For many decades bus services within the borough of Northampton were provided by council-owned Northampton Transport with United Counties, part of the National Bus Company, operating routes to outlying towns and villages. The ‘town’ buses were red and the ‘country’ buses were green. A number of private operators could also be seen around the area in particular on the town’s market days. This would change in 1986 following deregulation of the bus industry with United Counties being an early purchase by Perth-based Stagecoach Holdings.

United Counties lost its green livery to the Stagecoach corporate scheme soon after take over. From 1994 local company names were displayed more discreetly with ‘Stagecoach’ more prominent as seen on the front of ECW-bodied 735 (LFJ 864W) making its way along Drapery after working a service from Milton Keynes.

Unlike a number of other comparable towns, the post-deregulation years remained relatively calm. Agreements remained in place with Northampton Transport regarding operations in certain areas of the town and the principal east-west services were still jointly operated. Yorks Coaches had registered several local bus services the majority of which were soon taken over by Stagecoach. The relative calm was disturbed mid-1993 when the council announced its intention to sell Northampton Transport. A ‘bus war’ ensued giving the travelling public of Northampton an experience more commonly associated with deregulation. Grampian Regional Transport (GRT) purchased Northampton Transport and after a month or two calmness would be restored. GRT also acquired Leicester Citybus around this time, which had also been municipally owned, and the two companies would share a common livery, engineering department and administrative functions.

The final application of Northampton Transport’s red and cream livery suited the Alexander RV-bodied Volvo Citybuses very well. Route 1 was jointly operated with United Counties with Greyfriars bus station being the location where 91 (H291 VRP) was captured whilst arriving from Duston. Many angles of the infamous concrete structure feature in the book. Whilst it was drab and dreary it centralised bus and coach operations in the town with adequate space for vehicles to utilise it. (Photo Nigel Wheeler)

Northamptonshire is bordered by nine counties each with their own distinctive characteristics and a different local accent would greet you at each one. We will travel out to many of these destinations where different operators, liveries and vehicle types could be seen.

For many years Midland Fox ran jointly with United Counties between Leicester and Northampton. This was a real treat for the enthusiast as their interesting and varied fleet ensured something unusual would appear. With Midland Red origins Leyland National 2 3829 (EON 829V) departs Leicester on a short working to Market Harborough. (Author’s collection)

Back in Northampton, the only ‘bus wars’ to be seen were the ‘PLC’ vs ‘PLC’ kind where one of the industry’s ‘big groups’ would register services against the other. This usually followed a change of management team or the local company becoming part of a different regional division. Whilst interesting to observe, and often some good fare deals being on offer to passengers, these were only short-term operations. A legacy of some description would follow with improvements to route networks and fare deals remaining longer term.

Local marketing and brand names remained in use by United Counties and were applied alongside the familiar Stagecoach stripes. The Coachlinks network comprised of inter-urban express routes upon which various types of coach were allocated. Several batches of new coaches were received from the early 1990s to ensure modern vehicles were used on these important routes. Plaxton’s Premiere 320 bodywork had been adapted for Stagecoach Group orders with the ‘Interurban’ interior being a no-fills version of the main product. Kettering-based 181 (R181 DNH) represents the type at Peterborough railway station on the X65 service to Northampton. This was jointly worked with Viscount, before and during Stagecoach ownership, and would later become route X4 operated with bus-seated Dennis Tridents.

What the town may have lacked in new operators entering the scene it made up for in changes to routes and network with those operated by First Northampton Transport seemingly changing constantly. The variety of vehicles used was incredibly varied and although Stagecoach received steady deliveries of standard types throughout the period some more unusual members of their fleet would still appear. In more recent years other operators would join the scene mainly on tendered services or networks such as those on behalf of the town’s university.

One last newcomer to try their hand at bus operation in Northampton was Trinity Bus & Coach of Brackley. Between 1994 and mid-1995 two routes were operated around the lucrative Eastern District using Ford Transit minibuses in a smart green and black livery. As can be seen in this view at Weston Favell Centre their target was Stagecoach and GRT-owned Northampton Transport with examples of both seen behind the rapidly-departing minibus. (Photo Jeff Jones)

As fewer people refer to Stagecoach’s operation as ‘Counties’ and with First Northampton (NT) already in the history books we can reminisce this era after NBC ownership and before that of today’s Stagecoach Midlands. This is the most northerly place where ‘ar’ is pronounced in grass, the rugby players are Saints and supporters shout Cobblers at the football team even when they are doing well. There is a lighthouse, an inland seaside resort and you might find lions in the country. Don’t always eat the cheese as some of it is made of wood and thrown at skittles placed on a tabletop. Buses and Coaches Serving Northampton the 1990s and 2000s is adventure across Northampton and surrounding area so jump aboard ‘me duck!’

Northampton Buses and Coaches by Matt Cooper is available for purchase now.