Other Operators in South East Wales in 1968 

Like most parts of Britain in the 1960's, south east Wales was served by a variety of bus & coach operators. There were nine municipal operators, various independent companies & the state-owned RED & WHITE fleet. 


Below are details the main bus & coach operators that served south east Wales communities in 1968. The images are of restored vehicles from fleets that were in service in 1968.


The largest collection of classic buses & coaches from the fleets listed are with the Cardiff Transport Preservation Group  (Barry).  They hold an excellent rally & running day in early June each year at Barry Island & their depot on Broad Street, Barry.

  • Aberdare Urban District Council.

    Ownership: Aberdare Urban District Council.

    Area served:  Aberdare.

    Fleet size in 1968: 36.

    Livery:  Red & cream.

    Depot & Head office: Gadlys, Aberdare.

    Future: in 1974 renamed Cynon Valley Transport. Ceased late-1990's.

    Surviving buses:

    1958 Guy Arab LUF / Longwell Green: XNY 416.

    1974 Bristol RESL / ECW: GHB 148N.

  • Bedwas & Machen UDC.

    Ownership: Bedwas & Machen Urban District Council.

    Area served: Bedwas, Machen, Caerphilly & a joint route Rhumney Bridge to Newport.

    Fleet size in 1968: 7.

    Livery:  Dark blue and cream.

    Depot & Head office: Bedwas.

    Future: in 1974 was combined with Caerphilly & Gelligaer operations to become Rhymny Valley Transport.

    Surviving buses: 

    1950 AEC Regal III / Bruce of Cardiff: JWO 355; 

    1968 Leyland Titan / Massey: PAX 466F. This bus was the last exposed radiator bus to enter service in South Wales and the last lowbridge decker with a sunken top deck side-gangway built in Britain.

  • Caerphilly Council Transport.

    Ownership: Caerphilly Urban District Council.

    Area served:  Caerphilly, Nelson, Senghenydd & joint routes to Cardiff, Pontypridd, Merthyr Tydfil and Newport.

    Fleet size in 1968: 33.

    Livery:  Green & cream.

    Depot & Head office: Mill Lane, Caerphilly.

    Future: In 1974 was combined with Bedwas & Machen and Gelligear operations to become Rhymny Valley Transport. In 1986 formed council arms-length company 'Inter-Valley Link'. Bought by National Welsh in 1989. Company ceased 1992.

    Surviving buses: 

    1951 Leyland Titan / Leyland: LNY 903, 

    1952 Leyland PS2 / Massey: LTX 311, 

    1965 Leyland Titan / Massey: GNY 432C, 

    1966 Leyland Titan / Massey: LNY 536D.

  • City of Cardiff Transport.

    Ownership:  Cardiff Corporation Council.

    Area served:  Cardiff City, & joint routes to Caerphilly, Newport, Penarth & Tredegar. 

    Fleet size in 1968: 280, including trolleybuses.

    Livery: Crimson lake and cream.

    Depots: Newport Road & Sloper Road.

    Head office: Wood Street, Cardiff.

    Future: became Cardiff Bus and still exists.

    Surviving buses: 

    1949 Crossley DD42/7 Alexander: EBO 900,

    1952 Leyland Royal Tiger / East Lancs: GKG 53,

    1961 Leyland Titan / Metro-Cammell: XUH 368,  

    1963 AEC Regent V / East Lancs: 408 DBO,

    1964 Guy Arab V / Neepsend: ABO 434B, (open top),

    1968 AEC Swift / Alexander: MBO 512F, 

    1968 Daimler Fleetline / Park Royal:  JKG 497F, 

    1969 Daimler Fleetline / Willowbrook: PKG 532H,

    1972 Daimler Fleetline / MCW:  WUH 570K, WUH 584K & WUH 585K, 

    1974 Bristol VRT / ECW: PKG 587M, 

    1976 Bristol LHS / ECW: LUH 105P, 

    1978 Bristol VRT / Alexander: WTG 360T,

    1982 Volvo Ailsa / Northern Counties: NDW 407X, 

    1982 Volvo Ailsa / Northern Counties: NDW 415X,

    1990 Leyland Lynx 1: G258 HUH,

    1992 Leyland Lynx II: J267 UDW, 

    1995 Optare Metrorider:  N143 PTG, 

    1995 Dennis Dart / Alexander: N23 OBO,

    2000 Dennis Dart / Plaxton: X184 CTG,

    2001 Dennis Dart / Plaxton: Y377GAX,

    2006 Scania CN94 (bendybus): CN06 GDY.


    Surviving trolleybuses:

    1942 AEC 664T / Northern Counties: CKG 193,

    1948 B.U.T 9641T / East Lancs: DBO 475,

    1950 B.U.T 9641T / Bruce: EBO 913,

    1964 B.U.T 9641T /  East Lancs: KBO 961 (a rare single decker).

    The trolleybus system closed in early 1970.

