West Midlands Travel - the First Ten Years

Following on from the acclaimed WMPTE – The County Years, David Cole has turned his attention to the next ten years activity of the largest bus operator in the West Midlands. Adopting the name West Midlands Travel at deregulation, the new arms-length company added a significant number of new vehicles to those inherited from WMPTE, investment continuing until the company was sold to its employees in 1991. The focus then turned to refurbishment and consolidation prior to a merger with National Express in 1995 as an alternative to a stock market flotation. Branding changed from West Midlands Travel to WM Buses from 1994, the latter would be short-lived with the company preparing for a change to Travel West Midlands on the introduction of low floor buses almost exactly ten years on from deregulation. Nearly 200 colour images tell the story of the vehicles operated during the period and their ever evolving colour schemes, including those originating from some of the business’ acquired and kept as subsidiaries.