Blue Bus was a large independent bus company serving
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county and combined authority, combined authority area in North West England, with a population of 2.8 million; comprising ten metropolitan boroughs: City of Manchester, Manchester, City of Salford, Salford ...
,
Lancashire
Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly.
The non-metropolitan county of Lancashi ...
and
Merseyside
Merseyside ( ) is a metropolitan county, metropolitan and ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in North West England, with a population of List of ceremonial counties of England, 1.38 million. It encompasses both banks of the Merse ...
.
History
Blue Bus was formed in 1991 by former
Shearings
Shearings (legally Shearings Travel Limited) is a coach tour operator, part of the Leger Shearings Group, based in the United Kingdom. The tour operator brand specialises in holidays including escorted tours, unescorted tours, short breaks, se ...
managers Roger Jarvis and Alan Turner. It was based at a former railway works in
Horwich
Horwich ( ) is a town and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. Prior to 1974 in the historic county of Lancashire. It is southeast of Chorley, northwest of Bolton and northwest of Manchester. It l ...
, six miles to the west of
Bolton
Bolton (, locally ) is a large town in Greater Manchester in North West England, formerly a part of Lancashire. A former mill town, Bolton has been a production centre for textiles since Flemish people, Flemish weavers settled in the area i ...
. The first type of bus to be acquired in bulk was the
Leyland Leopard
The Leyland Leopard was a mid-engined single-decker bus and single-decker coach chassis manufactured by Leyland between 1959 and 1982.
History
The Leyland Leopard was introduced in 1959. It was developed from the Leyland Tiger Cub, one of ...
, which were followed by a number of
Leyland Atlantean
The Leyland Atlantean is a predominantly double-decker bus
A double-decker bus or double-deck bus is a bus that has two storeys or decks. They are used for mass transport in the United Kingdom, the United States, New Zealand, Europe, Asi ...
s.
It commenced operating its first route in May 1991 between
Bolton
Bolton (, locally ) is a large town in Greater Manchester in North West England, formerly a part of Lancashire. A former mill town, Bolton has been a production centre for textiles since Flemish people, Flemish weavers settled in the area i ...
and
Horwich
Horwich ( ) is a town and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. Prior to 1974 in the historic county of Lancashire. It is southeast of Chorley, northwest of Bolton and northwest of Manchester. It l ...
via Chorley New Road in competition with
GM Buses
GM Buses was the main bus company serving the ten metropolitan districts of Greater Manchester in North West England. The company was formed in 1986 by the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive. In December 1993, it was split into GM ...
. Each of the five services introduced to give this combined frequency served a different estate in Horwich. A 20-minute service along Chorley Old Road from Bolton to the Johnson Fold estate was next to be introduced, followed by a series of routes in
Wigan
Wigan ( ) is a large town in Greater Manchester, England, on the River Douglas, Lancashire, River Douglas. The town is midway between the two cities of Manchester, to the south-east, and Liverpool, to the south-west. Bolton lies to the nor ...
. The first of these ran to
Shevington
Shevington is a village and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, England. The population of the Wigan ward called Shevington and Lower Ground had increased to 11,482 at the 2011 Census.
Lying within the historic county boun ...
. It was decided to open an outpost at
Appley Bridge
Appley Bridge is a small, affluent village crossing the borders of Greater Manchester and West Lancashire, England. It is located off Junction 27 of the M6 motorway and is nestled in the Douglas Valley alongside the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. ...
to act as a local base for the Wigan routes.
New routes were added to the network following contract wins, and a number of commercial routes were also introduced, taking the company into new areas such as
Manchester
Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...
. In addition, the company gained work from a holiday company, Alfa Tours. Five coaches were acquired for this, with two were specially branded for Alfa.
Blue Bus purchased a depot in
Huddersfield
Huddersfield is a market town in the Kirklees district in West Yorkshire, England. It is the administrative centre and largest settlement in the Kirklees district. The town is in the foothills of the Pennines. The River Holme's confluence into ...
in August 1994, launching a service to
Marsden in competition with
Yorkshire Rider
Yorkshire Rider was a bus company in West Yorkshire, England.
History
To comply with the Transport Act 1985, the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive transferred its bus operations to an arms length company named Yorkshire Rider on 26 ...
. This venture was later expanded into
Bradford
Bradford is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Bradford district in West Yorkshire, England. The city is in the Pennines' eastern foothills on the banks of the Bradford Beck. Bradford had a population of 349,561 at the 2011 ...
