First Manchester
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
First Manchester is one of the bus companies serving the area of Greater Manchester, England. It forms part of FirstGroup, a company operating transport services across the British Isles and in North America. The company operates within the area covered by the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive, a public body responsible for helping to co-ordinate public transport services in the Greater Manchester area.
[edit] Formation of the company
Before bus deregulation in 1986, buses in the Greater Manchester area were public funded and went under the name of Greater Manchester Transport. In 1986, with de-regulation, Greater Manchester Transport became known as GM Buses, which were effectively owned by the metropolitan borough and city councils of Greater Manchester. During the late 1990s GM Buses split into GMN (GM Buses (North)) and GMS (GM Buses (South)). Eventually these were both bought out by their management and employees. Within a few months GM Buses (South} were then bought by the Stagecoach Group and renamed Stagecoach Manchester (although their legal name is GMS Buses t/a Stagecoach in Manchester;). When GM Buses North were bought by First they renamed the whole fleet as First Manchester (legal name being GMBuses North).
In the early 21st century, the neighbouring First Pennine subsidiary - formerly known as Pennine Blue - was merged into First Manchester, adding a number of routes in the Tameside area.
[edit] Service
They run mainly in the Wigan, Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Salford and Rochdale and north and central Manchester areas of Greater Manchester with a few overlapping services such as route 22 (Bolton - Stockport) which is shared with Stagecoach. First's services are:
- 1,2,3 Manchester Metroshuttle - free buses operating around Manchester City Centre
- 6 Rochdale to Kirkholt Circular
- 7 Rochdale to Kirkholt Circular
- 7 Cadishead to Manchester (Express) (1 per day)
- 8 Bolton To Manchester OVERGROUND Green Line
- 10 Brookhouse To Manchester
- 12 Leigh To Manchester
- 17 Rochdale To Manchester OVERGROUND Red Line
- 19 Clifton Junction To Trafford Park (1 per day)
- 20 Bacup To Manchester (Express)
- 22 Bolton To Stockport
- 24 Rochdale to Manchester
- 26 Leigh To Manchester
- 32 Wigan To Manchester (Limited Stop)
- 33 Wigan To Manchester
- X34 Leigh To Manchester (Express)
- X35 Bury To Manchester (Express) "The Flying Shuttle"
- 36 Bolton To Manchester OVERGROUND Cyan Line
- 37 Bolton To Manchester OVERGROUND Rose Pink Line
- 38 Daisy Hill To Walkden (Early mornings, one way only)
- 39 Leigh To Manchester (NightBus)
- 51 Pendleton Shopping Centre To Manchester
- 52 Pendleton Shopping Centre to Oldham
- 53 Cheetham Hill To Pendleton
- 58 Trafford Centre To Rochdale OVERGROUND Sky Blue Line
- 59 Rushcroft To Manchester OVERGROUND Sky Blue Line
- 63 Brookhouse To Manchester
- 64 Manchester To Heywood
- 65 Manchester To Heaton Park (Evenings and Sundays Only)
- 67 Cadishead To Manchester OVERGROUND Lime Green Line
- 67L Higher Irlam OVERGROUND LINK
- 67L Brookhouse OVERGROUND LINK
- 68 Bolton To Manchester
- 79 Oldham To Moston
- 81 Derker To Manchester OVERGROUND Claret Line
- 82 Waterhead To Manchester OVERGROUND Orange Line
- 82 Lees To Manchester (NightBus)
- 83 Sholver To Manchester OVERGROUND Orange Line
- X84 Carrcote To Manchester
- 88 Manchester to White Moss circular OVERGROUND Olive Line
- 89 Manchester to White Moss circular OVERGROUND Olive Line
- 90 Stubbins to Manchester (Limited Stop)
- 93 Bury To Manchester
- 95 Bolton To Salford Shopping Centre
- 98 Bury To Manchester OVERGROUND Blue Line
- 98L Carr Clough Local Service
