExford is a rural village at the centre of Exmoor, north-west of Dulverton, and south-west of Minehead, in Somerset, England. Less than a mile away is the hamlet of Lyncombe....
and Porlock.
- Operates during the summer only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays. This is a Somerset County Council contract. It is a recommended route in Scenic Britain by Bus. Ex-Western National Bristol Lodekka open top buses normally operate on this route.
- 627 RuishtonRuishtonRuishton is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated on the River Tone and A358 road east of Taunton in the Taunton Deane district. The village has a population of 1,389...
to Heathfield school, TauntonTauntonTaunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
- One journey each way on schooldays only. It is routed via Creech St MichaelCreech St MichaelCreech St. Michael is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated three miles east of Taunton in the Taunton Deane district. The village has a population of 2,464...
.
- 632 Stoke-sub-HamdonStoke-sub-HamdonStoke-sub-Hamdon is a village and civil parish in South Somerset, situated west of Yeovil, England. The parish is located near the River Parrett, and includes the village of East Stoke.-History:...
to Taunton via MartockMartockMartock is a large village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated on the edge of the Somerset Levels north west of Yeovil in the South Somerset district. The parish includes Hurst, approximately one mile south of the village, and Bower Hinton, which is located at the western end of the...
and South PethertonSouth PethertonSouth Petherton is a small country town and civil parish on the River Parrett in the South Somerset district of Somerset, England. It is east of Ilminster and north west of Crewkerne. It had a population of approximately 3,200 in 2002...
- One journey daily Monday to Friday. It also serves the villages of Kingsbury EpiscopiKingsbury EpiscopiKingsbury Episcopi is a village and civil parish on the River Parrett in Somerset, England, situated north west of Yeovil in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of 1,277. The parish includes the villages of West Lambrook, East Lambrook and Thorney.-History:The "Episcopi"...
, West LambrookKingsbury EpiscopiKingsbury Episcopi is a village and civil parish on the River Parrett in Somerset, England, situated north west of Yeovil in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of 1,277. The parish includes the villages of West Lambrook, East Lambrook and Thorney.-History:The "Episcopi"...
, Shepton BeauchampShepton BeauchampShepton Beauchamp is a village and civil parish, from Barrington and north east of Ilminster between the Blackdown Hills and the Somerset Levels in the South Somerset district of Somerset, England.-History:...
, BarringtonBarrington, SomersetBarrington is a village and civil parish, situated south east of Taunton and west of Yeovil in the South Somerset district of Somerset, England...
, PuckingtonPuckingtonPuckington is a village and civil parish, situated south-east of Taunton and west of Yeovil in the South Somerset district of Somerset, England...
, IltonIltonIlton is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated south-east of Taunton, and north of Ilminster in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of 849...
, HenladeRuishtonRuishton is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated on the River Tone and A358 road east of Taunton in the Taunton Deane district. The village has a population of 1,389...
.
Other services
During the run up to Christmas the company operates a park and ridePark and ride
Park and ride facilities are car parks with connections to public transport that allow commuters and other people wishing to travel into city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, rail system , or carpool for the rest of their trip...
scheme in Taunton for shoppers. They are also often contracted to operate services connecting with special events in the area.
Fares and ticketing
Singles and returns are available. Free travel for those holding an English National Concessionary Pass is available across the bus network. Payment is made to the driver except on Route 400 where passengers must pay the bus conductorConductor (transportation)
A conductor is a member of a railway train's crew that is responsible for operational and safety duties that do not involve the actual operation of the train. The title of conductor is most associated with railway operations in North America, but the role of conductor is common to railways...
; this is one of the last crew operated bus routes in the UK. The company also holds regular running days when crew operation occurs on the other routes which they operate.
First Day South West Explorer tickets are accepted but not issued on route 400.
Depots
During 2010 the bus fleet was moved from a depot at Taunton Trading Estate near Norton FitzwarrenNorton Fitzwarren
Norton Fitzwarren is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated north west of Taunton in the Taunton Deane district. The village has a population of 2,325.-History:...
(51.0270°N 3.1394°W), to a facility at The Old Coal Yard, Broadgauge Business Park, Bishops Lydeard
Bishops Lydeard
Bishops Lydeard is a village and civil parish located in Somerset, England, bypassed, since 1967, by the A358 road and West Somerset Railway north-west of Taunton in the district of Taunton Deane...