. Rider was taken over by
FirstBus
FirstGroup plc is a British Multinational corporation, multi-national transport group, based in Aberdeen, Scotland.[FirstBus
FirstGroup plc is a British Multinational corporation, multi-national transport group, based in Aberdeen, Scotland.][Bolton
Bolton (, locally ) is a large town in Greater Manchester in North West England, formerly a part of Lancashire. A former mill town, Bolton has been a production centre for textiles since Flemish people, Flemish weavers settled in the area i ...]
rival,
GM Buses North.
During 2001, after
Stagecoach
A stagecoach is a four-wheeled public transport coach used to carry paying passengers and light packages on journeys long enough to need a change of horses. It is strongly sprung and generally drawn by four horses although some versions are draw ...
sold the East
Lancashire
Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly.
The non-metropolitan county of Lancashi ...
end of
Ribble Motor Services
Ribble Motor Services was a large regional bus operator in the North West England based in Preston.
History
Ribble Motor Services commenced operating in 1919, and grew to be the largest operator in the region, with a territory stretching f ...
company to
Blazefield, Blue Bus started intensive competition against newly formed
Lancashire United in the Bolton area. Blue Bus took over operation of the Bolton end of Lancashire United in August 2002, acquiring the former Ribble depot, staff, services and several vehicles. The head office was moved to the former Lancashire United office at
Bolton bus station
Bolton Interchange is a bus station in the town of Bolton, in Greater Manchester. It is run by Transport for Greater Manchester.
Future
In January 2010, Transport for Greater Manchester (then the GMPTE) started a public consultation about t ...
, and the
Horwich
Horwich ( ) is a town and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. Prior to 1974 in the historic county of Lancashire. It is southeast of Chorley, northwest of Bolton and northwest of Manchester. It l ...
base was later closed down, with most buses moving to
Bolton
Bolton (, locally ) is a large town in Greater Manchester in North West England, formerly a part of Lancashire. A former mill town, Bolton has been a production centre for textiles since Flemish people, Flemish weavers settled in the area i ...
. This acquisition saw rivalry develop between Blue Bus and FirstBus, with Blue Bus moving onto the 400 TransLancs Express service and introducing an X9 express service into
Manchester
Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...
. Both companies eventually withdrew and the services were withdrawn.
In early 2005, Blue Bus sold its Appley Bridge depot to
South Lancs Travel along with six buses and all of the depot's routes. This allowed the company to focus on its depots in
Bolton
Bolton (, locally ) is a large town in Greater Manchester in North West England, formerly a part of Lancashire. A former mill town, Bolton has been a production centre for textiles since Flemish people, Flemish weavers settled in the area i ...
and
Eccles, with a proposal to expand further having gained tenders in
Salford
Salford () is a city and the largest settlement in the City of Salford metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. In 2011, Salford had a population of 103,886. It is also the second and only other city in the metropolitan county afte ...
and
Manchester
Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...
on eight routes.
On 31 July 2005, Blue Bus was acquired by
Arriva North West & Wales
Arriva North West and Wales was a division of Arriva that operated bus services around North West England and Wales. It was made up from several previous bus operators including North Western (in Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire), most of ...
.
Timeline
Arriva
Services operated
Blue Bus operated numerous bus services, including the following:
6: Bolton - Little Hulton - Walkden - Swinton - Manchester
6A: Bolton - Little Hulton - Walkden - Swinton - Manchester
7: Bolton - Little Hulton - Walkden - Swinton - Manchester
9: Bolton - Horwich - Blackrod
