New brochures and timetables for our regular services in the Minehead area have been published. These are the services 300 and 39 to Lynmouth and Porlock Weir and the service 400 “Exmoor Explorer”. More details can be found on the Scheduled Services page.
Due to having moved to a new depot at Bishops Lydeard we are slimming down our collection of heritage buses and coaches, a number of which are now for sale. Please follow the links below to see details:
Please call us on 01823 430202 to arrange a viewing (potential buyers only). Alternatively, take part in our Depot Open Weekend on May 1st and 2nd when all of the vehicles for sale will be available for inspection.
One of our part time bus conductors is writing a blog about his training to become a driver. Click here to visit his blog. Please note that QMS is not responsible for this blog.
After many years on the Taunton Trading Estate, which is now undergoing re-development, we have almost completed a move to Bishops Lydeard. Our new depot, situated right next to the West Somerset Railway station, offers secure storage and maintenance facilities for our mixed fleet of modern and vintage vehicles.
The move strengthens our position as one of the leading transport providers in the South West as we continue to offer competitive rates for coach hire to all parts of the country.
To celebrate the move (and to show off our new premises), we are planning a Depot Open Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, May 1st and 2nd. Further details can be found on the QMS Bus Rallies page.
As a result of the move, some of our heritage vehicles are for sale. Please contact us by email or by telephone: 01823 430202 for more details. Some of the vehicles for sale will be available for viewing during the Depot Open Weekend.
BBC Spotlight recently spent a day with us as presenter Victoria Graham rode the Service 300 from Minehead to Lynmouth. This was part of a programme that also included a ride to Burgh Island on the sea tractor.
Fortunately the sun shone as Victoria talked viewers through the delights of the coastal route and interviewed passengers who were not only making a car-free journey but enjoying the magnificent views from the open top bus.
See a slideshow of the programme, with Victoria’s commentary, here.
Ever wanted to get to Lynmouth in a hurry? See the journey in 3 minutes here.
We are pleased to announce that we are running two new bus routes in the Taunton area. Service 632 runs from Stoke Sub Hamdon to Somerset College of Arts & Technology, via several small villages. Although we are operating this primarily to serve the college, it is also a public service, running in the morning and evening.
The second new route is Service 627, connecting Henlade with Heathfield School and runs on the same basis as Service 632.
Timetables for both routes can be downloaded here:
Service 632 Stoke Sub Hamdon - Taunton
Service 627 Henlade - Taunton
The West Somerset Railway and Quantock Motor Services Ltd (the operators of the 300 bus service linking Minehead with Lynmouth) are offering a through service during the month of August with £1.00 off the normal fare for the bus journey.
Holders of a West Somerset Railway ticket (valid for the same days travel as being sought on the bus) will, on presentation of this ticket, be able to travel from Minehead to Lynmouth on the 300 Exmoor Coastal Link for £3.90 return as opposed to the normal fare of £4.90.
To use this facility passengers need to board the 10:25 service from Bishops Lydeard arriving at Minehead at 11:42. The 300 bus leaves from outside the Railway Station in Minehead at 11:58 giving the traveller just under an hour’s journey over the Exmoor coast, arriving at Lynmouth at 12:52. Travellers can take a later train, either the 11:10 diesel service or the 12:30 steam service from Bishops Lydeard and then catch the bus at 13:58 getting to Lynmouth at 14:52. The return journey from Lynmouth for all these travellers starts at 16:58 getting back to Minehead at 17:49, boarding the 17:55 train getting back to Bishops Lydeard at 19:07.
A wonderful day out in West Somerset by public transport at a very reasonable price. (Holders of local residents’ rail card get an even better deal).
Download the poster here.
We are once again providing a free bus service to and from the West Somerset Railway’s summer Steam Fayre and Vintage Rally. The event takes place on Saturday and Sunday, August 1st and 2nd at the railway’s new rally site at Norton Fitzwarren.
A varied fleet of vintage buses will run a free shuttle service between Taunton Railway Station (down side) and the rally site. The service will begin at 9.30am and will run at approximately 30 minute intervals with the last return service to Taunton leaving the site at 17:30. Download the full timetable here.
Photo: Bob Brimley (http://bobbrimley.fotopic.net)
We are pleased to have won the contract to transport cricket teams from their local hotels to the women’s Group Stage fixtures in the ICC World Twenty20 Cricket competition at Taunton Cricket Club in June.
This has involved up to eight executive coaches for a period of 10 days.
Our popular Service 400 “Exmoor Explorer” season is now in full swing, with the recent fine weather providing excellent views of the local villages and moors. Journeys depart from Minehead (opposite the WSR station) at 11:00 and 14:15. No booking is required, just turn up and pay the conductor!
Service 300 Scania Omnidekka
In addition to linking Minehead with Lynmouth on Mondays to Saturdays, our Service 300 “Exmoor Coastal Link” also runs from Taunton (Castle Way) at 08:45 through to Lynmouth on Sundays, arriving at 10:55. The final service of the day departs from Lynmouth at 17:05, arriving in Taunton at 19:00.
Full details can be found in the Service 400 and Service 300 timetables.