| The interchange was the secret to the success of National Express.
It began at Cheltenham coach station, but this had to be surrendered when planning manager Jim Cressey conceived the two-hourly cross-country interchange pattern. It began as a Birmingham - Bristol link, then swiftly extended on paper to Plymouth, London, Manchester, Leeds and eventually Glasgow. It was helped by the motorway network, four hours allowed at the wheel, and the ability to operate modern coaches at 70mph in the mid Seventies, Eighties and early Nineties. The Rapide coach enabled longer services to by-pass interchanges (Manchester/Liverpool/Plymouth nonstop to London for example). These are covered on another page. |
W928 UVV at Stansted 640x480 156.705J.JPG 2005-07-29 20:24:00 |
Amberline B144 ACK 640x423 122.976C_703.jpg 1989-09-01 00:00:00 |
Amberline F616 VNH in Wellington Street, Leeds coach station 640x401 122.977Cb_703.jpg 1989-09-01 00:00:00 |
Amberline, Liverpool F102 UNV in Victoria Coach Station 640x421 164.008_670.jpg 1999-11-30 00:00:00 |
Bagnall XOI 2907 in Victoria coach station. It was a Volvo B58-56 new as SSG 664V. 640x424 157.201C_670.jpg 1989-04-18 00:00:00 |
Bebb, Llantwit Fadre CN05 DZK is a Volvo B12B with C49FT-fitted Plaxton bodywork 640x480 157.2655J.JPG 2007-09-17 21:09:00 |
Bebb, Llantwit Fadre CN54 HFE, a Volvo B12M/Jockheere Mistral 50 640x480 157.2652.JPG 2007-09-17 17:36:00 |
Black & White 139 (4879 DF) and 144 (AAD 244B) at Cheltenham Coach Station ready to take up service shortly before being withdrawn and sold 640x389 109.066C_1-155.jpg 1975-01-01 00:00:00 |
Bruce, Salburgh FJ58 AKK 640x480 156.0981J.JPG 2009-06-16 22:47:00 |
Cambridge Travel Services S324 VNM in the Gatwick South coach station 640x421 157.2115J.jpg 1999-11-30 00:00:00 |
Chalfont, Southall WA57 JZT 640x480 157.0619J.JPG 2008-07-21 15:57:00 |
Classic, Annfield Plain 143 (X143 WNL) was new to Arriva Northumbria 638x480 159.0230J.DSCF7207.JPG 2007-03-05 11:19:00 |
Crosville CLL 317 (RMA 317P) 640x421 109.3100C_.jpg 1999-11-30 00:00:00 |
Crosville CLL 317 (RMA 317P) leaves Cheltenham Coach Station for the last time with the final working of the 640 Aberystwyth service, covered in the detritus from its morning run into Cheltenham. 640x421 109.3101C_.jpg 1999-11-30 00:00:00 |
Crosville CTL 67 (C67 JTU) in London Victoria 640x408 c67_670.jpg 1999-11-30 00:00:00 |
Crosville Wales CXV 12 (G452 JCC) in Glasgow, ready to work the 548 Rapide to Wrexham. 640x417 157.345C_740.jpg 1990-05-01 00:00:00 |
Dorset Travel 382 (W382 UEL), a Scania L94IB/Van Hool, and First Cymru 20548 (CU53 AEG), a Volvo B12M/Plaxton in the Bournemouth Transport Interchange 638x480 156.546J.JPG 2006-09-07 14:40:00 |
Durham Travel Services THL 290Y which went on long-term loan to National Express when new. The friendly loan ended abruptly the minute West Riding considered privatisation! 640x421 122.978C_703.jpg 1989-09-01 00:00:00 |
![East Yorkshire 4 (GRH 4Y) takes a break in Bradford Interchange while on the Trans-Pennine service 960 [Alan O. Watkins Collection]](http://thumbs.fotopic.net/185020000652.jpg)
East Yorkshire 4 (GRH 4Y) takes a break in Bradford Interchange while on the Trans-Pennine service 960 [Alan O. Watkins Collection] 640x421 122.099Z.jpg 1983-04-01 00:00:00 |
East Yorkshire 161 (MAG 161P) partly masks National Travel South East LYU 552P in Victoria Coach Station 640x412 109.248S_1-12.jpg 1978-05-01 00:00:00 |
Elcock Reisen YN04 WTU arrives in Digbeth coach station on a National Express service 638x480 157.2534J.JPG 2007-07-09 15:50:00 |
