When Stroud's buses were green (and even red)
Stagecoach & other operators
Bringing the Story
Up-to-Date
Part 3. The final chapter of the Stroud's Buses book concluded in 2003 on a rather upbeat note. What has happened subsequently? Part 2 here
2006
April 2006 saw another round of changes, consequent upon the introduction of free concessionary travel for older people. Service 20 (Stroud-Stonehouse-Dursley-Uley) was truncated off-peak at Dursley but operated at 15 rather than every 20 minutes over the core Stroud-Stonehouse section. This was the highest weekday frequency this service has seen since the withdrawal of a ten-minute service on Saturdays by Bristol Omnibus. This had also been Stroud's only easy-access service using Dennis Darts (33809-12). The replacement for the formerly hourly Dursley-Uley section was the 285, as operated by Beaumont Travel, providing for two return journeys four days a week. In the event, Beaumont ceased trading after only one day, owing to the proprietor's ill-health, and the route subsequently passed to Ebley Bus.
 Looking slightly down-at-heel is this 1991 Olympian with otherwise attractive Alexander bodywork |
May 2006 saw the withdrawal after almost 24 years of service of Roe-bodied Leyland Olympian 14282, originally 9500 in the Bristol Omnibus fleet and as such the first Olympian delivered. Like two similar vehicles also withdrawn at the same time, they were manufactured at the Bristol Commercial Vehicles works in Brislington and their withdrawal marked the end of the link between Stagecoach's forebears & Bristol bus manufacturing, though Ebley Bus continued to use Bristol-built VR double decks till July 2007. 9500 entered service in 1982 at Marlborough Street, Bristol, was transferred to Gloucester, ending its career at Stroud following its transfer in, during 2001. After withdrawal, it passed into preservation, was painted into pre-privatisation Gloucester NBC blue and subsequently "sold" after about six months to Ebley Bus for use as an occasional school bus.
In December 2006, Stagecoach lost the aforementioned 182 Stroud-Chalford-Cirencester school bus, also severing Stagecoach Stroud's link with Cirencester. The bus and driver outstationed at Cirencester for local work nevertheless continued under Stroud (though the Cirencester drivers on the Swindon-Cheltenham 51 come under Swindon). Remaining journeys between Stroud and Cirencester were still the responsibility of Ebley Bus Ltd.
2007
 In this 2006 shot, between two good condition Bristol VRs is a Dennis Dart with Carlyle bodywork |
 The application of green and white freshened up the Ebley Bus fleet |
 Gloucester Citi-branded 14 comes to the aid of Stroud's 14 (The Stanleys, Stonehouse and Quedgeley  |
In a welcome move, November 2007 saw offices and staff facilities relocated to Merrywalks, next to the southbound bus stops, improving supervision and public access to information.
 Operational control passes to the bus terminus at Merrywalks |
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