© Alpine Travel Limited 2010 Hosted By Solex Systems History Alpine Travel was founded on 1st of March 1972 to meet the needs of both the local & tourist trade by husband and wife team Bryan & Pat Owens. Alpine Travel expanded from its origins in the market town of Llanrwst in the Conwy Valley, operating just 6 ageing coaches to become what is today, the largest independent coach & bus operator in North Wales.   Since its creation Alpine Travel has adopted a policy of expansion by acquisition and in 1977 bought out the interests of Hughes Bros (Llanrwst & Trefriw) Ltd.,  another Conwy Valley operator. The current limited company identity was then adopted and is still used to the present day. By this time Bryan had seen the opportunities offered by the tourist trade and links had already been forged with tour operators such as SAGA Holidays & Travelsphere to name but a few. The increased vehicle capacity and the involvement of Bryan’s brother Chris in the business now meant that they could develop these links and expand the tourist operation. There followed several years of consolidation and organic growth within the company, with a new operating centre being opened in Llandudno in 1985.    A relaxation of government legislation meant that Alpine Travel could direct its efforts into developing an excursion and tours programme directly from a number of small sales outlets in the Llandudno and Colwyn Bay area, in direct competition with the very long-established businesses of Royal Red tours. This saw a rapid expansion in the size and quality of the coaching fleet with drivers and vehicles now being regularly committed to work on Private hire charters, Tour operator charters as well as regular tours and excursions.   In 1986 changes is government legislation opened a new window of opportunity for Alpine Travel with the deregulation of local bus service operations.This heralded a most exciting time for Alpine Travel and saw its fleet and turnover treble over the next 10 years as its network of bus services were expanded to the East and the seaside holiday resort of Rhyl. During this period another extensive maintenance and operating depot was opened in Rhyl.      Another local coach & bus operator, Empire Goldstar International , was acquired in 1995. The following year the company divested itself of all its commercial bus service operations to the then-expanding British Bus group in return for the exclusive right to all their local private hire and excursion operations. Today Alpine Travel is one of the largest and best-known bus and coach operators not only in North Wales, but across the UK.