- 100 Manchester To The Trafford Centre / Warrington (1/hour)
- 123 Langley To Manchester OVERGROUND
- 124 Manchester to Langley OVERGROUND
- 132 Wigan To The Trafford Centre (Saturdays only)
- 135 Bury To Manchester OVERGROUND
- 137 Bury To Manchester
- 138 Bury To Manchester (Evenings and Sundays Only)
- 149 Oldham To Manchester
- 163 Bury To Manchester OVERGROUND Turquoise Line
- 167 Norden To Manchester
- 180 Greenfield To Manchester OVERGROUND Purple Line
- 181 Rochdale To Manchester
- 182 Rochdale To Manchester
- 183 Limeside To Grotton
- 184 Huddersfield / Diggle To Manchester OVERGROUND Purple Line
- 188 Chorlton To Manchester (Sundays Only)
- 220 Dukinfield To Manchester
- 300 Bolton To Trafford Centre (Saturdays Only)
- 331 Ashton To Hurst Cross Circular
- 332 Ashton To Heartshead
- 337 Ashton To Crowhill Circular
- 338 Ashton To Crowhill Circular
- 339 Ashton To Dukinfield Circular
- 340 Ashton To Dukinfield Circular
- 343 Oldham To Hyde / Gee Cross
- 344 Oldham To Hyde
- 345 Ashton To Denton Circular
- 346 Ashton To Hyde
- 348 Ashton To Carrbrook
- 349 Ashton To Carrbrook
- 350 Ashton To Oldham OVERGROUND Brown Line
- 353 Ashton To Uppermill
- 354 Ashton To Diggle
- 386 Stockport To Greave
- 387 Ashton To Hyde
- 389 Ashton To Gee Cross
- 393 Ashton To Heartshead Circular
- 402 Oldham To Royton Circular
- 408 Buckstones To Oldham
- 409 Ashton To Rochdale OVERGROUND Lilac Line
- 410 Oldham To Littlemoor circular
- 411 Oldham To Littlemoor circular
- 412 Oldham To Middleton
- 415 Holts To Middleton
- 419 Ashton To Middleton
- 425 Holts To Fitton Hill OVERGROUND Light Green Line
- 438 Rochdale To Lane Head
- 451 Rochdale To Peppermint Bridge
- 452 Rochdale To Littleborough
- 454 Rochdale To Shore
- 455 Rochdale To Stansfield
- 457 Rochdale To Stansfield
- 469 Tottington To Rochdale OVERGROUND Rose Line
- 471 Rochdale To Bolton OVERGROUND Pink Line
- 472 Bury To Ramsbottom Circular OVERGROUND Lime Line
- 474 Bury To Ramsbottom Circular OVERGROUND Lime Line
- 501 Doffcocker To Farnworth OVERGROUND Yellow Line
- 506 Bolton To Harwood Circular OVERGROUND Red Line
- 507 Bolton To Harwood Circular OVERGROUND Red Line
- 510 Bolton To Bury
- 516 Horwich To Leigh (Sunday evenings Only)
- 519 Bolton To Johnson Fold OVERGROUND Indigo Line
- 524 Bolton To Bury OVERGROUND Purple Line
- 533 Bolton To Egerton
- 534 Bolton To Oldhams Estate OVERGROUND Brown Line
- 540 Bolton To Wigan OVERGROUND Orange Line
- 551 Bolton To Leigh (Evening and Sundays Only)
- 553 Bolton To Leigh
- 554 Bolton To The Trafford Centre
- 559 Bolton To Wigan
- 561 Bolton To Withins Circular
- 562 Bolton To Withins Circular
- 571 Bolton To Great Lever Circular
- 572 Bolton To Great Lever Circular
- 575 Bolton To Horwich OVERGROUND Turquoise Line
- 582 Bolton To Leigh OVERGROUND Claret Line
- 583 Leigh To Hag Fold (evenings and Sundays Only)
- 584 Leigh To Crankwood (Sunday evenings Only)
- 593 Wigan To Leigh
- 598 Wigan To Leigh (NIGHT SERVICE ONLY)
- 600 Wigan To Leigh OVERGROUND Green Line
- 601 Wigan To Leigh (Evening and Sundays only) OVERGROUND Green Line
- 610 Wigan To Hawkley Hall
- 611 Wigan To Wrightington
- 612 Wigan To Wrightington
- 614 Wigan To New Springs (Sundays Only)
- 615 Wigan To Leigh
- 617 Wigan To Bolton
- 621 Wigan To Kitt Green OVERGROUND Red Line
- 622 Wigan To Robin Park (Sundays Only)
- 625 Wigan To Beech Hill Circular
- 626 Wigan To Beech Hill Circular
- 628 Wigan To Kitt Green OVERGROUND Red Line
- 629 Wigan To Castle Hill
- 631 Wigan To Highfield Grange Circular
- 632 Wigan To Highfield Grange Circular
- 635 Wigan To Shevington
- 651 Leigh To Shakerley (Sundays Only)
- 658 Wigan To Higher Fold OVERGROUND Lilac Line
- 695 Wigan To Upholland (NIGHT SERVICE ONLY)