  • Gelligaer Urban District Council.

    Ownership: Gelligaer Urban District Council

    Area served: Bargoed, Ystrad Mynach.

    Fleet size in 1968: 30.

    Livery:  Red, white & green. 

    Depot & Head office: New Road, Tiryberth.

    Future: In Aug 1968 started Newport - Rhymney Bridge  route joint with Red & White, Western Welsh and Gelligear UDC. In 1974 was combined with Bedwas & Machen and Caerphilly operations to become Rhymny Valley Transport.

    Surviving bus:

    1953 AEC Regal III / Longwell Green:  MTG 884.

  • Hills of Tredegar.

    Ownership:  Private.

    Area served:  Tredegar, Rhymney.

    Fleet size in 1968: 43.

    Livery:  Red and white.

    Depot & Head office: Park View, Tredegar.

    Future: ceased operations in late-1990's.

    Surviving buses: 

    1959 Leyland Leopard / Burlingham: XWO 911;

    1972 Leyland Leopard / Plaxton: EWO 460K.

  • Jones (Aberbeeg).

    Ownership:  Private company.

    Area served:  Aberbeeg and surrounding towns, & route to Newport.

    Fleet size in 1968: 43

    Livery:  Cream and pale blue.

    Depots: Aberbeeg.

    Future: in April 1969 sold to the National Bus Company and became part of Red & White, later National Welsh. Company ceased early 1992.

    Surviving bus:

    1961 Leyland Tiger Cub / Weymann: 889 AAX.

  • Merthyr Tydfil Council Transport.

    Ownership: Merthyr Tydfil Corporation Transport

    Area served:  Merthry Tydfil & joint route to Cardiff.

    Fleet size in 1968: 72.

    Livery: Maroon & cream.

    Depots & Head office:  Nantygwenith Street, Merthyr Tydfil.

    Future: In 1986 became Merthyr Tydfil Transport, which ceased operations Aug 1989.

    Surviving buses: 

    1966 Leyland Titan / East Lancs : CHB 407D.

  • Neath & Cardiff luxury coaches.

    Ownership:  British Electric Traction group.

    Area served:  Swansea - Cardiff express service.

    Fleet size in 1968: 12.

    Livery:  Brown and red.

    Depots: Neath.

    Future: became part of Western Welsh and South Wales Transport in 1970.

    Surviving coaches: 

    1960 AEC Reliance / Harrington: WWN 191; 

    1967 AEC Reliance / Plaxton: PTX 830F.

  • Newport Transport.

    Ownership:  Newport Corporation Council.

    Area served:  Newport and route to Cwmbran & joint route 30 to Cardiff.

    Fleet size in 1968: 99.

    Livery: Green and cream.

    Depot & Head office: Corporation Road, Newport.

    Future: became Newport Bus and still exists.

    Surviving buses: 

    1953 Leyland Titan / Longwell Green: PDW 484; 

    1966 Leyland Atlantean / Alexander: EDW 68D; 

    1972 Scania Metropolitan / MCW: YDW 758K; 

    1988 Scania N113 / Alexander: F41 YHB;

    1997 Scania N113 / Alexander: P177 VDW.


  • Pontypridd UDC transport.

    Ownership: Pontypridd Urban District Council.

    Area served:  Pontypridd, Treforest & joint route to Caerphilly.

    Fleet size in 1968: 56.

    Livery:  Dark blue and ivory.

    Depot & Head office: Glyntaff, Pontypridd.

    Future: In 1974 became Taff Ely Transport.  In 1988 bought by the newly privatised National Welsh. Company ceased 1992.

    Surviving bus: 

    1944 Bristol K6A / Park Royal (utility): FNY 933

    1966 AEC Regent V / MCW: NNY 761E;

    1969 AEC Regent V / Willowbrook: UTG 313G.

  • Red & White.

    Ownership:  British Transport Commission (Government)

    Area served:  Central & eastern Glamorgan valleys & Monmouthshire.

