Primrose (Bisset) OUP 611D 14 Sep 1974 (1)

Saturday 16 September 1974 (approx 1520) - R & M Bisset Limited was one of two partners sharing the name Primrose Coaches. OUP 611D, a Plaxton Panorama bodied AEC Reliance new in June 1966, was seen in Preston bus station when working the 1430 service from Ainsdale (Pontins) and Southport (1440) back to Newcastle-upon-Tyne. This service was the result of the determination of Primrose to maintain its share of holiday traffic between Tyneside and the Lancashire coastal resorts. Primrose began working regular daily services from Tyneside to the Fylde Coast in May 1928. Ribble and Northern General also operated services between the two areas from the early days of coaching. In the the early 1970s (by which time both Ribble and Northern General were part of the National Bus Company) they sought to introduce a holiday service from Tyneside to Southport to which Primrose objected. After ongoing debates in the Traffic Courts the result was that Ribble and Northern General commenced a Newcastle-Southport-Ainsdale holiday service as National Express service number 353. Primrose was granted a licence to operate a parallel service which was, as the timetable leaflet noted, 'operated in conjunction with Ribble Motor Services'. Basically Primrose operated all the mileage on their service but had to pay a percentage of the revenue to Ribble and also pay for the use of the Ribble bus stations in Preston and Southport. On 2 June 1973 this new Tyneside-Southport/Ainsdale holiday service commenced operating on Summer Saturdays until 29 September.