Premier Travel Services Limited

Saturday 26 October 1985 - Premier Travel Services 310 (KJD 24P) seen operating the cross city Park and Ride service in Cambridge. Worked jointly with Cambus the service ran from Cowley Road, where this photo was taken, to the Cattle Market. After a number of years with no double deckers in the fleet Premier had very recently acquired five former London DMS Leyland Fleetlines each carrying a different advertising message for the group’s activities. (MCW bodied Leyland Fleetline new to London Transport in September 1976 as DMS2024) (Ref 29-14)

Saturday 26 October 1985 - Premier Travel Services 312 (KJD 116P) seen operating the cross city Park and Ride service in Cambridge. Worked jointly with Cambus the service ran from Cowley Road, where this photo was taken, to the Cattle Market. After a number of years with no double deckers in the fleet Premier had very recently acquired five former London DMS Leyland Fleetlines each carrying a different advertising message for the group’s activities. (Park Royal bodied Leyland Fleetline new to London Transport in July 1976 as DMS2116) (Ref 29-20/

Saturday 26 October 1985 - Premier Travel Services 312 (KJD 116P) seen operating the cross city Park and Ride service in Cambridge. Worked jointly with Cambus the service ran from Cowley Road, where this photo was taken, to the Cattle Market. After a number of years with no double deckers in the fleet Premier had very recently acquired five former London DMS Leyland Fleetlines each carrying a different advertising message for the group’s activities. (Park Royal bodied Leyland Fleetline new to London Transport in July 1976 as DMS2116) (Ref 29-22)

Saturday 24 August 1985 - Premier Travel Services 315 (C519 KFL) was the company’s one and only Leyland Royal Tiger Doyen new in June 1985 - only a few weeks old and out of the blue I got to drive it today!! At the time Premier worked the United States Air Force contract providing a link from RAF Bentwaters and RAF Woodbridge to Heathrow Airport (and possibly Gatwick too but I am not sure). One or two coaches were outstationed at Wickham Market for the work with the driver(s) living locally. The Doyen developed a fault whereby the entrance door was inoperable. Whilst at Heathrow the driver loaded and unloaded the passengers through the offside emergency door but was admonished by the authorities who took a dim view to passengers being in the roadway. I drove to 301 (GFL 527Y), a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Leyland Tiger, to Wickham Market near Woodbridge for use by the regular driver the next day and brought the Doyen back to Premier Park at Cambridge. It was a most interesting day after all. (Ref 25-21)

Saturday 24 August 1985 - Premier Travel Services 315 (C519 KFL) was the company’s one and only Leyland Royal Tiger Doyen new in June 1985 - only a few weeks old and out of the blue I got to drive it today!! Initially I started work at 0615 and was assigned 281 (WEB 411T) for the possibility of duplicating the 0700 service from Cambridge to Heathrow but was not required. As a result I returned that coach to Premier Park and was then assigned to route learn service 792 (Cambridge-Peterborough-Cambridge-Newmarket-Ipswich-Newmarket-Cambridge). However I was met at Newmarket and taken from this assignment to drive 301 (GFL 527Y), a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Leyland Tiger, to Wickham Market near Woodbridge and bring back ‘a coach with a faulty entrance door’. The latter turned out to be the Doyen! It was a most interesting day after all. At the time Premier worked the United States Air Force contract providing a link from RAF Bentwaters and RAF Woodbridge to Heathrow Airport (and possibly Gatwick too but I am not sure - one or two coaches were outstationed at Wickham Market for the work with the driver(s) living locally). (Ref 25-20)

Saturday 7 September 1985 - Premier Travel Services 315 (C519 KFL) seen on the wash at Premier Park. It as a one off Leyland Royal Tiger Doyen new in June 1985 but it only stayed in the fleet until April 1989. Waiting behind is a heavy goods vehicle operated by Cadbury Schweppes/Chivers-Hartley Jams based at their Histon site. The trucks came down to Premier Park for a wash on Saturday mornings.

Friday 8 June 1990 – This Reeve Burgess/Mercedes-Benz 307D was new to Premier Travel Services as 325 (C325 PEW) in March 1986. It still carried the Premier Travel Group fleetname and livery although had passed to Cambus Holdings with the PTS business during the previous month.

Wednesday 14 August 1991 - Premier Travel Services 326 (G326 PEW) was a former Cambus operated Plaxton Expressliner bodied Volvo B10M new in January 1990. PTS was acquired by Cambus Holdings in early 1990 and the PTS name was used for most of the CH coaching activities. It was seen at King Street, Mildenhall when operating the 0800 Norwich to Paignton National Express service 747. A duplicate coach in the form of 330 (C330 PEW), a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger which carries fleet livery, is standing behind. It had been new to the original PTS in March 1986 and was part of the sale. It was funny that both these coaches had different prefixed PEW registration marks.

Saturday 10 March 1990 – Cambus 329 (G329 PEW) had just arrived at King Street, Mildenhall when working the 1600 National Express service 098 from London (Victoria) to Thetford. It was a Plaxton Expressliner bodied Volvo B10M-60. Note that the building across the street was the Midland Bank which later became Corals Betting Shop.