, next door to Bishops Lydeard railway station
Bishops Lydeard railway station
Bishops Lydeard railway station is the current southern terminus for regular trains on the West Somerset Railway, a heritage railway in Somerset, England. It is situated in the village of Bishops Lydeard.-History:...
on the heritage
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
West Somerset Railway
West Somerset Railway
The West Somerset Railway is a railway line that originally linked and in Somerset, England.It opened in 1862 and was extended from Watchet to by the Minehead Railway in 1874. Although just a single track, improvements were needed in the first half of the twentieth century to accommodate the...
(51.0544°N 3.1938°W). Heritage vehicles undergoing restoration are at an outstation in Langley Marsh, Wiveliscombe
Wiveliscombe
Wiveliscombe is a town and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated west of Taunton in the Taunton Deane district. The town has a population of 2,670. The parish includes the nearby hamlet of Maundown.-History:...
(51.0545°N 3.3236°W).
Modern fleet
The fleet includes an open-top Scania OmnidekkaScania OmniDekka
The Scania OmniDekka is a double-decker bus built for sale in the UK...
which is branded for route 300, and an open-top Bristol VRT. A brand new Alexander Dennis Enviro 200
Alexander Dennis Enviro 200
The TransBus Enviro200 is a midibus designed by TransBus International for the UK market, intended as the successor of the Dennis Dart SLF.-Design:...
was purchased in 2010 for new contracts. Most vehicles are painted dark red, but double-deck buses are cream and red.
Heritage fleet
Heritage vehicles are generally painted in the livery of their previous owner.| Registration | Type | Built | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 572 CNW | Daimler CVG6LX Roe Charles H. Roe Charles H. Roe Ltd. was a Yorkshire coachbuilding company. It was for most of its life based at Crossgates Carriage Works, in Leeds.In 1947 it was taken over by Park Royal Vehicles. Two years later, along with its parent, it became part of Associated Commercial Vehicles in 1949, which was merged... double deck |
Leeds Corporation. Advertised for sale in 2010. | |
| ACH 441 | AEC Regal Windover coach |
1949 | Originally Trent Trent Barton Trent Barton is one of the very small number of significant independent bus operators in the United Kingdom. It was formed as the result of merging Derbyshire's Trent Buses with Nottinghamshire's Barton Transport.... 611, but currently in the livery of Burton's of Alfreton Alfreton Alfreton is a town and civil parish in Amber Valley, Derbyshire, England, adjoining the Bolsover and North East Derbyshire districts. It was formerly a Norman Manor and later an Urban District. The population of the Alfreton Ward was 7,928 at the 2001 Census... . |
| BAS 563 | Bristol LD6G Bristol Lodekka The Bristol Lodekka was a low-height double-decker bus built by Bristol Commercial Vehicles in England.Bristol manufactured over 5,200 Lodekkas from 1949 to 1968, as a standard double-deck vehicle for the UK state-owned bus sector. With all examples bodied by Eastern Coach Works in Lowestoft, they... ECW Eastern Coach Works Eastern Coach Works Ltd was a bus and railbus body building company based in Lowestoft, England.-History:The company can trace its roots back to 1912, when United Automobile Services was founded in the town to run bus services. United began a coach building business at the Lowestoft site in 1920... open top |
1956 | Southern Vectis Southern Vectis The Southern Vectis Omnibus Company Limited is the dominant bus operator on the Isle of Wight. It was purchased by the Go-Ahead Group in 2005 and is a part of the company's Go South Coast division. The firm employs 299 staff, with 105 single deck, double deck and open-top buses and coaches... 501. Advertised for sale in 2010. |
| HJA 965E | Leyland PD2 Neepsend double deck |
1962 | Stockport Stockport Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name... Corporation 65. |
| JTE 546 | AEC Regent III AEC Regent III The AEC Regent III was a type of double-decker bus chassis manufactured by AEC.It was mainly built for operation outside London and overseas. It could be fitted with AEC's 9.6-litre diesel engine , 'Wilson' preselective epicyclic gearbox The AEC Regent III (also known as Regent 3 or Regent Mark... Park Royal Park Royal Vehicles Dating its origins back to 1889, Park Royal Vehicles along with its Leeds-based subsidiary Charles H. Roe was one of Britain's leading coachbuilders and bus manufacturers based at Park Royal, west London, UK.-Associated Commercial Vehicles:... double deck |