25: Bolton - Farnworth - Walkden - Swinton - Weaste - Manchester
36A: Bolton - Little Hulton - Walkden - Swinton - Manchester
55: Pendleton - Westwood Park - Eccles
61: Eccles - Westwood Park (circular)
62: Eccles - Westwood Park (circular)
63: Brookhouse - Eccles - Manchester
64: Eccles - Brookhouse - Westwood Park (circular)
65: Eccles - Brookhouse - Westwood Park (circular)
69: Eccles - Westwood Park - Pendleton - Stretford
70: Clifton - Swinton - Eccles - Pendleton - Manchester
70: Hope Hospital - Eccles - Swinton - Clifton
71: Clifton - Swinton - Weaste - Pendleton - Manchester
73: Clifton - Swinton - Weaste - Pendleton - Manchester
74: Pendleton - Agecroft (circular)
75: Pendleton - Agecroft (circular)
99: Sale - Northenden - Southern Cemetery - Manchester
111: Preston - Penwortham - Leyland - Eccleston - Standish - Wigan
113: Preston Hospital - Preston - Leyland - Standish - Wigan
116: Wigan - Standish - Charnock Richard - Leyland - Preston - Faringdon Park* Saturdays only
126: Bolton - Horwich - Lever Park
127: Blackrod - Westhoughton - Deane - Bolton
200: Bolton - Atherton - Leigh - Golborne - Ashton - Haydock - St Helens
243: Bolton - Ramsbottom - Rawtenstall
273: Bolton - Ramsbottom - Rawtenstall
290: Manchester - Trafford Park - Trafford Centre - Flixton - Partington
291: Manchester - Trafford Park - Trafford Centre - Flixton
293: Eccles - Trafford Park (circular)
400: Bolton - Bury - Rochdale - Oldham - Ashton - Stockport
478: Bolton - Breightmet - Radcliffe - Bury
484: Hope Hospital - Eccles - Swinton - Pendlebury - Agecroft - Prestwich
502: Bolton - Barrow Bridge
505: Bolton - Markland Hill
505: Bolton - Markland Hill - Middlebrook
505: Bolton - Markland Hill - Middlebrook - Horwich (Pennine Road)
508: Bury - Tottington - Hawkshaw - Tonge Moor - Bolton
510: Bolton - Withins - Bury
511: Bury - Ainsworth - Radcliffe
515: Bolton - Ladybridge (circular)
515: Bolton - Ladybridge - Middlebrook - Aspull - Wigan
516: Horwich - Horwich Parkway Station
516: Horwich - Westhoughton - Atherton - Leigh - (Trafford Centre, as 673)
517: Horwich - Middlebrook - Horwich Parkway Station
520: Bolton - Willows - Hulton Hospital - Morris Green
521: Bolton Hospital - Westhoughton - Wingates - Blackrod
523: Bolton - Bury
525: Bolton - Halliwell - Astley Bridge - Hall i'th' Wood - Bolton (circular)
526: Bolton - Halliwell - Smithills
527: Bolton - Hall i'th' Wood - Astley Bridge - Halliwell - Bolton (circular)
528: Bolton - Astley Bridge - Belmont
529: Bolton - Astley Bridge - Eagley
534: Bolton - Asltey Bridge - Oldhams Estate
535: Bolton - Asltey Bridge - Belmont - Blackburn* Sundays only
538: Bolton - Astley Bridge - Andrew Lane
538: Bolton - Astley Bridge - Bank Top - Dunscar - Bromley Cross - Bolton
539: Andrew Lane - Astley Bridge - Bolton
539: Bolton - Bromley Cross - Dunscar - Bank Top - Astley Bridge - Bolton
540: Bolton - Westhoughton - Daisy Hill
544: Bolton - Darcy Lever - Little Lever (circular)
545: Bolton - Harwood
547: Bolton - Westhoughton - Daisy Hill (circular)
548: Bolton - Westhoughton - Daisy Hill (circular)
550: Farnworth - New Bury - Walkden (circular)
554: Bolton - Farnworth - Walkden - Peel Green - Eccles - Trafford Centre* Non-Schooldays
556: Bolton - Farnworth - Walkden - Peel Green - Eccles - Trafford Centre undays only
557: Prestolee - Farnworth - Highfield
563: Bolton - Bromley Cross - Edgworth
570: Bolton - Lever Edge - Morris Green
572: Bolton - Lever Edge (circular)
573: Trafford Centre - Worsley - Little Hulton - Bolton - Lostock - Horwich - Blackrod - Aspull - Wigan
573: Coppull - Standish - Horwich - Bolton
575: Bolton - Lostock - Horwich - Blackrod - Aspull - Wigan
575: Bolton - Lostock - Horwich - Blackrod - Aspull - Wigan - Bolton Hospital
576: Horwich - Middlebrook
576: Bolton - Middlebrook - Horwich - Blackrod - Aspull - Wigan
577: Bolton - Lostock - Brazley - Horwich (Pennine Road)
581: Atherton - Bolton Hospital - Farnworth
605: Ashton Heath - Ashton-in-Makerfield - Bryn (circular)
607: Ashton Heath - Ashton-in-Makerfield - Bryn - Marus Bridge - Wigan
609: Leyland Park - Hindley - Pennington Green - Aspull - Wigan
611: Wigan - Shevington - Wrightington Hospital (circular)
612: Wigan - Shevington - Wrightington Hospital (circular)
