South Wales Transport

10th June 2006

The formation of the National Bus Company in 1969 caused major upheaval in the Swansea area. Neath & Cardiff, Thomas Bros and United Welsh were absorbed into the South Wales Transport Co on 1st January 1971. The three operators had been under SWT control since 1969 (N&C and Thomas Bros) and United Welsh in 1970.
Prior to that, the Swansea Bus Group had been established, and a standardised livery of light red with a cream band adopted for all the members, whilst retaining their separate fleetnames. This lasted until 1st January 1971.
In November 1970, anticipating the forthcoming merger two months later, the four fleets were renumbered into one comprehensive list.
The SWT empire was further extended in 1972, when the services, vehicles and depots of Western Welsh at Neath, (January) and Haverfordwest (March) were taken over.
Later images can be found in my National Bus Company and Welsh Bus Photos galleries.

126 Barry Island coach park July 1972 Ex-Neath & Cardiff 1798x1122 126_1798x1122.JPG 2006-06-10 00:00:00 Buy Print	153 Ravenhill workshops May 1973 1800x1243 153_1800x1243.JPG 2006-06-10 00:00:00 Buy Print	158 Barry Island coach park July 1972 Ex-Neath & Cardiff 1798x1122 158_1798x1122.JPG 2006-06-10 00:00:00 Buy Print	161 Ravenhill September 1972 1798x1191 161_1798x1191.JPG 2006-06-10 00:00:00 Buy Print
166 Ravenhill workshops August 1972 1799x1149 166_1799x1149.JPG.jpg 2006-06-10 00:00:00 Buy Print	169 Tenby coach park September 1972 Ex-Thomas Bros 1799x1149 169_1799x1149.JPG 2006-06-10 00:00:00 Buy Print	173 Ravenhill workshops August 1972 1799x1229 173_1799x1229.JPG 2006-06-10 00:00:00 Buy Print	203 Neath depot September 1972. Both vehicles in Western Welsh liveries 1800x1195 203_1800x1195.JPG 2006-06-10 00:00:00 Buy Print
205 Neath depot September 1972 1798x1122 205_1798x1122.JPG 2006-06-10 00:00:00 Buy Print	208 Cardiff bus station February 1972. One of the vehicles transferred from Western Welsh Neath Abbey depot 1799x1219 208_1799x1219.JPG 2006-06-10 00:00:00 Buy Print	242 Swansea September 1972 1798x1196 242_1798x1196.JPG 2006-06-10 00:00:00 Buy Print	256 Neath depot September 1972 1798x1191 256_1798x1191.JPG 2006-06-10 00:00:00 Buy Print
297 Swansea Brunswick depot September 1972 Ex-Red & White U757 1800x1189 297_1800x1189.JPG 2006-06-10 00:00:00 Buy Print	302 Port Talbot depot February 1972 1798x1195 302_1798x1195.JPG 2006-06-10 00:00:00 Buy Print	307 Sandfields, Port Talbot February 1972 1798x1191 307_1798x1191.JPG 2006-06-10 00:00:00 Buy Print	312 Ravenhill May 1973 Ex-James of Ammanford 1800x1198 312_1800x1198.JPG 2006-06-10 00:00:00 Buy Print
315&301 Port Talbot depot February 1972 1800x1195 315_301_1800x1195.JPG 2006-06-10 00:00:00 Buy Print	319 Sandfields, Port Talbot February 1972 1798x1191 319_1798x1191.JPG 2006-06-10 00:00:00 Buy Print	325 Port Talbot depot February 1972 1798x1122 325_1798x1122.JPG 2006-06-10 00:00:00 Buy Print	330 Withdrawn at Ravenhill August 1972. Originally hired from Western Welsh, SWT subsequently purchased this Leyland Olympian 1798x1196 330_1798x1196.JPG 2006-06-10 00:00:00 Buy Print
336 Neath railway station October 1972 Ex-Western Welsh at Neath Abbey 1799x1149 336_1799x1149.JPG 2006-06-10 00:00:00 Buy Print	349 Ravenhill August 1972 Ex-Western Welsh Haverfordwest 1798x1196 349_1798x1196.JPG 2006-06-10 00:00:00 Buy Print	376 Swansea September 1972 1798x1196 376_1798x1196.JPG 2006-06-10 00:00:00 Buy Print	425 Port Talbot depot February 1972 1799x1229 425_1799x1229.JPG 2006-06-10 00:00:00 Buy Print