Western Welsh

Western Welsh was a Welsh bus operating company, based in Cardiff covering South Wales and the northern parts of the West Country. Formed in 1920, it was nationalised and became part of the National Welsh Omnibus Services in 1969.

Established in 1919 in Cardiff by a brewing family, South Wales Commercial Motors grew by acquisition, eventually operating bus services in South Wales as far west as St David's and Tenby in Pembrokeshire, and as far north as Brecon via the South Wales Valleys. In 1927, the company came to an agreement with the Great Western Railway to take over their bus services in both South Wales, and areas of southern Gloucestershire and northern Somerset surrounding Bristol and Bath. In return, the GWR took a minority share holding in the renamed Western Welsh.

In 1931, the GWR sold their bus company shareholdings to British Electric Traction, who continued expansion of the company by acquisition. As with other BET companies, Western Welsh's fleet included a significant number of AEC and Leyland types, including AEC Bridgemasters and Albion Nimbuses, all of which appeared in the company's familiar all-red livery.

Although entire UK railway network was nationalised in 1948 when they passed to the British Transport Commission, many bus services remained in private hands.

In 1969 all of BET's operational subsidiaries were nationalised with the formation of the National Bus Company, with Western Welsh's operations forming the core of National Welsh. In 1970, NBC transferred Western Welsh's operations west of Bridgend to its subsidiaries South Wales Transport and Crosville.

External links

• History of National Welsh