'Ten Cities Express' timetable - Summer 1972

The 'Ten Cities Express' operated between Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Coventry licenced to a number of big company operators most of which became part of the National Bus Company. The service had its origins with the Fawdon Bus Company which started the service in 1928. In 1933 Fawdon was acquired by the West Yorkshire Road Car Company on behalf of the ‘Limited Stop’ and ‘Yorkshire Services’ pools and following the acquisition revenue north of Leeds was shared by Northern General Transport, North Western Road Car, West Yorkshire Road Car and Yorkshire Woollen District. South of Leeds it was shared by East Yorkshire Motor Services, West Yorkshire Road Car Company, Yorkshire Traction Company and Yorkshire Woollen District. Due to there being so many different companies involved, the road service licence for the service was held in the name of the Fawdon Omnibus Company registered at the offices of Northern General in Bensham. Since no vehicles were owned by Fawdon a hiring permit was granted by the Traffic Commissioners with Northern General Transport, West Yorkshire Road Car and Yorkshire Woollen District being the prominent operators. The Fawdon Company was wound up in 1962 and the different pool members then held separate licences (which then included East Midland Motor Services, Lancashire United Transport and United Automobile Services). It was at this time the service became marketed as the ‘Ten Cities Express’. The feeder services shown in this timetable to/from Halifax and Huddersfield were actually timings covered by the Blackpool-Barnsley service J7 (later 217) of the 'Yorkshire-Blackpool' pool operators.