Primrose Coaches (Tyneside, UK)

Primrose Coaches summer 1974 timetable for Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Southport holiday service which commenced in 1973. 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 states, In conjunction with Ribble Motor Services'. Basically Primrose operated all the mileage on this service but had to pay a percentage of the revenue to Ribble and they also had to pay departure fees to Ribble for the use of the bus stations in Preston and Southport.

From 1973 there was a gradual build up of feeder services from outlying areas to connect with the Tyneside-Lancashire holiday services by both Primrose Coaches and by Ribble/Northern General working as National Express. Page 5 of the summer 1974 Primrose Coaches timetable shows their feeder services offered from Ashington and Prudhoe to connect at Newcastle-upon-Tyne and from Willington and Crook to connect at Bishop Auckland.

Primrose Coaches operated regular excursions from Newcastle-upon-Tyne for many years as outlined in their summer 1974 leaflet.

A full list of booking agencies was featured in all the Primrose Coaches timetable leaflets. The list continues on the next photograph.

A full list of booking agencies was featured in all the Primrose Coaches timetable leaflets. The list runs into two pages.

I have included this leaflet so that a comparison may be made between the Tyneside-Blackpool/Southport services of National (Ribble and Northern General) with those of Primrose Coaches. This page shows the cover of the summer 1974 timetable leaflet whilst the reverse side (in the next photo) shows the actual timetables including feeder services from towns linking to the main services.

I have included this leaflet so that a comparison may be made between the Tyneside-Blackpool/Southport services of National (Ribble and Northern General) with those of Primrose Coaches. This is their summer 1974 timetable which includes the range of feeder services from towns in Northumberland and County Durham which link to the main services.

It was always a bone of contention with Primrose Coaches that the Traffic Commissioners would not grant them their own winter service on the Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Blackpool route and, as a result, during the winter months Primrose had to work jointly with their summertime competitors Ribble Motor Services Limited and the Northern General Transport Company Limited. Ribble and Northern became part of the National Bus Company and the Newcastle to Blackpool service came under the umbrella of National Travel. Publicity for the joint winter service had usually been handled by Northern General. When the NBC corporate style was introduced the Primrose name gained less visual prominence and appeared to imply Primrose was also part of NBC. This rankled Primrose to the degree that they began to produce their own leaflet which included a statement that 'Primrose Coaches are not part of the National Bus Company'. The front of the leaflet very boldly made the same point. The next two photographs shows the National version of the leaflet and the smaller typeface used for the Primrose name on the cover.

It was always a bone of contention with Primrose Coaches that the Traffic Commissioners would not grant them their own winter service on the Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Blackpool route and, as a result, during the winter months Primrose had to work jointly with their summertime competitors Ribble Motor Services Limited and the Northern General Transport Company Limited. Ribble and Northern became part of the National Bus Company and the Newcastle to Blackpool service came under the umbrella of National Travel. Publicity for the joint winter service had usually been handled by Northern General. When the NBC corporate style was introduced the Primrose name gained less visual prominence and appeared to imply Primrose was also part of NBC. This rankled Primrose to the degree that they began to produce their own separate leaflet.

It was always a bone of contention with Primrose Coaches that the Traffic Commissioners would not grant them their own winter service on the Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Blackpool route and, as a result, during the winter months Primrose had to work jointly with their summertime competitors Ribble Motor Services Limited and the Northern General Transport Company Limited. Ribble and Northern became part of the National Bus Company and the Newcastle to Blackpool service came under the umbrella of National Travel. Publicity for the joint winter service had usually been handled by Northern General. When the NBC corporate style was introduced the Primrose name gained less visual prominence and appeared to imply Primrose was also part of NBC. This rankled Primrose to the degree that they began to produce their own separate leaflet.

By the time this leaflet was issued for the summer season deregulation of coach services had been a reality for over three years. The pattern of summer services remained the same albeit with slight timing changes although the extension of the daily service to/from St Annes had ceased and the Saturday feeder services in the north east pruned somewhat. The Southport service remained in the same format. Deregulation enabled Primrose to start operating their own winter service without having to work jointly with Ribble and Northern General.

By the time this leaflet was issued for the summer season deregulation of coach services had been a reality for over three years. The pattern of summer services remained the same albeit with slight timing changes although the extension of the daily service to/from St Annes had ceased and the Saturday feeder services in the north east pruned somewhat. The Southport service remained in the same format. Deregulation enabled Primrose to start operating their own winter service without having to work jointly with Ribble and Northern General.

By the time this leaflet was issued for the summer season deregulation of coach services had been a reality for over three years. The pattern of summer services remained the same albeit with slight timing changes although the extension of the daily service to/from St Annes had ceased. The Southport service remained in the same format. Deregulation enabled Primrose to start operating their own winter service without having to work jointly with Ribble and Northern General.

Changes ensue. By 2000 the Primrose Coaches Tyneside-Fylde Coast service was operated by Classic Coaches, an Arriva or Tellings-Golden Miller company, However, following retrenchment by TGM, I read that the Classic business has been acquired by JH Coaches of Birtley and they are to continue operating the services in 2015. www.classiccoachesholidays.co.uk A company based in Hexham, Northumberland still appears to use the Primrose Coaches name with vehicles that carry a livery inspired by or latterly used by Bisset. (Rowell Coaches/Ian Plumley). www.flickr.com/photos/21611052@N02/9100006151/in/photostream

Changes ensue. By 2000 the Primrose Coaches Tyneside-Fylde Coast service was operated by Classic Coaches, an Arriva or Tellings-Golden Miller company, However, following retrenchment by TGM, I read that the Classic business has been acquired by JH Coaches of Birtley and they are to continue operating the services in 2015. www.classiccoachesholidays.co.uk A company based in Hexham, Northumberland still appears to use the Primrose Coaches name with vehicles that carry a livery inspired by or latterly used by Bisset. (Rowell Coaches/Ian Plumley). www.flickr.com/photos/21611052@N02/9100006151/in/photostream