Southern National
Encyclopedia
Southern National was a bus company operating in South West England
from 1929 to 1969, and again from 1983 to 1999.
and the National Omnibus & Transport Company. The National company had originated in 1909 as the National Steam Car Company, started to run steam bus
services in London. The London services ceased in 1919, when the company was renamed National Omnibus and Transport Company. The company expanded outside London, in Essex (1913), Bedfordshire (1919), Gloucestershire (1919), Somerset (1920), Dorset (1921) and Devon and Cornwall (1927).
Southern National was formed to improve co-ordination of road and rail passenger services in the operating area of the Southern Railway. The railway had very little involvement in bus services, but the National Omnibus transferred its operations in the operating area to the new company. The result was an operating territory split into two areas: Dorset (based at Weymouth) and north Devon and north Cornwall (based at Barnstaple
). The two areas were separated by the operating territories of Devon General
and Western National
.
In 1931 a controlling interest in the National Omnibus was acquired by the Tilling Group. From then on Southern National was run as a Tilling company, although the railway retained its shares until 1948. Western National and Southern National shared a common management, based in Exeter
.
At the end of 1934, Western National and Southern National bought Royal Blue Coach Services
.
In 1948 the Southern Railway was nationalised, and shortly after the Tilling Group sold its bus interests to the government. Southern National therefore became a state-owned company, under the control of the British Transport Commission
. In 1962 Southern National was passed to the state-owned Transport Holding Company
, then in 1969 to the state-owned National Bus Company.
Shortly after its formation, the NBC transferred the operations of Southern National to Western National, so that Southern National ceased to exist as an operating entity.
In 1988 the new Southern National was sold to its management, who sold it to First Group in 1999. First split Southern National into two: the Dorset operations became part of First Hampshire & Dorset
, and the Somerset operations part of First Somerset & Avon
. The Southern National name again fell into disuse.
As a postscript, the original legal entity, Southern National Omnibus Company Ltd (incorporated in 1929), was recycled by the National Bus Company in 1986, renamed Northumbria Motor Services Ltd and used as one of the companies into which United Automobile Services
was divided in preparation for privatisation. It is now Arriva Northumbria
Ltd.
South West England
South West England is one of the regions of England defined by the Government of the United Kingdom for statistical and other purposes. It is the largest such region in area, covering and comprising Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. ...
from 1929 to 1969, and again from 1983 to 1999.
Original company (1929–1969)
Southern National Omnibus Company Ltd started in 1929 as a joint venture between the Southern RailwaySouthern Railway (Great Britain)
The Southern Railway was a British railway company established in the 1923 Grouping. It linked London with the Channel ports, South West England, South coast resorts and Kent...
and the National Omnibus & Transport Company. The National company had originated in 1909 as the National Steam Car Company, started to run steam bus
Steam bus
A steam bus is a bus powered by a steam engine. Early steam-powered vehicles designed for carrying passengers were more usually known as steam carriages, although this term was sometimes used to describe other early experimental vehicles too.-History:...
services in London. The London services ceased in 1919, when the company was renamed National Omnibus and Transport Company. The company expanded outside London, in Essex (1913), Bedfordshire (1919), Gloucestershire (1919), Somerset (1920), Dorset (1921) and Devon and Cornwall (1927).
Southern National was formed to improve co-ordination of road and rail passenger services in the operating area of the Southern Railway. The railway had very little involvement in bus services, but the National Omnibus transferred its operations in the operating area to the new company. The result was an operating territory split into two areas: Dorset (based at Weymouth) and north Devon and north Cornwall (based at Barnstaple
Barnstaple
Barnstaple is a town and civil parish in the local government district of North Devon in the county of Devon, England, UK. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter. The old spelling Barnstable is now obsolete.It is the main town of the...
). The two areas were separated by the operating territories of Devon General
Devon General
Devon General was the brand name for the principal bus operator in south Devon from 1919. The name was first used by the Devon General Omnibus and Touring Company which was created in 1919. In 1922 it was purchased by the National Electric Construction Company which merged with British Electric...
and Western National
Western National
Western National was a bus operating company in South West England from 1929 to the 1990s.-Early history:Western National Omnibus Company Ltd started in 1929 as a joint venture between the Great Western Railway and the National Omnibus & Transport Company...
.
In 1931 a controlling interest in the National Omnibus was acquired by the Tilling Group. From then on Southern National was run as a Tilling company, although the railway retained its shares until 1948. Western National and Southern National shared a common management, based in Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
.
At the end of 1934, Western National and Southern National bought Royal Blue Coach Services
Royal Blue Coach Services
Royal Blue Coach Services was a coach operator in the south and west of England from 1880 until 1986.-Origins:The Royal Blue business was started in 1880 by Thomas Elliott in Bournemouth. The business, at first known as Royal Blue and Branksome Mews, included the hire of every kind of horse-drawn...
.
In 1948 the Southern Railway was nationalised, and shortly after the Tilling Group sold its bus interests to the government. Southern National therefore became a state-owned company, under the control of the British Transport Commission
British Transport Commission
The British Transport Commission was created by Clement Attlee's post-war Labour government as a part of its nationalisation programme, to oversee railways, canals and road freight transport in Great Britain...
. In 1962 Southern National was passed to the state-owned Transport Holding Company
Transport Holding Company
The Transport Holding Company was a British Government owned company created by the Transport Act 1962 to administer a range of state-owned transport, travel and engineering companies that were previously managed by the British Transport Commission ; it came into existence on 1 January...
, then in 1969 to the state-owned National Bus Company.
Shortly after its formation, the NBC transferred the operations of Southern National to Western National, so that Southern National ceased to exist as an operating entity.
Recreation (1983–1999)
14 years later, the Southern National name was revived for one of the four companies into which Western National was divided in preparation for privatisation. The territory of the new Southern National Ltd was the old Southern National Dorset area together with the south and west Somerset area, which had not previously been Southern National territory.In 1988 the new Southern National was sold to its management, who sold it to First Group in 1999. First split Southern National into two: the Dorset operations became part of First Hampshire & Dorset
First Hampshire & Dorset
First Hampshire & Dorset is a subsidiary bus company within FirstGroup, which operates buses and trains throughout Great Britain.First Hampshire & Dorset has its head office in Empress Road, Southampton and operates bus services in the Weymouth and Bridport areas in Dorset; and services in...
, and the Somerset operations part of First Somerset & Avon
First Somerset & Avon
First Somerset & Avon Ltd provides bus services in Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Bath and West Wiltshire. It is part of First Group. First Somerset & Avon operates an extensive network of services in and around Bath, Bridgwater, Bristol, Taunton, Trowbridge, Wells, Weston-super-Mare and...
. The Southern National name again fell into disuse.
As a postscript, the original legal entity, Southern National Omnibus Company Ltd (incorporated in 1929), was recycled by the National Bus Company in 1986, renamed Northumbria Motor Services Ltd and used as one of the companies into which United Automobile Services
United Automobile Services
United Automobile Services or United, as it was commonly known, was a major provider of bus services across the North East and North Yorkshire for 80 years or more...
was divided in preparation for privatisation. It is now Arriva Northumbria
Arriva Northumbria
Arriva Northumbria operates in Northumbria, using the "Arriva serving Northumbria" name. They are considered now to have merged with Arriva North East,-Brief history:*1986: United Automobile Services split into two parts, ready for privatisation....
Ltd.