Trivia: 'Local' bus routes that extend into another county

[SCH117X]

Nine by my count.
The X43 runs into North Yorkshire as well.

Make that 12 as there are also Connexions X70 which runs North Yorkshire (Tadcaster)-West Yorkshire (Wetherby)-North Yorkshire(Harrogate) and 412 York -North Yorkshire-West Yorkshire (Wetherby), and Yorkshire Tiger 747 West Yorkshire (Bradford - Leeds Bradford Airport)-North Yorkshire (Harrogate)

 

[W-on-Sea]

Romford is another outer London area that has lost a lot of cross-border services over the past few decades.

Now, it just has the 370 to Thurrock (itself curtailed from Tilbury after it became part of the TfL network), the 375 into Epping Forest (itself the tiny remnant of far more extensive services that used to run along the same roads before continuing to either Abridge, Epping, Harlow or Ongar), and the 498 (like the 375, a recent TfL replacement for part of a much longer former NBC, in this case Eastern National service that used to continue beyond Brentwood to Chelmsford, Canvey,or even Southend). And I suppose the limited service 347 just sneaks over the border into Thurrock.

What has been lost since 1986, apart from the above (with the services to Harlow, Chelmsford, Basildon, Canvey and Southend being fairly substantial losses) also includes
... the service via the back roads (via Warley) to Brentwood that variously was part of the 247 and the 347, or following its diversion to Bulphan (which always seemed an unlikely destination to be linked with Romford) the 265.
...another service to Brentwood via an even more convoluted route via Upminster, West Horndon and Herongate, that was latterly the Eastern National 226
...another service to Basildon also via Upminster and West Horndon, the 403, which had been operated by both Eastern National and London Country at various times
...the "express" service to Southend (the 400 or the 2) via the A127 more or less direct (which used to run all the way from Wood Green or possibly even Kings Cross)
...the Thames Weald "Tunnel Express" minibus service (quite an eccentricity, in numerous regards) that went to Sevenoaks and various other places - essentially aimed at people coming to Romford Market from North Kent.

I think there were numerous reasons for these withdrawals, some commercial (it's hard to imagine the 226 or 403 having been viable, while clearly other retail destinations like Lakeside or Bluewater) supplanted Romford as a bigger retail destination, some to do with increasing car usage, but others were to do with franchising requirements and the unwillingness of local authorities (be it TfL or Essex County Council or Thurrock) to fund services that went far outside their areas. But the overall effect has been indeed to create a "Berlin wall" of bus services between Greater London and some of its surrounding counties and to discourage longer-distance journeys being made by bus. In some cases (eg Romford to Harlow, which used to attract an hourly service, seven days a week), some journeys are effectively impossible to make by bus.

 

[Deerfold]

Make that 12 as there are also Connexions X70 which runs North Yorkshire (Tadcaster)-West Yorkshire (Wetherby)-North Yorkshire(Harrogate) and 412 York -North Yorkshire-West Yorkshire (Wetherby), and Yorkshire Tiger 747 West Yorkshire (Bradford - Leeds Bradford Airport)-North Yorkshire (Harrogate)

I'm not quite sure what you're counting. The 9 was Transdev services between Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

 

[SCH117X]

I'm not quite sure what you're counting. The 9 was Transdev services between Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

Ah! did not follow the thread back that far; seemed to be WY-NY as I read it.

 

[Ayman Ilham]

There are quite a lot of cross-boundary routes out of Bangor (Gwynedd):
Arriva Wales:
5/X5 to Llandudno (Gwynedd-Conwy)
4/X4 to Holyhead (Gwynedd-Anglesey)
53 to Beaumaris (Gwynedd-Anglesey)
56 to Llanddona (Gwynedd-Anglesey)
62 to Amlwch (Gwynedd-Anglesey)
Other Companies:
42 to Llangefni (Gwynedd-Anglesey) - Gwynfor Coaches
43 to Llanfairpwll (Gwynedd-Anglesey) - Eifions Coaches
T2 to Aberystwyth (Gwynedd-Powys-Ceredigion) - Lloyds Coaches

Pretty much all TrawsCymru services (except T9) cross many counties:
T1 Aberystwyth to Carmarthen (Ceredigion-Carmarthenshire)
T2 Bangor to Aberystwyth (Gwynedd-Powys-Ceredigion)
T3 Wrexham to Barmouth (Wrexham-Denbighshire-Gwynedd)
T4 Newtown to Cardiff (Powys-Merthyr-RhonddaCT-Cardiff)
T5 Aberystwyth to Haverfordwest (Ceredigion-Carmarthenshire-Pembrokeshire)
T6 Brecon to Swansea (Powys-Swansea)
T12 Wrexham to Machynlleth (Wrexham-Shropshire-Powys)
T1C Aberystwyth to Cardiff (Ceredigion-Carmarthenshire-Swansea-NPT-Bridgend-Cardiff)

Here's a complete list for Greater Manchester:
19/28 Leigh to Warrington (GM-Cheshire) - Network Warrington
34 Leigh to St Helens (GM-Merseyside) - Arriva North West
100 Manchester to Warrington (GM-Cheshire) - First Manchester
113 Wigan to Preston (GM-Lancashire) - Stagecoach Lancashire
125 Bolton to Preston (GM-Lancashire) - Stagecoach Lancashire
130 Manchester to Macclesfield (GM-Cheshire) - Arriva North West
184 Manchester to Huddersfield (GM-WestYorks) - First Manchester
199 Man Airport to Buxton (GM-Cheshire-Derbyshire) - High Peak
236/7 Ashton to Glossop (GM-Derbyshire) - Stagecoach Manchester
352 Wigan to St Helens (GM-Merseyside) - Arriva North West
352 Greenfield to Holmfirth (GM-WestYorks) - South Pennine CT
358 Stockport to Hayfield (GM-Derbyshire) - Stagecoach Manchester
362 Wigan to Chorley (GM-Lancashire) - Arriva North West
375/385 Wigan to Southport (GM-Lancs-Merseyside) - Arriva North West
395 Wigan to Skelmersdale (GM-Lancashire) - Arriva North West
464 Rochdale to Accrington (GM-Lancashire) - Transdev Rosso
481/2/3 Bury to Rawtenstall (GM-Lancashire) - Transdev Rosso
589/590 Rochdale to Halifax/Burnley (GM-WYorks-Lancs) - First Halifax
X41 Manchester to Accrington (GM-Lancashire) - Transdev Blackburn
X43 Manchester to Skipton (GM-Lancashire-NorthYorks) - Transdev Burnley
X50 Ashton to Holmfirth (GM-WestYorks) - South Pennine CT
X58 Rochdale to Halifax via Ripponden (GM-WestYorks) - Yorkshire Tiger
Cat5/5A Altrincham to Warrington (GM-Cheshire) - Network Warrington

 

[carlberry]

Pretty much all TrawsCymru services (except T9) cross many counties:


Here's a complete list for Greater Manchester:
19/28 Leigh to Warrington (GM-Cheshire) - Network Warrington
34 Leigh to St Helens (GM-Merseyside) - Arriva North West
100 Manchester to Warrington (GM-Cheshire) - First Manchester
113 Wigan to Preston (GM-Lancashire) - Stagecoach Lancashire
125 Bolton to Preston (GM-Lancashire) - Stagecoach Lancashire
130 Manchester to Macclesfield (GM-Cheshire) - Arriva North West
184 Manchester to Huddersfield (GM-WYorks) - First Manchester
199 Man Airport to Buxton (GM-Cheshire-Derbyshire) - High Peak
236/7 Ashton to Glossop (GM-Derbyshire) - Stagecoach Manchester
352 Wigan to St Helens (GM-Merseyside) - Arriva North West
358 Stockport to Hayfield (GM-Derbyshire) - Stagecoach Manchester
362 Wigan to Chorley (GM-Lancashire) - Arriva North West
375/385 Wigan to Southport (GM-Lancs-Merseyside) - Arriva North West
395 Wigan to Skelmersdale (GM-Lancashire) - Arriva North West
464 Rochdale to Accrington (GM-Lancashire) - Transdev Rosso
481/2/3 Bury to Rawtenstall (GM-Lancashire) - Transdev Rosso
589/590 Rochdale to Halifax/Burnley (GM-WYorks-Lancs) - First Halifax
X41 Manchester to Accrington (GM-Lancashire) - Transdev Blackburn
X43 Manchester to Skipton (GM-Lancashire-NYorks) - Transdev Burnley
Cat5/5A Altrincham to Warrington (GM-Cheshire) - Network Warrington

The T9 goes from one county (Cardiff) to another (Vale of Glamorgan).

From a quick look I suspect there's about 3 times as many cross border services from GM.

 

[bussnapperwm]

For the borough's of Dudley and Wolverhampton (typed up as I think about them so not in any order)

• 70/71 Wolverhampton to Cannock (Staffordshire)
• 54/A Wolverhampton to Stafford (Staffordshire)
• 891 - Wolverhampton to Telford (Staffordshire) (Staffordshire)
• 10/A/B Wolverhampton to Perton (Staffordshire)
• 15/16 Wolverhampton to Stourbridge/Merry Hill via Wombourne (Staffordshire)
• 227/228 Stourbridge to Kinver (Staffordshire)
• 125 Stourbridge to Bridgnorth via Kidderminster (Worcestershire) (Shropshire)
• 318 Stourbridge to Bromsgrove (Worcestershire)
• 192 Halesowen to Kidderminster (Worcestershire)
• 147 Halesowen to Bromsgrove (Worcestershire)
• 202/S Halesowen to Bromsgrove (Worcestershire) - this route is interesting as it goes from Dudley borough to Bromsgrove District to Birmingham City Council back to Bromsgrove District!

 

[Deerfold]

Here's a complete list for Greater Manchester:
19/28 Leigh to Warrington (GM-Cheshire) - Network Warrington
34 Leigh to St Helens (GM-Merseyside) - Arriva North West
100 Manchester to Warrington (GM-Cheshire) - First Manchester
113 Wigan to Preston (GM-Lancashire) - Stagecoach Lancashire
125 Bolton to Preston (GM-Lancashire) - Stagecoach Lancashire
130 Manchester to Macclesfield (GM-Cheshire) - Arriva North West
184 Manchester to Huddersfield (GM-WYorks) - First Manchester
199 Man Airport to Buxton (GM-Cheshire-Derbyshire) - High Peak
236/7 Ashton to Glossop (GM-Derbyshire) - Stagecoach Manchester
352 Wigan to St Helens (GM-Merseyside) - Arriva North West
358 Stockport to Hayfield (GM-Derbyshire) - Stagecoach Manchester
362 Wigan to Chorley (GM-Lancashire) - Arriva North West
375/385 Wigan to Southport (GM-Lancs-Merseyside) - Arriva North West
395 Wigan to Skelmersdale (GM-Lancashire) - Arriva North West
464 Rochdale to Accrington (GM-Lancashire) - Transdev Rosso
481/2/3 Bury to Rawtenstall (GM-Lancashire) - Transdev Rosso
589/590 Rochdale to Halifax/Burnley (GM-WYorks-Lancs) - First Halifax
X41 Manchester to Accrington (GM-Lancashire) - Transdev Blackburn
X43 Manchester to Skipton (GM-Lancashire-NYorks) - Transdev Burnley
Cat5/5A Altrincham to Warrington (GM-Cheshire) - Network Warrington

Not quite complete. There's Tiger's X58 from Rochdale to Halifax via Ripponden (GM-WYorks)

 

[Mutant Lemming]

TfL has done its best to eradicate bus routes which cross over the Greater London boundary.

(Just check out the 'Bus Berlin Wall' that exists in Waltham Cross. 'Country' routes which used to cross into Greater London, such as the 310, have been cut back to terminate at Waltham Cross. Whilst TfL routes that had for decades gone beyond Waltham Cross to Upshire, Epping or Hammond Street no longer do so.)

Notable exceptions are the 81 to Slough and the 465 to Dorking.

Maybe to the East of the Herts / London border but to the West you have the 8, 84, 107, 142, 258, 292, 313, 331, 614, 757, 758 to name a few

 

[Ayman Ilham]

The T9 goes from one county (Cardiff) to another (Vale of Glamorgan).

From a quick look I suspect there's about 3 times as many cross border services from GM.

Ah okay, didn't know Cardiff Airport was in another county!

Not quite complete. There's Tiger's X58 from Rochdale to Halifax via Ripponden (GM-WYorks)

Oh, my bad, forgot about that one

Here are some notable cross-border routes:
1 - Chester to Wrexham - Arriva Wales
4/X4 - Chester to Mold - Arriva North West
5 - Ellesmere Port to Mold - Stagecoach Merseyside
10A/11 - Chester to Holywell - Arriva Wales
16 - Chester to Saltney - Stagecoach Merseyside
79 - Carlisle to Dumfries - Stagecoach Cumbria
253 - Edinburgh to Berwick-upon-Tweed - Borders Buses
T12* - Wrexham to Machynlleth - Tanat Valley / Lloyds Coaches
X3/T14 - Cardiff to Hereford - Stagecoach Cymru
X75 - Shrewsbury to Rhyader - Celtic Travel
X95 - Edinburgh/Galashiels to Carlisle - Borders Buses
Severn Express - Bristol to Newport - First West England

* T12 crosses the border twice, serving Oswestry in England

 

[transmanche]

Maybe to the East of the Herts / London border but to the West you have the 8, 84, 107, 142, 258, 292, 313, 331, 614, 757, 758 to name a few

• The 84 used to be a London Transport route, but is now commercial and does not accept Oyster or TfL Passes.
• The 313 used to be a London Country route and the northern terminus was cut back from St Albans to Potters Bar when it became part of the London Bus network. It's now one of only two London Buses routes to serve Potters Bar.
• The 614 is a commercial route with the primary aim of serving the University and does not accept Oyster or TfL Passes.
• The 757 and 758 are express coach services, not local bus services. The Green Line network is a mere shadow of its former self.

Maybe some of the context of my original comment has been lost since I wrote it last April. In Waltham Cross, you used to be able to catch London Buses to places such as; Potters Bar, Hammond Street, Cheshunt, Upshire and Epping. But no longer.

You used the example of the 313 which used to run Enfield-St Albans. The other London Buses route still serving Potters Bar is the 298 - which used to go as far as South Mimms. Even in the 1990s you had the X43, 243, N92 and a host of garage journeys on other routes to Potters Bar. But no longer.

Yes, you quoted some examples of routes which cross the GL boundary for a short distance. But you cannot deny that the number of cross-boundary routes has been drastically reduced in the last couple of decades.

 

[DavidGrain]

Yes, you quoted some examples of routes which cross the GL boundary for a short distance. But you cannot deny that the number of cross-boundary routes has been drastically reduced in the last couple of decades.

I often think of the Midland Red network out of Birmingham, all of which except for the Warwickshire services went into Worcestershire or Staffordshire as soon as they crossed the city boundary and many went on to further counties including Herefordshire, Shropshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire. Now there are many towns around Birmingham where it is no longer possible to get to by bus directly from Birmingham.

 

[Deerfold]

• The 84 used to be a London Transport route, but is now commercial and does not accept Oyster or TfL Passes.
• The 313 used to be a London Country route and the northern terminus was cut back from St Albans to Potters Bar when it became part of the London Bus network. It's now one of only two London Buses routes to serve Potters Bar.
• The 614 is a commercial route with the primary aim of serving the University and does not accept Oyster or TfL Passes.
• The 757 and 758 are express coach services, not local bus services. The Green Line network is a mere shadow of its former self.

Maybe some of the context of my original comment has been lost since I wrote it last April. In Waltham Cross, you used to be able to catch London Buses to places such as; Potters Bar, Hammond Street, Cheshunt, Upshire and Epping. But no longer.

You used the example of the 313 which used to run Enfield-St Albans. The other London Buses route still serving Potters Bar is the 298 - which used to go as far as South Mimms. Even in the 1990s you had the X43, 243, N92 and a host of garage journeys on other routes to Potters Bar. But no longer.

Yes, you quoted some examples of routes which cross the GL boundary for a short distance. But you cannot deny that the number of cross-boundary routes has been drastically reduced in the last couple of decades.

The 84 was a London Country route which then become commercial. For many years they accepted London bus tickets and Oyster for which they received reimbursment.
With TfL fares rising more slowly than commercial fares, Metroline stopped accepting them. At the same they expanded the validity of the Explorer tickets to the southern part of the route.

Uno initially accepted Oyster on the 610 and 614 but stopped for similar reasons.

 

[Statto]

Going back to early to mid 90s i remember Thamesway which was the London part of Eastern National had a few routes from Walthamstow to Essex via Romford, seem to remember 151/251/551, think Southend Transport had a Sunday route Southend-Walthamstow.

 

[Darklord8899]

Borders Buses run the X95 which passes through 4 Regions and a county
Edinburgh (City of Edinburgh)
Newtongrange (Mid Lothian)
Galashiels/Hawick (Borders)
Langholm (Dumfries & Galloway)
Carlisle (Cumbria)

 

[Typhoon]

Going back to early to mid 90s i remember Thamesway which was the London part of Eastern National had a few routes from Walthamstow to Essex via Romford, seem to remember 151/251/551, think Southend Transport had a Sunday route Southend-Walthamstow.

When operated by Eastern National, partially(?) worked from their Wood Green garage, its western most destination, if I recall!

 

[HumberSprinter]

The Humber Flyer passes through Hull, East Yorks, North Lincs, Lincs, & NE Lincs council areas, way more than the 5 in Grimsby.

 

[Typhoon]

Possibly interesting, the NEx West Midlands 49 Solihull - Northfield crosses the boundary into Worcestershire (and out again) in one direction only (on journeys towards Northfield). Now, there must be fewer of these!

Edit underlined.

 

[Statto]

Here's a complete list for Greater Manchester:
34 Leigh to St Helens (GM-Merseyside) - Arriva North West

34, also the 34A St Helens-Newton Le Willows Acorn Street, have a brief foray into Cheshire along Common Road between St Helens & Earlestown
141 St Helens-Earlestown/Newton Le Willows via Burtonwood, both ends are in Merseyside, the middle part Burtonwood is in Cheshire.

 

[158756]

Here's a complete list for Greater Manchester:
19/28 Leigh to Warrington (GM-Cheshire) - Network Warrington
34 Leigh to St Helens (GM-Merseyside) - Arriva North West
100 Manchester to Warrington (GM-Cheshire) - First Manchester
113 Wigan to Preston (GM-Lancashire) - Stagecoach Lancashire
125 Bolton to Preston (GM-Lancashire) - Stagecoach Lancashire
130 Manchester to Macclesfield (GM-Cheshire) - Arriva North West
184 Manchester to Huddersfield (GM-WestYorks) - First Manchester
199 Man Airport to Buxton (GM-Cheshire-Derbyshire) - High Peak
236/7 Ashton to Glossop (GM-Derbyshire) - Stagecoach Manchester
352 Wigan to St Helens (GM-Merseyside) - Arriva North West
352 Greenfield to Holmfirth (GM-WestYorks) - South Pennine CT
358 Stockport to Hayfield (GM-Derbyshire) - Stagecoach Manchester
362 Wigan to Chorley (GM-Lancashire) - Arriva North West
375/385 Wigan to Southport (GM-Lancs-Merseyside) - Arriva North West
395 Wigan to Skelmersdale (GM-Lancashire) - Arriva North West
464 Rochdale to Accrington (GM-Lancashire) - Transdev Rosso
481/2/3 Bury to Rawtenstall (GM-Lancashire) - Transdev Rosso
589/590 Rochdale to Halifax/Burnley (GM-WYorks-Lancs) - First Halifax
X41 Manchester to Accrington (GM-Lancashire) - Transdev Blackburn
X43 Manchester to Skipton (GM-Lancashire-NorthYorks) - Transdev Burnley
X50 Ashton to Holmfirth (GM-WestYorks) - South Pennine CT
X58 Rochdale to Halifax via Ripponden (GM-WestYorks) - Yorkshire Tiger
Cat5/5A Altrincham to Warrington (GM-Cheshire) - Network Warrington

Also the 1 between Bolton and Blackburn, 320 Wigan-St Helens, 360 Wigan-Warrington, 88 Altrincham -Macclesfield, 341 Hyde-Glossop, and some smaller local routes.

 

[KendalKing]

Here are some notable cross-border routes:
1 - Chester to Wrexham - Arriva Wales
4/X4 - Chester to Mold - Arriva North West
5 - Ellesmere Port to Mold - Stagecoach Merseyside
10A/11 - Chester to Holywell - Arriva Wales
16 - Chester to Saltney - Stagecoach Merseyside
79 - Carlisle to Dumfries - Stagecoach Cumbria
253 - Edinburgh to Berwick-upon-Tweed - Borders Buses
T12* - Wrexham to Machynlleth - Tanat Valley / Lloyds Coaches
X3/T14 - Cardiff to Hereford - Stagecoach Cymru
X75 - Shrewsbury to Rhyader - Celtic Travel
X95 - Edinburgh/Galashiels to Carlisle - Borders Buses
Severn Express - Bristol to Newport - First West England

* T12 crosses the border twice, serving Oswestry in England

Surprised that nobody mention 555 Lancaster - Keswick (Lancashire - Cumbria) operated by Stagecoach Cumbria.