613: Wigan - Orrell - Kitt Green - Shevington - Wrightington Hospital - Standish
613: Wigan - Orrell - Kitt Green - Shevington - Standish
614: Wigan - New Springs (circular)
615: Wigan - Aspull
616: Shevington - Standish - Middlebrook - Westhoughton
616: Bolton - Lostock - Horwich - Blackrod - Aspull - Wigan
620: Bolton - Hag Fold - Atherton - Hindley - Ashton - Haydock - St Helens
621: Haworth Road - Bradford Interchange - Bierley
622: Wigan - Kitt Green
622: Kitt Green - Wigan - Platt Bridge - Leigh - Astley - Worsley - Trafford Centre
624: Wigan - Kitt Green (circular)
627: Wigan - Pemberton - Kitt Green - Shevington - Wigan (circular)
629: Wigan - Platt Bridge - Hindley - Castle Hill
633: Wigan - Worsley Mesnes - Windy Arbour - Pemberton - Kitt Green
634: Wigan - Shevington - Standish - Wigan (circular)
635: Wigan - Shevington - Standish - Wigan (circular)
637: Wigan - Shevington - Kitt Green - Pemberton - Wigan (circular)
637: Wigan - Shevington - Kitt Green
640: Standish - Boars Head - Wigan
641: Standish - Red Rock - Boars Head - Wigan
642: Wigan - Bradley Mills
643: Wigan - Standish - Shevington - Wigan (circular)
651: Atherton - Hindley - Ashton-in-Makerfield
673: Leigh - Astley - Boothstown - Worsley - Trafford Centre
700: Trafford Centre - Bolton - Ladybridge - Westhoughton - Wigan - Aspull - Wigan
715: Bolton - Ladybridge - Westhoughton - Wigan - Aspull - Wigan
M9: Manchester - Farnworth - Worsley - Peel Green - Eccles - Pendleton - Lower Broughton - Manchester
M10: Brookhouse - Peel Green - Eccles -Hope Hospital - Pendleton - Lower Broughton - Manchester
M70: Clifton - Swinton - Eccles - Pendleton - Manchester
X1: Little Lever - Walkden - Atherton - Wigan - Blackpool - Fleetwood
X9: Bolton - Lostock - Blackrod
X9: Bolton - Farnworth - Manchester
X11: Doffcocker - Bolton - Westhoughton - Wigan - Blackpool - Fleetwood
X14: Pendleton - Walkden - Wigan - Blackpool - Fleetwood
Vehicle types
Blue Bus had a wide variety of buses in its fleet, including the following:
Single-deck buses
Dennis Dart / Alexander Dash
Dennis Dart / East Lancs EL2000
Dennis Javelin / Duple 300
Dennis Lance / Alexander PS
Leyland Leopard / Alexander AT
Leyland Leopard / Alexander AY
Leyland Leopard / Alexander AYS
Leyland Leopard / Duple Dominant Bus
Leyland Leopard / Duple Dominant IV
Leyland Leopard / East Lancs EL2000 (rebody)
Leyland Leopard / Marshall BET
Leyland Leopard / Pennine
Leyland Leopard / Plaxton Derwent
Leyland Leopard / Willowbrook BET
Leyland Leopard / Willowbrook 003
Leyland Leopard / Willowbrook Warrior
Leyland National (integral)
Leyland Tiger / Duple Dominant Bus
Leyland Tiger / Duple 300
Leyland Tiger / East Lancs EL2000 (rebody)
Volvo B10M-56 / Plaxton Derwent 3000
Volvo B10M-61 / Duple Dominant Bus
Volvo B58-56 / East Lancs EL2000 (rebody)
Double-deck buses
DAF DB250 / Northern Counties Palatine II
Leyland Atlantean / Alexander AL
Leyland Atlantean / East Lancs
Leyland Atlantean / Park Royal
Leyland Olympian / Alexander RL
Leyland Olympian (integral)
Volvo B10M Citybus / Alexander RV
Volvo Olympian / East Lancs Pyoneer
Low-floor buses (known as "Blue Buggy Buses")
DAF SB120 / Wright Cadet
DAF SB220 / East Lancs Myllennium
DAF SB220 / Ikarus 481
DAF SB220 / Ikarus Polaris 489
DAF SB220 / Plaxton Prestige
Dennis Dart SLF / Alexander ALX200
Dennis Dart SLF / Plaxton Pointer
Dennis Dart SLF / Plaxton Pointer II
Dennis Trident 2 / Plaxton President
MAN 14.220 / East Lancs Myllennium
MAN 18.220 / Alexander ALX300
Volvo B10BLE / Wright Renown
Minibuses
Dodge S56 / Alexander AM
Dodge S56 / Northern Counties
Mercedes-Benz 709D / Plaxton Beaver
Mercedes-Benz O814D / Plaxton Beaver II
Mercedes-Benz L608D / Rootes
Optare Metrorider Mk II (integral)
Optare Metrorider Mk III (integral)
Coaches
DAF SB3000 / Plaxton Premiere 320
DAF SB3000 / Van Hool Alizee
Leyland Tiger / Plaxton Paramount III 3200
References
External links
Flickr gallery
{{Defunct British Bus Companies
Companies based in Bolton
1991 establishments in England
2005 disestablishments in England
Former bus operators in Greater Manchester
Former bus operators in Lancashire
Former bus operators in Merseyside
Former bus operators in West Yorkshire