Cambridge, Drummer Street Bus Station

It is hard to imagine that it was 35 years ago (on 22 June 1986) that Drummer Street bus station re-opened following a layout change that had existed from its inception. As the years went by and vehicles got larger the old layout became cramped and the central island which housed an office and waiting shelter became an obstacle to movements. In the re-design the central island was removed and the nose in bus stand layout we know today was created. Initially normal bus shelters provided cover for waiting passengers but in time these were replaced with the large structure which exists today. This information leaflet was produced showing which bays were used in the redesigned bus station. Page 2 follows in the next frame........

It is hard to imagine that it was 35 years ago (on 22 June 1986) that Drummer Street bus station re-opened following a layout change that had existed from its inception. As the years went by and vehicles got larger the old layout became cramped and the central island which housed an office and waiting shelter became an obstacle to movements. In the re-design the central island was removed and the nose in bus stand layout we know today was created. Initially normal bus shelters provided cover for waiting passengers but in time these were replaced with the large structure which exists today. This information leaflet was produced showing which bays were used in the redesigned bus station.

May 1972 – In early 1962 Premier Travel Limited added ten East Lancs bodied Leyland PD2/3 double deckers to its fleet which had been new to Ribble Motor Services Limited in 1950. After one withdrawal in 1970, seven were withdrawn during 1972 although the final two lasted until April 1973. Ribble used the vehicles on medium distance express and limited stop services in North West England and they wore their coach livery of mainly cream with crimson relief, a reversed format of the bus livery which was mainly crimson with cream relief. As a result they vehicles became known as the ‘White Lady’ class. These secondhand acquisitions looked right at home in the Premier Travel livery giving a unique flavour to the fleet. Actually, the styling was not unlike three Wilks and Meade bodied Daimler double deck vehicles which Premier Travel had had built in May/June 1950 for use on its own services. Premier Travel 144 (DCK 215) had been new as Ribble 1244 and was seen in Drummer Street bus station in Cambridge.

May 1972 – In early 1962 Premier Travel Limited added ten East Lancs bodied Leyland PD2/3 double deckers to its fleet which had been new to Ribble Motor Services Limited in 1950. After one withdrawal in 1970, seven were withdrawn during 1972 although the final two lasted until April 1973. Ribble used the vehicles on medium distance express and limited stop services in North West England and they wore their coach livery of mainly cream with crimson relief, a reversed format of the bus livery which was mainly crimson with cream relief. As a result they vehicles became known as the ‘White Lady’ class. These secondhand acquisitions looked right at home in the Premier Travel livery giving a unique flavour to the fleet. Actually, the styling was not unlike three Wilks and Meade bodied Daimler double deck vehicles which Premier Travel had had built in May/June 1950 for use on its own services. Premier Travel 143 (DCK 217), one of the pair that lasted until April 1973 that had been new as Ribble 1246, was seen in Drummer Street bus station in Cambridge. Another example stands behind. On the right is a Burwell and District double decker.

June 1985 – WDK 564T sets out from Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge on the 0800 hrs Cambridge to Rochdale joint Yelloway and Premier Travel service 879. The bus station was modernised in the early 1980s and the coach booking and enquiry office, which was located on a central island was demolished. A Leyland National of Cambus, in the original light blue livery, stands on the right.

Saturday 19 January 1985 (approx 1100) - Yelloway WDK 585T setting out from Cambridge when operating the day north service from Clacton-on-Sea to Blackpool. The destination blind shows ‘878 Blackpool’ although it is also working the 877 as far as Manchester from where the 877 covers the feeder service to Rochdale and Blackburn. Carrying a Plaxton Supreme body it was new in 1979 and was one of the last batch of AEC Reliances delivered to the company as a result of British Leyland phasing out this famous AEC model. The following year would see Leyland Leopards enter the fleet. On the right is Premier Travel VAV 256X, a Plaxton bodied Leyland Tiger, and in between them a Green Line coach.