1948 | Morecambe Morecambe Morecambe is a resort town and civil parish within the City of Lancaster in Lancashire, England. As of 2001 it has a resident population of 38,917. It faces into Morecambe Bay... and Heysham Heysham Heysham is a large coastal village near Lancaster in the county of Lancashire, England. Overlooking Morecambe Bay, it is a ferry port with services to the Isle of Man and Ireland. Heysham is the site of two nuclear power stations which are landmarks visible from hills in the surrounding area... Corporation 20. Advertised for sale in 2010. |
| KFM 893 | Bristol L5G Bristol Commercial Vehicles Bristol Commercial Vehicles was a vehicle manufacturer of in Bristol, England. Most production was of buses but trucks and railbus chassis were also built.... ECW single deck |
1950 | Crossville Crosville Motor Services Crosville Motor Services was a bus operator running within the north west of England and north and mid Wales.-History:The company was formed as Crosville Motor Company Limited on 27 October 1906 in Chester, by George Crosland Taylor and his French business associate Georges de Ville, with the... KG131. |
| LJH 665 | Dennis Lancet Dennis Lancet Dennis Lancet is a name given to several different single-deck bus chassis produced by Dennis. It was first given to a front-engined chassis, and later, in the 1950s and early 1960s, to the underfloor-engined Lancet UF.... III Duple Duple Coachbuilders Duple was best known as a British manufacturer of coach and bus bodywork from 1919 until 1989.-History:Duple Bodies & Motors Ltd was formed in 1919 by Herbert White in Hornsey, London... coach body |
1949 | Formley with Lee of Barnet Barnet High Barnet or Chipping Barnet is a place in the London Borough of Barnet, North London, England. It is a suburban development built around a twelfth-century settlement and is located north north-west of Charing Cross. Its name is often abbreviated to Barnet, which is also the name of the London... . Advertised for sale in 2010. |
| VDV 752 | Bristol LDL6G Bristol Lodekka The Bristol Lodekka was a low-height double-decker bus built by Bristol Commercial Vehicles in England.Bristol manufactured over 5,200 Lodekkas from 1949 to 1968, as a standard double-deck vehicle for the UK state-owned bus sector. With all examples bodied by Eastern Coach Works in Lowestoft, they... ECW open top |
1957 | Western National Western National Western National was a bus operating company in South West England from 1929 to the 1990s.-Early history:Western National Omnibus Company Ltd started in 1929 as a joint venture between the Great Western Railway and the National Omnibus & Transport Company... 1935 Admiral Boscawen. |
| VDV 753 | Bristol LDL6G ECW open top |
1957 | Western National 1936 Sir Humphrey Davy. |
| WDK 562T | AEC Reliance AEC Reliance The AEC Reliance was a single-deck bus or coach chassis with a mid-underfloor-mounted engine, built by AEC in Southall, west London, England between 1953 and 1979. The name had previously been used between 1928 and 1931 for another single-deck bus chassis.... Plaxton Supreme Plaxton Supreme The Plaxton Supreme was a design of coach bodywork built by Plaxton. It was first built, on small chassis only, in 1974, replacing the Panorama. On full-sized chassis, it replaced the Panorama Elite in 1975, and was superseded by the Paramount in 1982/3... IV coach |
1979 | Formerly with Yelloway Yelloway Motor Services Yelloway Motor Services Ltd, often shortened to just Yelloway, was a coach company that was based in Rochdale, Lancashire, England. It operated from 1932 to 1988, and only ever bought British manufactured coaches, predominantly the AEC Reliance. Until 1932 the company was known as Holt Brothers... . Advertised for sale in 2010. |
| XTF 98D | Leyland PD3 East Lancs East Lancashire Coachbuilders East Lancashire Coachbuilders Limited was a manufacturer of bus bodies and carriages founded in 1934 in Blackburn, Lancashire, England.In 1994 the company expanded in to new premises and commenced a programme of development that resulted in a range of single and double deck buses which was the... double deck |
1966 | Rossendale Transport Rossendale Transport Rossendale Transport is a bus operator running within the Borough of Rossendale and into surrounding areas, including Rochdale, Bury, Manchester, Burnley, Accrington, Blackburn and Todmorden... 45 |