Excelsior, Bournemouth HFX 423V (Ford R1114/Plaxton sold to Sherborne Coaches), Black & White 118 (MDF 118P), National Travel South West 143 (SDD 143R) back on one of its old haunts while serving with Davis, Minchinhampton, and Bristol 2073 (GHY 135K) 640x421 109.817C_334.jpg 1983-08-01 00:00:00 |
Flight, Birmingham S296 WOA, a Volvo B10M-62 - Plaxton 640x411 157.1060C_.jpg 1999-11-30 00:00:00 |
London Country TPL 90 (B290 KPF) leaves Chorlton Street, Manchester 640x414 122.355C_471.jpg 1999-11-30 00:00:00 |
Midland Red Express 198 (HHA 198L) in the depths of Digbeth Coach Station, Birmingham, later became Cheltenham and Gloucester 2103 640x418 109.569_267.jpg 1982-05-01 00:00:00 |
Midland Red South 2 (A191 GVC) takes up its stance on the final day of Cheltenham Coach Station 640x423 122.2118C_.jpg 1999-11-30 00:00:00 |
Midland Red South 77 (C77 XWK) 640x401 122.977Ca_703.jpg 1989-09-01 00:00:00 |
Midlard Red Coaches 582 (BVP 782V) and 499 (MWG 499P) 640x402 109.3097C_.jpg 1999-11-30 00:00:00 |
National Express 3 (C177 KET), Crosville CTL 69 and CMC 217 640x393 200.0191C_563.jpg 2008-05-07 11:13:00 |
National Express interchange at Plymouth Bretonside bus station 640x421 scan0007_698.jpg 1989-07-13 00:00:00 |
National Express NXL 12 (YN04 GPU) in Digbeth coach station 638x480 156.677J.JPG 2007-07-09 15:41:00 |
National Express Operations P111 SAS, a DAF DE33WSSB3000 with Van Hool bodywork, here seen at Gatwick North terminus 640x480 085.0029J.jpg 2004-03-16 16:25:00 |
National Express Operations P50 SAS, a DAF DE33WSSB3000 with Plaxton bodywork, here seen at Gatwick South 640x480 085.0028J.jpg 2004-03-16 13:53:00 |
National Express Operations T207 AUA at Stansted Airport 640x480 085.0015J.JPG 2005-07-29 20:24:00 |
National Travel East OKY 54R, a Leyland Leopard PSU3D.4R with Willowbrook Spacecar bodywork 316x480 109.1351C_418.jpg 1984-07-01 00:00:00 |
National Travel South West 353 (KAD 353V) was the last home coach to arrive back into Cheltenham for the final interchange. 640x423 109.3098C_.jpg 1999-11-30 00:00:00 |
National Welsh UC903 (AAL 622A) 640x421 122.753C_706.jpg 1989-10-29 00:00:00 |
National Welsh UC903 (AAL 622A)arrives in Glasgow 640x421 122.750C_706.jpg 1989-10-29 00:00:00 |
National Welsh UC903 (AAL 622A)in Glasgow (Buchanan Street) bus station 640x421 122.752C_706.jpg 1989-10-29 00:00:00 |
National Welsh UC932 (AKG 282A) was new as A232 VWO 640x421 122.716Ca_697.jpg 1989-08-31 00:00:00 |
![National Welsh UC932 (AKG 282A), 2440 (SFJ 140R) [WN] and 1617 (PDD 101M) in Bretonside bus station, Plymouth](http://thumbs.fotopic.net/384016000993.jpg)
National Welsh UC932 (AKG 282A), 2440 (SFJ 140R) [WN] and 1617 (PDD 101M) in Bretonside bus station, Plymouth 640x421 122.716C_697.jpg 1989-08-31 00:00:00 |
North Devon 3525 (AFJ 717T), a 1978 Leyland Leopard PSU3E.4R with Plaxton Elite bodywork, seen in Cheltenham Coach Station 640x421 109.816C_334.jpg 1983-08-01 00:00:00 |
Northern 5066 (PPT 766P) 541x480 109.787Ca_333.jpg 1983-04-01 00:00:00 |
Northern 7052 (GGR 400N) sported a Plaxton Elite III body on a Leyland Leopard PSU3C.4R chassis. It is seen in Leeds (Wellington Street) 640x421 109.970C_372.jpg 1984-04-01 00:00:00 |
NXL 17 (YN05 WJD) 640x480 156.900J.JPG 2008-09-08 16:13:00 |
Paramount 19 (G119 XRE) and National Express 003 (NXI 9003) and an unidentified Expressliner in Digbeth coach station 640x421 157.297C_723.jpg 1990-02-01 00:00:00 |
![Royal Blue 1410 (B258 AGL) [WN] was originally built as an 82-seat singledoor Mteroliner, but this was later modified to a two-door, luggaged, decker for Rapide services (as shown)](http://thumbs.fotopic.net/688016000854.jpg)
Royal Blue 1410 (B258 AGL) [WN] was originally built as an 82-seat singledoor Mteroliner, but this was later modified to a two-door, luggaged, decker for Rapide services (as shown) 640x423 204.194C_694.jpg 1989-08-31 00:00:00 |
