Stagecoach West
Encyclopedia
Stagecoach West is an operating division of the Stagecoach Group
. Based in Gloucester
, it operates bus
services in Cheltenham
(as Stagecoach in Cheltenham
), Gloucester
(as Stagecoach in Gloucester
), the Cotswolds
(as Stagecoach in the Cotswolds), the Wye Valley
, the Forest of Dean
(both as Stagecoach in Wye and Dean
) and Swindon
(as Stagecoach in Swindon
).
in 1983 and privatised in 1986. Western Travel acquired Midland Red South
in 1987, and the Eastern Division of National Welsh in 1991.
Stagecoach subsequently split the operations: the Welsh operations became part of Stagecoach in South Wales, and the Forest of Dean operations remained part of Stagecoach West as Stagecoach in Wye and Dean
.
Many bus services have been upgraded in recent years with more promotion of the routes, more frequent services and new easy access buses with CCTV, in a bid to win more passengers and to encourage greater use of public transport.
Cheltenham's local bus network is, unusually, lettered not numbered, and includes:
Cheltenham Local Bus Services to be renumbered in early 2011
Stagecoach West are also responsible for resourcing
(i) vehicles/drivers under contract to National Express for part of the 444 Gloucester/London Service,
and
(ii) the Cheltenham/Gloucester/Swindon/Reading/London Megabus service.
The details of bus services and timetables are on separate area websites:
Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group plc is an international transport group operating buses, trains, trams, express coaches and ferries. The group was founded in 1980 by the current chairman, Sir Brian Souter, his sister, Ann Gloag, and her former husband Robin...
. Based in Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
, it operates bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
services in Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
(as Stagecoach in Cheltenham
Stagecoach in Cheltenham
Stagecoach in Cheltenham is a subsidiary of Stagecoach West, itself a sector of the larger Stagecoach Group, that operates buses in Cheltenham.- History :...
), Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
(as Stagecoach in Gloucester
Stagecoach in Gloucester
Stagecoach in Gloucester is a subsidiary of Stagecoach West, itself a sector of the larger Stagecoach Group, that operates buses in Gloucester.-History:...
), the Cotswolds
Cotswolds
The Cotswolds are a range of hills in west-central England, sometimes called the Heart of England, an area across and long. The area has been designated as the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
(as Stagecoach in the Cotswolds), the Wye Valley
Wye Valley
The Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an internationally important protected landscape straddling the border between England and Wales. It is one of the most dramatic and scenic landscape areas in southern Britain....
, the Forest of Dean
Forest of Dean
The Forest of Dean is a geographical, historical and cultural region in the western part of the county of Gloucestershire, England. The forest is a roughly triangular plateau bounded by the River Wye to the west and north, the River Severn to the south, and the City of Gloucester to the east.The...
(both as Stagecoach in Wye and Dean
Stagecoach in Wye and Dean
Stagecoach in Wye And Dean is a subsidiary of Stagecoach West, itself a sector of the larger Stagecoach Group, that operates buses in Gloucester.- History :...
) and Swindon
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
(as Stagecoach in Swindon
Stagecoach in Swindon
Stagecoach in Swindon is the sector of the Stagecoach Group that operates buses in Swindon.It was formerly part of the Bristol Omnibus Company, then from 1983 part of the Cheltenham & Gloucester Omnibus Company . From 1983 it operated under the name Swindon and District...
).
History
Stagecoach West was formerly Western Travel Limited, acquired by Stagecoach Group in 1993. Western Travel was originally the management buy-out vehicle for Cheltenham & Gloucester Omnibus Company, split off from Bristol Omnibus CompanyBristol Omnibus Company
The Bristol Omnibus Company is the former name of the dominant bus operator in Bristol, one of the oldest bus companies in the United Kingdom. The company once ran buses over a wide area of Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire and neighbouring counties. The name was in operational use until 1985...
in 1983 and privatised in 1986. Western Travel acquired Midland Red South
Midland Red
Midland Red was a bus company which operated in the English Midlands from 1905 to 1981. It was the trading name used by the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company , which was renamed Midland Red Omnibus Company in 1974...
in 1987, and the Eastern Division of National Welsh in 1991.
