SHAMROCK BUSES

Serving the Poole and Bournemouth areas

Based originally at a workshop unit and depot on an industrial park in the Newtown district of Poole in Dorset, Shamrock Buses was formed in 2002 primarily to operate contract and schools services. The operation of their buses was intended as a valuable contribution to the maintenance and restoration of the museum fleet of the BPTA (Bournemouth Passenger Transport Association), first established some forty years ago. Perhaps reflected in the company name Dorset Heritage Transport Services Ltd, trading as Shamrock Buses.

This museum fleet comprised some twenty five vehicles having connections with the area - both trolleybuses and motor buses - and had been built up over the years through the enthusiasm and dedication of local people like Keith Baynton, the Shamrock Buses manager. Several previous operating entities have run on local roads at various times in support of the museum venture, including the famed Routemaster Bournemouth buses of the mid-1990s. 

There were at autumn 2007 thirty five buses in the orange and cream liveried Shamrock fleet - a livery which recalls the famous Bournemouth coach operator Shamrock & Rambler of years gone by, with their programme of tours and excursions and an express service to London. By April 2011 the Shamrock fleet size was 39. The majority of the fleet were seventy to eighty-seater Olympian double deckers, whilst others included the only single deckers in the then current fleet,  four Dennis Darts. 

Sadly we report that Shamrock Buses ceased trading on 6th July 2011 following financial difficulties and loss of tendered work. The museum fleet has been dispersed with some vehicles going to WHOTT (West Country Historic Omnibus & Transport Trust) at Winkleigh in Devon. Some other ex-Bournemouth vehicles are with Yellow Buses Devon.

Over twenty daily school runs were operated in an area stretching from Wimborne to Verwood and New Milton.  Operations were based on a depot at Holton Heath, between Poole and Wareham.  There were also free supermarket buses for Tesco. These were the main Shamrock public bus routes:

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Christchurch via Broadway, Southbourne and Pokesdown to Boscombe Bus Station
(introduced in March 2007 running Christchurch to Bournemouth Hospital and Castlepoint; diverted via Southbourne Broadway 23rd July 2007; extended to Christchurch Hospital from 29th September 2007; revised to route above from 14th April 2009.  Further revision from 26th October 2009, omitting Pokesdown and running via Wentworth and Beechwood Avenues instead. Passed to Wilts & Dorset from 7th July 2011)