From upstart underdog, Western Greyhound grew into one of the country's most successful and well-respected independents before a series of setbacks led to its recent demise. Formed as a coach operator by career busmen Mark Howarth and Robin Orbell -Howarth had latterly been First's managing director in Devon & Cornwall - it began running buses in December 1998 after the Labour government's Rural Bus Grant financed new services at the same time as the coach market continued to decline. The name was that of a business Howarth had managed earlier in his career in South Africa. It enjoyed 13 glorious years of continuous growth to become Cornwall's largest operator with a peak of nearly 130 vehicles, serving all four extremities and even straying into Devon. Its territory stretched from Land's End to Exeter, 120miles apart. It revitalised routes, increasing frequencies with clockface timetables, stimulating passenger and revenue growth. Interworking cut dead mileage while interchanges increased journey opportunities.
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