Ulsterbus timetable (Express) - Summer 1981

This frame shows the cover of the Summer 1981 Ulsterbus Express Services timetable (left). The company operated services within Northern Ireland together with some services into the Irish Republic worked jointly with CIÉ (Córas Iompair Éireann).

The map on the right appeared one of the inside pages and showed the cross channel services operated from Northern Ireland to England and Scotland

Services from Belfast ran to London (924) nightly; to Glasgow/Edinburgh (913) four days a week; to Leeds via Lancaster, Preston and Manchester (923) three times a week; and Middlesbrough (349) twice a week. There were also three holiday traffic services to Blackpool (258); Scarborough (249) and Ayr (914) once weekly.

A curious ‘New 1981’ service was that to Bristol which ran overnight from Belfast on Sunday nights returning overnight from Bristol on Monday nights operated from 28 June until 31 August. The timetable showed just four timing points Belfast-Larne-Cairnryan-Bristol. Can anyone tell me more about this service??

In addition there were cross channel services which avoided Belfast running to Glasgow from Londonderry (287) four times weekly and from Bundoran (288) twice weekly. Also from Londonderry were services to London (922) twice weekly and to Blackpool (259) on two holiday weekends.

This timetable was personally sent to me by the late Reg Ludgate, the man who for many years compiled the Northern Ireland news column for ‘Buses Illustrated’ and ‘Buses’ magazines. Mr. Ludgate worked for Ulsterbus.