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| ROYAL BLUE - 21 - 23 June 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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An illustrative overview of the 2019 routes is given here and outlined below (click on map to download in pdf format). Further details of the principal routing and probable stopping points with indicative timings are tabulated at the end of this page and can be downloaded in pdf format here. Please note, these may be subject to change and may be revised in the days preceding the run. The ‘positioning run’ on Thursday 20 June will see participating coaches converging on the Coventry / Birmingham area. The journey for those vehicles travelling from Berkshire will link up at Henley on Thames with a former Associated Motorways route from Portsmouth to Birmingham which was operated jointly by Royal Blue and Midland Red (usually a Royal Blue northbound and Midland Red southbound one day and the reverse the following day). The Royal Blue vehicle changed daily as the coach duty also worked to / from Bournemouth. From Henley the route goes via Wallingford to Oxford then through Banbury and Southam to Coventry for Birmingham. Day 1 (Friday 21 June) of the main Royal Blue Run departs from the National Express Coach Station, Digbeth at 0930 and follows part of the former Elliott Brothers Royal Blue route from Ilfracombe to Derby that operated in the early 1930s. At the time the Elliott Bros coach stop was at the nearby Smithfield Garage. The route is followed as far as Lichfield passing through Sutton Coldfield. The continuation to Liverpool was part of the route begun by Tourist Saloon Coaches from Southampton. Tourist (including this service) was absorbed in the Royal Blue network in 1935 and the route was extended back to start from Bournemouth. Although it was later integrated into Associated Motorways, it remained the preserve of Royal Blue vehicles into the 1970s. From Lichfield the route goes via Rugeley, Newcastle under Lyme, Knutsford, Warrington and Prescot to Liverpool passing along Skelhorne Street near the Ribble coach station with a short stop at Mann Island. Day 1 concludes in Chester and the route from Liverpool forms part of the Liverpool – Cardiff service operated jointly by Western Welsh and Crosville. It started in 1965 and was included in Associated Motorways timetables, becoming part of the Traws-Cambria network. It ran from Skelhorne Street coach station, sometimes calling there having started from the Crosville bus station in Edge Lane. Coaches will use the Queensway/Birkenhead tunnel under the Mersey going via Ellesmere Port into Chester. Day 2 (Saturday 22 June) continues the Liverpool – Cardiff route as far as Newtown going from Chester via Wrexham, Oswestry and Welshpool. The service from Liverpool continued south via Llanidloes, Rhayader and Builth Wells to Brecon and Cardiff , originally going from Rhayader to Builth Wells via Newbridge-on-Wye, but from the summer of 1971 via Llandrindod Wells. From June 1979, however, the first of the services marketed as Traws Cambria was introduced from Bangor to Cardiff, via Newtown. On its 40th anniversary, therefore, it is appropriate that this route is followed south from Newtown (from Builth Wells onwards it is virtually the same as the route used by the service from Liverpool). Interestingly, Service T4 continues today, deviating to serve some other villages albeit with very similar timings to 40 years ago. From Newtown the 2019 Royal Blue Run continues to Llandrindod Wells, Builth Wells, Bronllys and Brecon to Merthyr Tydfil. Depending on overnight stop locations, timing and the status of congestion in the Cardiff, some coaches may complete the run into the city going via Abercynon, Pontypridd. The starting point for Day 3 (Sunday 23 June) is near Treherbert which coaches may reach coming down from the Heads of the Valleys Road (A465) or up the valley from the Cardiff direction. The Treherbert to Cheltenham route being followed was part of an Associated Motorways service that had its origins with Red & White and Royal Blue in the Elliott Brothers’ era in the early 1930s. Royal Blue RE blinds from 1969 still included the Treherbert destination as, in the late 1960s, there was a through summer only service from there to Salisbury, via Pontypool, Cwmbran, and the old Severn Bridge, with connections to Bournemouth and Portsmouth. From Treherbert the route goes down the valley via Porth to Pontypridd and then via Nelson, Ystrad Mynach, Pontypool, Usk, Raglan, Monmouth, Ross-on-Wye and Gloucester for Cheltenham.
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Route Details Coaches/crews participating in the run are at liberty to take alternative routes, set off early and/or add in breaks as they wish. The outline which follows the original routing as closely as practicably possible and approximate coach timings are given below and in pdf format here. These may be updated before departure on 20th June. Positioning Run, 20 June – HENLEY on THAMES – COVENTRY (for DIGBETH COACH STATION)
Day 1, 21 June – BIRMINGHAM (DIGBETH COACH STATION) - CHESTER
Day 2, 22 June – CHESTER – MERTHYR TYDFIL (& CARDIFF)
Day 3, 23 June – TREHERBERT – CHELTENHAM
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Entry Form Entries for the 2019 Royal Blue Run are now closed and packs have been despatched to participating crews. Coaches that have not entered should not attempt to join the run, please, as the routing and stopping points have been specifically tailored to participating vehicles with a view to avoiding congestion for the general public. |
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2019 Participating Coaches include:
The above coaches are amongst those expected to join some or all the run but the owners may have to withdraw or substitute vehicles due to unforeseen illness or mechanical problems. This is beyond the organisers’ control and any disappointment is regretted. |
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Background Our Royal Blue Runs were established in 2002 so that owners and their passengers can relive the pleasures of long distance luxury coach travel for which their carefully preserved vehicles were originally intended. The aim is to follow original Royal Blue routes as closely as possible and to travel at a leisurely pace redolent of the times. The runs also create a wonderful spectacle for innocent bystanders and dedicated photographers alike, thanks to the hard work and resources the owners have devoted to restoring and maintaining their fine coaches. A lot of work goes into planning the runs from selecting routes from the extensive Royal Blue network and researching the original drivers’ instructions and passenger timetables, preparing maps and outline routing, driving the routes to develop detailed instructions allowing for modern day features and constraints, organising refreshment stops, obtaining parking permissions, to identifying potential accommodation for a dozen or more coaches and their passengers. Despite all the preparations, final timings are hard to judge whether due to roadworks or things that might pique the interest of crews along the way. The coaches do not travel in close convoy so as not to inconvenience other road users. Some drivers have also been known on occasion to deviate from the intended route (unintentionally!). Overall the focus is on education and enjoyment and we hope that however you take part you share in the pleasure.
Information about previous events can be found here. You can take a virtual trip on our 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 runs on our Blog and our Facebook page has video coverage from the 2018 run. |
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(C) Copyright The Thames Valley & Great Western Omnibus Trust Company Registered in England No. 5035702. Registered Charity No. 1125980 |
