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Service X43: Service History

Service X43 (1966–1974)

Operated by Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company Limited

Service X43 was introduced in c. 1966 (exact date needed) as a variation of Service X44, running via Bearwood (Kings Head) between Birmingham City Centre and the Motorway, rather than Selly Oak and Northfield. The service ran every two hours, interworked with Service X44 to provide an hourly connection between Birmingham and Worcester.

Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company Limited (BMMO—Midland “Red” Motor Services) renamed to Midland Red Omnibus Company Limited (MROC) on Friday 29^th March 1974.

Service X43 (1974–1979)

Operated by Midland Red Omnibus Company Limited

On Saturday 13^th January 1979, Midland Red Omnibus Company Limited (MROC) introduced their “Servernlink” MAP scheme in the Worcester, Bromsgrove and Malvern areas. At this time, the Sundays journeys of Service X43 and Service X44 were withdrawn and replaced with Service M43 and Service M44, which ran over the same Limited Stop route between Birmingham and Worcester but then continued past Worcester, calling at all stops, to Malvern Link, Pound Bank, Barnards Green to Great Malvern. Service M43 then ran via Wyche Cutting and Service M44 via Malvern Wells to British Camp.

Further changes to the “Servernlink” network came on Saturday 26^th May 1979 when weekday and Saturday journeys of Service X43 and Service X44 were also withdrawn and replaced by Service M43 and Service M44 to The Malverns. Unlike Sunday journeys, these only ran as far as Great Malvern.

Midland Red Omnibus Company Limited (MROC) ceased trading as a bus and coach operator at the end of services on Saturday 5^th September 1981. At this time, Service M43 and Service M44 passed to the newly formed Midland Red (West) Limited, who withdrew all “M”-prefix route numbers on Friday 19^th March 1982. A new group of Motorway Express services, numbered in the range X41–X44, was introduced between Birmingham, Worcester and The Malverns, with Service M43 becoming Service X41 and Service M44 becoming Service X42. New Service X43 and Service X44 both ran via Droitwich Spa so were not a replacement for the original BMMO routes.

Service X43 (1982–1992)

Operated by Midland Red (West) Limited

Service X43 was introduced on Saturday 20^th March 1982, as a direct replacement for withdrawn Service M43, running as a Limited Stop Express service between Birmingham, Worcester and Great Malvern, with certain journeys continuing to Malvern Wells or, on Sundays only, to British Camp via Wyche Cutting.

Motorway Express Service X43 was withdrawn by Midland Red West Limited on Saturday 29^th August 1992, due to falling passenger numbers and major traffic disruptions being caused with the widening of the M5 from two to three lanes.

Service X43 (2017–2018)

Operated by First Midland Red Buses Limited

Route number X43 was reused by First Midland Red Buses Limited from Monday 16^th October 2017, for a fast route running between Great Malvern and Worcester every 30-minutes. All journeys ran via Bromwich Road between Worcester City Centre and Lower Wick to give a typical two-minute saving on journey time when compared with Service 44, and also journeys omitted Malvern Retail Park to save another three or four minutes depending on the time of day.

The service operated for just eleven months, being withdrawn after the end of operations on Saturday 15^th September 2018, as part a wider range of cuts.