Selwyn, Runcorn YEL 23 battles through torrential rain in the soggy summer of 2007 to get into Digbeth coach station. The Van Hool Alizee-bodied DAF SB 3000 was built in 1999 as T 58 AUA 638x480 085.0050J.JPG 2007-07-09 15:38:00 |
Shaw, Carnforth PO55 OWY is a Volvo B12B/Plaxton C49FT shltering from the rain at Digbeth coach station 638x480 157.2531J.JPG 2007-07-09 15:43:00 |
Sheffield United MWJ 470P in service with National Travel North East (Alan O. Watkins Colln) 640x478 mwj470p.jpg 1999-11-30 00:00:00 |
Smith Murton A690 HEF 640x423 157.437C_693.jpg 1999-11-30 00:00:00 |
Smith Shearing C356 FVN in Preston on the 381 service to Blackpool 640x421 122.730C_703.jpg 1989-09-01 00:00:00 |
Southdown 1264 (CUF 264L) in Victoria Coach Station sporting a local express livery 640x422 109.1367C_453.jpg 1984-08-02 00:00:00 |
Southdown 1306 (ANJ 306T) leaves Victoria 640x414 109.1372C_453.jpg 1984-08-02 00:00:00 |
Southdown 1326 (GWV 926V) leaves Victoria on a wet night 640x425 109.329_231.jpg 1981-02-05 00:00:00 |
Speedlink Airport Services V54 (G254 VPK) was a Volvo B10M-60 with Plaxton Expressliner bodywork 449x480 156.517Cb_766.jpg 1999-11-30 00:00:00 |
Stansted Airport and just arriving is LK52 KWD 640x480 157.1069J.JPG 2005-07-29 20:25:00 |
Tayside Travel Services F450 PSL (ex Stagecoach) showing the variations on the National Express livery. 640x421 157.246C_706.jpg 1989-10-29 00:00:00 |
Tellings Golden Miller YN56 SGU is a Plaxton Paragon-bodied Volvo B12B, pictured arriving in Bristol's rebuilt Marlborough Street bus and coach station 640x480 157.2579J.JPG 2007-07-23 12:51:00 |
Trent 7 (A707 CNU) in Chorlton Street coach station, Manchester 640x421 122.743Cvar_702.jpg 1989-09-01 00:00:00 |
Trent 20 (PCH 420L), one of the last Bristol RELH/ECWs on National Express operations, is seen with Midland Red South 2 (A191 GVC) 640x421 122.172C_368.jpg 1984-05-01 00:00:00 |
United Counties 109 (A109 TRP) was only two weeks old when pictured in Oxford (Gloucester Green) 640x421 122.106C_350.jpg 1983-12-01 00:00:00 |
W928 UVV, a Scania/Irizar, is seen at Stanstead Airport 640x480 131.1023J.JPG 2005-07-29 20:24:00 |
Wessex National 222 (B222 VHW) 640x425 204.066C_418.jpg 1984-08-20 00:00:00 |
Wessex National 222 (B222 VHW) 640x423 204.067C_418.jpg 1984-08-20 00:00:00 |
West Riding 23 in Chorlton Street coach station, Manchester 640x423 109.1495C_471.jpg 1999-11-30 00:00:00 |
Western National 2234 (E340 WTT) in Glasgow Buchanan Street coach station on the longest National Express route, the daily 547 from Penzance to Aberdeen. It was a DAF MB230 with Duple 340 bodywork. 640x421 159.101C_706.jpg 1989-10-30 00:00:00 |
Western National 2426 (GTA 807N) 640x421 109.1917C_697.jpg 1989-08-31 00:00:00 |
Western National 2426 (GTA 807N) 640x423 109.1957C_700.jpg 1989-08-31 00:00:00 |
Weston and Wells 2205 640x425 122.330c_449.jpg 1984-10-19 00:00:00 |
Weston and Wells 2221 (B221 WEU) 640x421 122.387C_476.jpg 1985-01-24 00:00:00 |
Whitelaw, Stonehouse E549 XKW is a Volvo B10M-61 with Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodywork. It is seen working the 860 service out of Glasgow Buchanan Street, north to Aberdeen, in the weeks following the acquisition of the Stagecoach operations 640x421 157.237C_705.jpg 1989-10-30 00:00:00 |
YN03 DGE in Birmingham's temporary coach station in Oxford Street 640x480 156.861J.JPG 2008-09-08 12:27:00 |
Yorkshire Traction A313 XHE on Rapide work in Plymouth's Bretonside coach station. 510x480 157.214C_698.jpg 1989-08-31 00:00:00 |
Yorkshire Voyager 2414 (C63 CYG), a Leyland Tiger TRCTL11.3RZ with Duple 340 bodywork 640x411 122.732C_702.jpg 1989-09-01 00:00:00 |
