Chaserider

The Chaserider brand name, which refers to Cannock Chase, was first used by Midland Red from 1977^[2] until 1992.

During November 2020, Centrebus Group subsidiary D&G Bus announced they would be taking over the Cannock depot of Arriva Midlands from the end of January 2021 with operations in Cannock and Stafford running under the revived Chaserider brand.^[3]

Chaserider services operate mainly around Cannock and Stafford with some further afield into Wolverhampton and Walsall.^[4][5]

Since taking over from Arriva Midlands in January 2021, Chaserider have undertaken a number of service reviews including a trial of running the Pye Green circular buses on Sundays via Designer Outlet West Midlands.^[6][7][8]

Some of the Stafford town centre network inherited from Arriva has been taken over by Select Bus Services.^[9]

From June 2021, Chaserider introduced a new service X14 between Cannock, Shifnal, Telford and Oakengates. This had 6 journeys in each direction, but was withdrawn in January 2022 owing to low passenger numbers. ^[10][11]

From February 2023, Chaserider began operating subsidised services 102 and 103 along with school services 104 and 105 in the Telford area. Also operated under contract to Telford and Wrekin Council, Chaserider also began to operate service 100 in late 2022. These services utilise a fleet of 6 suitably branded Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 MMCs.

Service 1 which operated between Cannock and Walsall and ran every 20 minutes at its peak was curtailed to operate only between Cheslyn Hay and Cannock from the summer 2022. This was controversial as at the same time National Express cut its competing X51 between Cannock and Walsall (and which continues to Birmingham) to every 30 minutes from 20 minutes between the two towns.

In July 2023, Chaserider commenced operations on behalf of Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and Staffordshire County Council, running services 35A and 36 between Walsall, Aldridge and Lichfield. Additionally, service 19 under contract in October 2023 commenced, between Walsall and Bloxwich^[12] however due to antisocial behaviour in the Coal Pool area the service was diverted, finished early and briefly withdrawn until an alternative operator was found. Service 19 is now operated by Carolean Coaches.

In November 2023, Chaserider replaced National Express West Midlands on service 5 (Wolverhampton to Codsall) on evenings and Sundays. Day time journeys were operated by Banga Buses. Then, in May 2025, Chaserider also replaced Banga Buses to operate the whole 5 service. In September 2025 the evening and Sunday journeys were taken over under tender by National Express West Midlands.

In June 2024, saw the extension of the 63 Cannock to Rugeley via Brereton linking onto Uttoxeter with some journeys subcontracted to Bus Link.

In July 2024, saw the 35A Walsall to Leighswood service be withdrawn and replaced with a new 36A extending from Leighswood to Lichfield via Muckley Corner (similar to former Diamond 35 route). Since January 2025, the 36 has operated on Sundays. These changes are on behalf of Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and Staffordshire County Council.^[13]

It was revealed in May 2025, that Arriva Midlands had won the tenders for all the Telford work that Chaserider operated. They ceased operating the routes in Telford during July 2025.^[14]

Chaserider began operating service 57 which runs between Wolverhampton and Bilston (currently curtailed to Willenhall due to long running road works in the area), in November 2025 which was previously operated by Diamond. Since January 2026, service 25 (Wolverhampton-Pendeford) has been operated by Chaserider this service was previously operated by National Express West Midlands.

It was announced on 24 October 2025, that following the completion of the Stafford roadworks around Queensville, which meant that services 74, 826, 827 had been disrupted and diverted because of the long term works all services have reverted back to normal line of route.^[15]

As part of the sale to D&G Bus, Arriva included 46 vehicles with sale of Cannock depot, since the takeover most of the vehicles have been refurbished into D&G two tone red livery and latterly into the new blue and red livery with Chaserider branding alongside some newer additions from within D&G parent company Centrebus Group.

Ongoing fleet upgrades are seeing older vehicles being fitted with Mobitec Audio/Visual Next Stop Announcements to comply with PSVAR legislation.

As of February 2026, the fleet consists of 62 vehicles^[16]: