PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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MOTOR BUS ROUTE "93" PLYMOUTH to KINGSBRIDGE and DARTMOUTH On Tuesday January 1st 1929 the Western National Omnibus Company formally took over the Road Motor Service of the Great Western Railway from Plymouth to Kingsbridge and Dartmouth. This became Western National's service 93. The service ran from Plymouth North Road Station via Cobourg Street, York Street, Russell Street and Bedford Street to St Andrew's Cross and then through Vauxhall Street, Exeter Street, Embankment Road, Laira Bridge Road, Pomphlett, Elburton, Brixton, Yealmpton, Modbury, Kingsbridge Station, Chillington, Torcross, and Stoke Fleming before terminating at the Station, Dartmouth. On and after Wednesday August 14th 1929 a postal letter box was fitted to buses on this service (see below). During the winter season of 1935-36 the first bus to cover the whole route departed from Plymouth's North Road Station at 9.25am. It was due to arrive at Kingsbridge Railway Station at 10.45am, where there was a 15-minute break, and Dartmouth Station at 12.10pm. Further journeys left at 12.20pm, 2pm, and 3.40pm, and went right through to Dartmouth without a break. The 5.40pm departure had a 5-minute break at Kingsbridge on weekdays and a 30-minute one on Sundays. After that, the 8.10pm ran to Dartmouth on weekdays only and the 9.30pm service ran to Kingsbridge only. The first through bus from Dartmouth arrived at Plymouth's St Andrew's Cross at 1.15pm on Sundays and 1.30pm the remainder of the week. The last through journey left Dartmouth at 6.50pm and at Kingsbridge Station it had a postal letter box fitted. It was due to arrive at North Road Station at 9.20pm. It was possible on weekdays to leave Dartmouth at 9pm and reach Plymouth at 11.30pm. Adult single fares from Plymouth for the winter of 1035-36 were: to Kingsbridge, 2s 6d; to Torcross, 3s 6d; to Stoke Fleming (Post Office), 4s 4d; and to Dartmouth, 4s 10d. The adult return fare to Kingsbridge was 4s. There was apparently no return fare from Plymouth to Dartmouth but a resident or holidaymaker at Dartmouth could have a Day Return ticket to Plymouth for 5 shillings. After the Second World War work began on reconstructing the centre of Plymouth and many bus routes got diverted in to roads that were not designed for such large vehicles. One such service was the 93. After leaving North Road Station is got diverted in to North Road and Patna Place on its way to the centre. On the return inward journey it was sent up Hastings Terrace and Oxford Avenue. Although these were only temporary diversions, they were disliked by the drivers and the upper-deck passengers because of the adverse cambers of the roads and the numerous corners that had to be negotiated. There was great relief all round when on Sunday August 11th 1957 Western National's services 92, 92A and 93, along with many Plymouth Joint Service's routes, resumed travelling via York Street and Morley Street to join the brand new Western Approach. The fare stage in Harwell Street was moved back to its former position at the bottom of York Street. RETURN TO Motor Bus Services, Western National Omnibus Company Ltd |