Stagecoach subsequently split the operations: the Welsh operations became part of Stagecoach in South Wales, and the Forest of Dean operations remained part of Stagecoach West as Stagecoach in Wye and Dean
Stagecoach in Wye and Dean
Stagecoach in Wye And Dean is a subsidiary of Stagecoach West, itself a sector of the larger Stagecoach Group, that operates buses in Gloucester.- History :...
.
Many bus services have been upgraded in recent years with more promotion of the routes, more frequent services and new easy access buses with CCTV, in a bid to win more passengers and to encourage greater use of public transport.
Depots
- CheltenhamCheltenhamCheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
(Lansdown Industrial Estate, Gloucester Road) (CM) - ColefordColeford, GloucestershireColeford is a small market town in Gloucestershire, England in the west of the Forest of Dean with a population of 8,351 . It is situated some four miles east of the Welsh border, and is close to the Wye Valley, a popular walking and canoeing area...
(Lakers Road, Berry Hill) (CD) - GloucesterGloucesterGloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
(London Road) (GR) - Ross On Wye (Great Western Court) (RS)
- StroudStroudStroud a town and civil parish in the county of Gloucestershire, England.Stroud may also refer to:*Stroud, New South Wales, Australia*Stroud, Ontario, Canada*Stroud , Gloucestershire, UK*Stroud...
(London Road) (SD) - SwindonSwindonSwindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
(Eastcott Road) (SN)
Services
Stagecoach West operate a number of services, both urban and local services run in the main towns of operation, as well as longer-distance routes serving out of town areas.Local Stagecoach West bus services
Local City bus services in Gloucester (using various pick-up stops in the City Centre) include:- 1: Matson - Gloucester City Centre
- 3/4: Brockworth-Abbydale - Gloucester City Centre
- 5: Upton St Leonards - Abbeymead - Gloucester City Centre - St Oswalds Park
- 9: Tuffley Court - Gloucester City Centre
- 10/N10: Cheltenham Town Centre - Shurdington - Brockworth - Hucclecote - Gloucester City Centre - Lower Tuffley
Cheltenham's local bus network is, unusually, lettered not numbered, and includes:
- Service A: Prestbury - Whaddon - Cheltenham Town Centre - Rowanfield - Gloscat
- Service B: Cheltenham Town Centre - Six Ways - Charlton Kings
- Service C: Cheltenham Town Centre - Springbank - Fiddler's Green
- Service D: Bishops Cleeve - Cheltenham Racecourse - Cheltenham Town Centre - Cheltenham Station - Hatherley - Warden Hill
- Service H: Cheltenham Town Centre - Wyman's Brook - Swindon Village - Gallagher Retail Park
Cheltenham Local Bus Services to be renumbered in early 2011
Longer distance services
Stagecoach West also operate some longer distance services to more rural areas outside of the main towns; these include -- 12/12A/91: Gloucester - Quedgeley - Dursley
- 14: Gloucester - Hempstead - Kingsway - Stonehouse Glos - The Stanleys - Stroud
- 23: Gloucester - Lydney - Coleford
- 24/24A: Gloucester - Mitcheldean - Joys Green /Cinderford
- 30/31: Gloucester - Cinderford - Coleford
- 33: Gloucester - Ross On Wye (Now extended to Hereford, replacing #38)
- 32: Gloucester - Newent - Ross On Wye
- 41: Cheltenham - Tewkesbury
- 46: Cheltenham - Stroud (Glos) - Nailsworth - Forest Green
- 51: Swindon - Cirencester
- 55: Swindon - Calne - Chippenham
- 66: Swindon - Faringdon - Oxford
- 93: Gloucester - Stroud (Glos) - Nailsworth - Forest Green
- 94/X94/N94/94U: Gloucester - Longlevens - Cheltenham
- 97/98: Gloucester - Longlevens - Churchdown - Readings - Cheltenham
- 132: Gloucester - Newent - Ledbury
- 151: Cirencester - Cheltenham
- 504: Wotton under Edge - Nailsworth - Stroud - Gloucester (St Peter's School)
Stagecoach West are also responsible for resourcing
(i) vehicles/drivers under contract to National Express for part of the 444 Gloucester/London Service,
and
(ii) the Cheltenham/Gloucester/Swindon/Reading/London Megabus service.
External links
The details of bus services and timetables are on separate area websites: