Royal Blue Run - 20-22 June 2025
The Coaches and Routes
(Page being regularly updated)
Additional coach entries are warmly invited (deadline 23 May 2025) - you can complete the online form or download and complete a paper form in Word or pdf format.
Further information about the Royal Blue and Associated Motorways Run can be found here.
2025 Entries:
Provisional Route outline
Day 1: London to Bristol
Day 2: Bristol to Bournemouth
Day 3: Bournemouth to Exeter (and Taunton)
Read about the origins of these Royal Blue & Greyhound Motors routes below
The beginning of long-distance coach services can be determined in several ways, but the first to run all year round on a daily basis, picking up and setting down passengers at various towns along the route, was that initiated by Greyhound Motors, of Bristol. Using a pair of Strachan and Brown bodied Dennis coaches, this operated between London (at Hammersmith) and Bristol, and began in February 1925. This year, therefore marks the centenary of the start of this service.
Day 1
20 June 2025
Royal Blue also set up a service along the Bristol-London route in 1928, and from 1932 until 1965 the two operators jointly worked this service (after which it became just a Greyhound route). Day1 of the coach run will go from London to Bristol following the Royal Blue route.
From the mid 1930s, both operators had been taken over - Greyhound by Bristol Tramways & Carriage Company, and Royal Blue by Southern / Western National (the latter also controlling the Bristol concern).
Although normally Royal Blue runs have not recreated the same route on previous occasions, the centenary of this inaugural service is considered an exception that should be marked.
Day 2
21 June 2025
Early in 1927, Greyhound opened another route, from Bristol to Bournemouth, where initially their agent was Elliott Bros (Royal Blue) - until the latter started their own service between those places! There were two alternative routes - either via Shaftesbury or via Salisbury, and Day 2 of the Royal Blue run will follow the former.
Day 3
22 June 2025
Royal Blue was taken over by Southern / Western National 90 years ago. In 1935, the company head office therefore moved from Bournemouth to Exeter (although many administrative and engineering functions remained in Bournemouth), so Day 3 of this year’s run will link them, celebrating the anniversary.