 

[johnnychips]

Surprised that nobody mention 555 Lancaster - Keswick (Lancashire - Cumbria) operated by Stagecoach Cumbria.

It doesn’t cross the border into Scotland.

 

[Ayman Ilham]

Also the 1 between Bolton and Blackburn, 320 Wigan-St Helens, 360 Wigan-Warrington, 88 Altrincham -Macclesfield, 341 Hyde-Glossop, and some smaller local routes.

Oh wow! I completely forgot about those!

Surprised that nobody mention 555 Lancaster - Keswick (Lancashire - Cumbria) operated by Stagecoach Cumbria.

That is a great cross-boundary route, but not quite cross-BORDER, so doesn't go into that list you quoted!

 

[PeterC]

The 84 was a London Country route which then become commercial. For many years they accepted London bus tickets and Oyster for which they received reimbursment.
With TfL fares rising more slowly than commercial fares, Metroline stopped accepting them. At the same they expanded the validity of the Explorer tickets to the southern part of the route.

Uno initially accepted Oyster on the 610 and 614 but stopped for similar reasons.

84 was a Central area route which went first to TfL.

 

[Eyersey468]

I took local bus route to mean under 50km long as per tachograph laws, and yes I am well aware some routes over that get split.
350 Hull-Scunthorpe
360/1 Goole-Scunthorpe
There is also the x46 (Hull-York) and x62 (Hull to Leeds) but they are both over 50km long and are split to avoid tachograph

 

[Statto]

34A is just another version of the 34 and the 141 doesn't go into Greater Manchester, if you paid attention to the heading of my list

!

If you read my post properly, i was quoting the 34 route, as that additionally goes into Cheshire although briefly, i never said the 141 went into Greater Manchester just listing as an additional cross boundary route.

 

[adrock1976]

When Travel West Midlands had its Timesaver network, there was the 966 that ran from Wolverhampton to Birmingham International Airport via Willenhall (the WV postcode, not the one in Coventry), Walsall, Aldridge, Little Aston (which remained in Staffordshire when the West Midlands County Council was created in 1974), Mere Green, Sutton Coldfield, Erdington Six Ways, Kingsbury Road, Collector Road, Chelmsley Wood, Coleshill Heath Road, Bickenhill Lane, International Station, and Airport.

The present day Metropolitan Borough Councils (MBCs) of Wolverhampton and Walsall were once part of Staffordshire, Sutton Coldfield was a council area in its own right in Warwickshire (one of my former partners was originally from that neck of the woods and was born on 31 March 1974, hence how she did not recognise it as part of Birmingham) before being swallowed up by Birmingham, and both Birmingham City Council and Solihull MBC were once also part of Warwickshire too.

The Timesaver 900 after the Airport where it would re-join the A45 I think briefly nipped out of the metropolitan area into the bit that remained in Warwickshire and rejoined it after the deviation via Meriden Green. My memory may be playing tricks as it was many years (30 or so) since I last went that way by bus.

 

[Typhoon]

In Birmingham and Solihull:
...
S3W - Hockley Heath to Wythall (Warwickshire).
...

Minor quibble - Wythall is in Worcestershire (Bromsgrove District). Wythall station is close to the Warwickshire border, though.

 

[Typhoon]

The present day Metropolitan Borough Councils (MBCs) of Wolverhampton and Walsall were once part of Staffordshire, Sutton Coldfield was a council area in its own right in Warwickshire (one of my former partners was originally from that neck of the woods and was born on 31 March 1974, hence how she did not recognise it as part of Birmingham) before being swallowed up by Birmingham, and both Birmingham City Council and Solihull MBC were once also part of Warwickshire too.

​

If you ever want to annoy someone from Sutton Coldfield, remind them that they live in Birmingham, preferably in an exaggerated Brummie accent.

The Timesaver 900 after the Airport where it would re-join the A45 I think briefly nipped out of the metropolitan area into the bit that remained in Warwickshire and rejoined it after the deviation via Meriden Green. My memory may be playing tricks as it was many years (30 or so) since I last went that way by bus.

I think you are right. It may even have stopped in Warwickshire - I think there is a stop near Stonebridge roundabout. Meriden is in Solihull MBC.

 

[transmanche]

The 84 was a London Country route which then become commercial.

The 84 was very much a London Transport 'central' route until it was transferred to London Country - about the same time as the 313 was transferred the other way (and truncated at Potters Bar).