The Western National bus company was formed in 1929, a joint venture between the Great Western Railway (GWR) and the National Omnibus & Transport Company. The new company took over the network of bus services operated by the GWR and National Omnibus in Devon and Cornwall, soon adding the National routes in south west Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire and GWR bus services around Trowbridge and Stroud. The Western National territory now stretching from Cheltenham to Penzance. In 1931, a controlling interest in the National Omnibus was acquired by the Tilling Group, although the GWR retained its shares until 1948.