Greyhound Motors
Encyclopedia
Greyhound Motors, or Bristol Greyhound, was a coach company formed in February 1921 to operate motor coaches from its base in Bristol
, England
.
and Paignton
. It also ran local bus services in Bristol, competing fiercely with Bristol Tramways
.
In 1928 the company was acquired by Bristol Tramways. Greyhound continued to operate as a separate business, and expanded its coach operations. In 1934 it was one of the founder members of the Associated Motorways
consortium of long-distance coach operators, but continued the London service outside the consortium.
At the beginning of 1936, the company's business was absorbed into Bristol Tramways. Bristol Omnibus Company continued to use the Greyhound name for its long-distance coach services until 1972, when the National Bus Company required Bristol to adopt the new National Express
brand.
. However, the new Greyhound was an introduction of the brand from Greyhound Lines
in the United States, also now owned by FirstGroup, which had started to use the name and logo some years after the English company.
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
History
In February 1925 it commenced a long-distance coach service between Bristol and London, which has been claimed to be the first long-distance coach service with scheduled stops en route to pick up and set down passengers. It later began services from Bristol to BournemouthBournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
and Paignton
Paignton
Paignton is a coastal town in Devon in England. Together with Torquay and Brixham it forms the unitary authority of Torbay which was created in 1998. The Torbay area is a holiday destination known as the English Riviera. Paignton's population in the United Kingdom Census of 2001 was 48,251. It has...
. It also ran local bus services in Bristol, competing fiercely with Bristol Tramways
Bristol Omnibus Company
The Bristol Omnibus Company is the former name of the dominant bus operator in Bristol, one of the oldest bus companies in the United Kingdom. The company once ran buses over a wide area of Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire and neighbouring counties. The name was in operational use until 1985...
.
In 1928 the company was acquired by Bristol Tramways. Greyhound continued to operate as a separate business, and expanded its coach operations. In 1934 it was one of the founder members of the Associated Motorways
Associated Motorways
Associated Motorways was a consortium of motor coach operators in the south and Midlands of England, which was active from 1934 to 1974.- History :...
consortium of long-distance coach operators, but continued the London service outside the consortium.
At the beginning of 1936, the company's business was absorbed into Bristol Tramways. Bristol Omnibus Company continued to use the Greyhound name for its long-distance coach services until 1972, when the National Bus Company required Bristol to adopt the new National Express
National Express
National Express Coaches, more commonly known as National Express, is a brand and company, owned by the National Express Group, under which the majority of long distance bus and coach services in Great Britain are operated,...
brand.
Revival of the name
In August 2009 the FirstGroup, now the owners of the former Bristol Omnibus Company, announced the introduction of the Greyhound brand in the United KingdomGreyhound UK
Greyhound UK is a low-cost intercity scheduled coach service in the United Kingdom, owned by FirstGroup and based on the long-established Greyhound service in the USA....
. However, the new Greyhound was an introduction of the brand from Greyhound Lines
Greyhound Lines
Greyhound Lines, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving over 3,700 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, operating under the well-known logo of a leaping greyhound. It was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA, in 1914 and...
in the United States, also now owned by FirstGroup, which had started to use the name and logo some years after the English company.
Further reading
- Hulin, P (1974) Bristol's Buses Published by the author
- Healey, K (2002) Associated Motorways Venture Publications ISBN 1 898432 57 0