Friday 19 March 1993 (1305) - Premier Travel Services 329 (G329 PEW) picks up at King Street lay-by in Mildenhall when working the 1020 Lowestoft-Bristol National Express service 747. This coach had been new to Stagecoach owned Cambus. The coach was transferred to Premier Travel Services after Stagecoach acquired Premier and made it their coaching subsidiary.

Sunday 7 October 1990 – Plaxton Paramount bodied Leyland Tigers 330 (C330 PEW) and 332 (C332 PEW) were delivered to the original Premier Travel Services fleet in March 1986. When PTS was acquired by Cambus Holdings in 1990 the pair were included in the sale and in this photograph they are seen in the Cambus Holdings inspired livery.

Sunday 7 October 1990 – Plaxton Paramount bodied Leyland Tigers 330 (C330 PEW) and 332 (C332 PEW) were delivered to the original Premier Travel Services fleet in March 1986. When PTS was acquired by Cambus Holdings in 1990 the pair were included in the sale and in this photograph they are seen in the Cambus Holdings inspired livery.

Saturday 20 August 1988 – Premier Travel Services 332 (C332 PEW) seen heading through Red Lodge on the Lowestoft to Bristol service 747 followed by Badgerline CSV 231 (originally A206 SAE) operating as duplicate. Badgerline worked the duplicate to this trip most Saturdays during the 1988 summer season. C332 PEW was a regular performer working opposite VAV 258X on this daily cross country service.

A Sunday in March 1988 – Premier Travel Services Limited 334 (FWH 37Y) was a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger TRCTL11/3R that had been new to Yelloway Motor Services Limited of Rochdale. It had just left the King Street layby, Mildenhall (on the left) bound for Great Yarmouth on National Express contracted service 747. The driver wasn't aware that the usuual route was down St. Andrew's Street where the car is heading. Premier had previously been a joint operator on the service. This was a time of change for both Yelloway and Premier Travel, two famous independents that had had a working relationship on their joint services from the North West to East Anglia. Yelloway had been purchased by a new owner that had disposed of most of the more modern coaches in the fleet in an asset stripping exercise. The destination blind was one of the traditional small PTS blinds. It was normal practice to have two such blinds mounted side by side that were capable of showing up to four town names. In the style shown here the single blind looks a little lost.

A Sunday in March 1988 – Premier Travel Services Limited 334 (FWH 37Y) was a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger TRCTL11/3R that had been new to Yelloway Motor Services Limited of Rochdale. It was seen at King Street, Mildenhall bound for Great Yarmouth on National Express contracted service 747. Premier had previously been a joint operator on the service. This was a time of change for both Yelloway and Premier Travel, two famous independents that had had a working relationship on their joint services from the North West to East Anglia. Yelloway had been purchased by a new owner that had disposed of most of the more modern coaches in the fleet in an asset stripping exercise. The destination blind was one of the traditional small PTS blinds. It was normal practice to have two such blinds mounted side by side that were capable of showing up to four town names. In the style shown here the single blind looks a little lost.

A Sunday in March 1988 – Premier Travel Services Limited 334 (FWH 37Y) was a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger TRCTL11/3R that had been new to Yelloway Motor Services Limited of Rochdale. It had just left the King Street layby, Mildenhall (on the left) bound for Great Yarmouth on National Express contracted service 747. The driver wasn't aware that the usuual route was down St. Andrew's Street where the car is heading. Premier had previously been a joint operator on the service. This was a time of change for both Yelloway and Premier Travel, two famous independents that had had a working relationship on their joint services from the North West to East Anglia. Yelloway had been purchased by a new owner that had disposed of most of the more modern coaches in the fleet in an asset stripping exercise. The destination blind was one of the traditional small PTS blinds. It was normal practice to have two such blinds mounted side by side that were capable of showing up to four town names. In the style shown here the single blind looks a little lost. Note the white hoarding in the background surrounding the site that would later occupy Willow House (left) and the Budgens store (right).

Saturday 24 February 1990 - Premier Travel Services 335 (JNM 742Y) was one of a pair (the other being JNM 743Y) of Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger coaches bought from the London based sightseeing company ‘The Londoners’ in 1986. It was seen at King Street, Mildenhall when working the 0805 Lowestoft to Bristol service 747. Once upon a time this was a joint service operated by Premier Travel, Percivals Coaches of Oxford and National Express. By now Percivals had ceased to be and Premier Travel was a National Express contractor rather than a joint operator hence the window label ‘On hire to National Express’. Ambassador Travel PJI 5715 was duplicating as far as Cambridge.

Tuesday 5 February 1991 – Premier Travel Services 336 (JNM 743Y), a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger new to The Londoners in 1983, seen in the heart of Cambridge turning from Trinity Street into St. Mary’s Street. Despite still wearing the silver and blue livery in the style retained by AJS for Cambridge Coach Services it, and the PTS business, were now in the ownership of Cambus Holdings.