Shropshire operator Regional Transport has listed all bus stops on its T1 sightseeing tour between Shrewsbury and Ironbridge with What3Words codes to assist unfamiliar users in finding those locations.
Director Robert Thompson says that the initiative has come from experience with this year’s operation, which started on 1 April and runs to 30 September. The T1 operates on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and the first Sunday of each month. In the latter case, it is the only registered bus route to serve Shrewsbury on Sundays.
Mr Thompson says that the 2025 season has been the longest since Regional Transport commenced the T1. Addition of What3Words codes to bus stops is based on customer suggestions this year, he continues.
“From feedback, I was hearing that passengers could not find our bus stops, which are always on main roads and such, despite having our information displayed in shelters and handy direction pointers, as well as information given both on our website and in paper leaflets,” Mr Thompson says.
The start point in Shrewsbury had been changed in 2025 due to a road closure, which is thought to have contributed to uncertainty.
“With available technology to accurately pinpoint our stops by inputting the unique identifiers given on our website into What3Words, this can take passengers to the exact spot with no errors – especially when stops are opposite each other on both sides of the road.”
The What3Words identifiers will be added to paper leaflets for the T1 for coming seasons. Mr Thompson adds that should the business expand into local bus services in the future, the same step will be taken.
Operation of the T1 is usually with a part-open-top Scania OmniCity double-decker in the fleet’s black and red livery. However, Regional Transport fleet also owns an AEC Routemaster that dates from 1962 and a Leyland National from 1979, both of which were new to London Transport. They each work the tour one day per month.
Some travellers have used the service specifically to travel on either of the heritage buses. The Routemaster is one built for use on longer-distance Green Line services by London Transport.
It was later utilised by London Buses in red livery on the X15 Beckton Express service and retains a gold-lined livery and platform doors. The National, meanwhile, is thought to be the only example of its type licensed as a PSV.