    Fleet size in 1968: 395.

    Livery:  Red and white.

    Depots: Aberdare, Abergavenny, Abertillery, Blackwood, Brynmawr, Cardiff (Gelligaer Street), Cheltenham, Chepstow, Cinderford, Coleford, Ebbw Vale, Hereford, Lydney, Monmouth, Newport, Pontypool, Ross-on-Wye and Tredegar.

    Head office:  Bulwark Road, Chepstow.

    Future: ownership changed to National Bus Company 1 January 1969, then merged with Western Welsh to become National Welsh in April 1978. Privatised 1987. Company ceased 1992.

    Surviving buses

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  • Rhondda.

    Ownership: British Electric Traction group.

    Area served:  Rhondda valleys towns & various routes to Cardiff.

    Fleet size in 1968: 164.

    Livery:  Dark red.

    Depots: Aberrhondda Rd, Porth.

    Future: ownership changed to National Bus Company 1 January 1969, then merged with Western Welsh in 1971, become National Welsh in April 1978. Privatised May 1987. Company ceased early 1992. Stagecoach acquired business mid-1990's.

    Surviving buses: 

    1933 AEC Regent / Weymann: TG 6311; 

    1961 AEC Regent V / Metro Cammell: 457 KTG; 

    1966 AEC Regent V / Northern Counties: KNY 495D.


    Surviving Rhondda/Stagecoach buses:

    1994 Dennis Dart / Plaxton: K91 BNY;

    1997 Merc 711 / Plaxton: P164 TNY.

  • Western Welsh.

    Ownership:  British Electric Traction group.

    Area served:  Glamorgam, west Monmouthshire, Carmarthenshire & Pembrokeshire.

    Fleet size in 1968: 570.

    Livery:  buses - cherry red; coaches - peacock blue & ivory.

    Depots: Aberdare, Ammonford, Brecon, Barry, Bridgend, Cardiff (Penarth Rd & Cowbridge Rd), Carmarthen, Crosskeys, Cwmbran, Fishguard, Haverfordwest, Neath, New Quay, Newcastle Emlyn, Pontypool, St David's.

    Head office: 253 Cowbridge Road, Cardiff.

    Future: ownership changed to National Bus Company 1 January 1969, then merged with Red & White to become National Welsh in April 1978. Privatised May 1987. Company ceased early 1992.

    Surviving from Western Welsh: 

    1947 Leyland Tiger PS1/ ECW: CUH 856; 

    1956 AEC Regent V / Park Royal: LKG 678; 

    1958 AEC Reliance / Harrington: OUH 107;

    1960 Albion Nimbus / Harrington: TUH 7 & TUH 13; 

    1960 AEC Reliance / Willowbrook: WKG 284;

    1964 AEC Reliance / Harrington: ABO 145B & ABO 147B;

    1964 AEC Renown / Northern Counties. BKG 713B;

    1966 Leyland Tiger Cub / Park Royal: FUH 370D; 

    1968 Bristol LHS / Weymann. MBO 1F;

    1969 Leyland Leopard / Plaxton: OUH 177G;

    1971 Leyland Leopard / Willowbrook: TKG 518J;

    1977 Bristol VRT / ECW: VHB 678S.


    Surviving National Welsh buses:

    1980 Leyland National 2: BUH 240V;

    1980 Bristol LHS / ECW: GTX 762W;

    1982 Leyland Olympian / ECW: MUH 289X;

    1986 Leyland Tiger / Plaxton: C262 GUH; 

    1986 Ford Transit / Robin Hood. C101 HKG.

  • West Mon Omnibus Board.

    Ownership: West Monmouth Council.

    Area served:  Blackwood & joint route to Cardiff.

    Fleet size in 1968: 30.

    Livery:  Maroon.

    Depot & Head office: Blackwood.

    Future: in 1974 became Islwyn Borough Transport. Sold to Stagecoach in early 2000's.

    Surviving West Mon buses: 

    1957 Leyland PD2 / Willowbrook: SAX 186 (in Japan);

    1959 Leyland PD2 / Massey: UWO 688 (in Belgium).


    Surviving Islwyn BT buses:

    1979 Leyland Leopard / Marshall: YDW 566T

    1979 Leyland Leopard / Marshall: DNY 534V;

    1980 Leyland Leopard / Marshall: GAX 137W;

    1984 Leyland Tiger / East Lancs: C41 GKG.