In April 1970 the City of Exeter Passenger Transport Department was sold to the National Bus Company. Control of the operation was vested in Devon General, which had been party to a Joint Services Agreement with the council since 1947. 65 ECT buses joined the Devon General fleet, along with 230 staff.
The Joint Services Agreement saw Exeter’s green and cream buses operate country routes to destinations such as Crediton and Exmouth, whilst Devon General ran city routes such as the complex O/S taking in Rifford Road, St David’s station, Redhills and Broadway. For many years only rear-entrance open platform buses were permitted on the city routes.
We had hoped to mark the 50th anniversary of the takeover in 2020 with a members’ tour of some of the old Exeter Joint Services routes, but the pandemic intervened. On Sunday 26th June 2022 we will finally be running that tour for members and their guests, using the Devon General Omnibus Trust’s 1957 AEC Regent V VDV 817 which spent its service life at Exeter.
The tour will depart from outside St David’s railway station in Exeter at 1030, and return there for a lunch break at around 1300. The morning will be spent running out to Hill Barton, then across the city to Broadway before taking in Clyst St George. After lunch the itinerary includes Stoke Hill, Crossmead , Pinhoe and Broadclyst, finishing back at St Davids at about 1600. A small tour leaflet will be issued to participants.
This tour is only available to DGS members and their guests. To book a place, members should email the Events Officer at events@devongeneral.org.uk
Posted 12th April 2022