Easter Saturday 6 April 1985 (1325) – A busy time at Drummer Street bus station in Cambridge. On the right is Abingdon Coaches KUW 520P, a Plaxton Supreme bodied AEC Reliance new to National Travel (South East) in April 1976. Abingdon Coaches was a subsidiary of Percivals of Oxford and Percivals was a joint operator on the Bristol-Oxford-Cambridge-East Anglia service 747 worked with Premier Travel Services and National Express. From time to time coaches from the Abingdon Coaches subsidiary would appear on the service. It was working the 0920 Oxford-Great Yarmouth service which was running a little late and should have departed at 1245. Centre is Ambassador Travel LT899 (A899 KAH), a Plaxton Parmount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger new in November 1983, bound for London on service 098. National Holidays lettering but working a National Express service On the left is Yardley’s of Birmingham UTN 953Y, a Plaxton Parmount 3500 bodied Leyland Tiger which had been new to Moor-Dale of Newcastle in April 1983. Yardley’s regularly hired to National Express and later became a contractor on various services so possibly it was on a Birmingham service duplicate.

Saturday 9 February 1985 - Ambassador Travel LL800 (OEX 800W) seen at Drummer Street bus station in Cambridge arriving from Brandon on the 1205 service 747. It is a Willowbrook bodied Leyland Leopard that was new to Eastern Counties Omnibus Company in December 1980 which for quite a while was allocated to Newmarket garage.

Saturday 9 February 1985 – Two Ambassador Travel coaches seen at Drummer Street bus station in Cambridge. Both had been new to Eastern Counties. Left is LL800 (OEX 800W), a Willowbrook bodied Leyland Leopard new in December 1980, had arrived from Brandon on the 1205 service 747. For quite a while was allocated to Newmarket garage. Right is LL757 (SPW 103R), a Duple Dominant bodied Leyland Leopard new in May 1977, which is displaying London and service number 098.

Saturday 21 September 1985 – Eastern National Omnibus Company Alexander TE bodied Leyland Leopard seen in Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge. Possibly number 1114 (HHJ 375Y) new in March 1983. It was working one of the Highwayman branded services which ran on certain days of the week only from the Essex area to seaside resorts or main cities for leisure and shopping.

August 1986 –Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge. On site are four (if not five) light blue liveried Cambus Limited Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VRs, two two-tone blue Plaxton Supreme coaches of Premier Travel Services and, next to the more distant of those, a double decker of Whippet Coaches. The bus station re-opened on Sunday 22 June 1986 after it was re-designed. The old central island containing an enquiry office and waiting shelter which had existed since the early days had now been removed and the nose in bus stand layout created. As the years went by and vehicles got larger the old layout became cramped and the central island became an obstacle to movements.

Saturday 15 February 1997 – Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge around 1200 noon. In the bus station are (left) Whippet Coaches VAV 161X, a Plaxton Supreme bodied Volvo B10M-61 new in April 1982 and (right) Stagecoach Cambus 746 (VEX 304X), an Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR new to Eastern Counties (VR304) in August 1981. Beyond are Stagecoach Cambus vehicles in the corporate livery plus other Whippet vehicles. In the midst of those is a Leyland Lynx from Luton and District.

Saturday 11 April 1998 (Easter weekend) – Stagecoach Cambus vehicles in Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge. The double deckers are Northern Counties Palatine bodied Volvo Olympians all from the batch numbered 526-579 (P526-579 EFL) shared between Cambus and Viscount delivered in late 1996/early 1997. (49 buses because there were no numbers 555 and 560) The mini-bus is 2312 (F312 EJO), a Reeve Burgess bodied Mercedes-Benz 709D that had been new to South Midland in August 1988

Saturday 15 February 1997 – Whippet Coaches J670 LGA seen in Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge. It is a Van Hool Alizée bodied Volvo that had been new to Park’s of Hamilton in March 1992. Previous registrations carried were J456 HDS and LSK 496.