First Manchester

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First Manchester
Type Public
Founded 1999, formerly GM Buses North
Headquarters Wallshaw Street, Oldham
Area served Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Bury, Bolton, Wigan, Salford, Tameside, Stockport, Kirklees, Warrington, St Helens
Website www.firstgroup.com

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.

Contents

[edit] Formation of the company

Before bus deregulation in 1986, buses in the Greater Manchester area were publicly 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, but were at arms' length from the local town halls. During the mid-1990s GM Buses split into GMN (GM Buses (North)) and GMS (GM Buses (South)). British Bus looked set to acquire GM North, but eventually both were bought out by their management and employees. Within a year GM Buses (South) were 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). Although they seemed to go through an identity crisis and the orange buses were soon joined by a batch of new blue/cream ones in the GRT Group livery style. In the end a lighter shade of orange ('rail red' in First terms or 'tomato soup' in everybody else's!) was adopted and all other colours were dropped, leaving a fleet of plain light orange buses.

First Manchester soon ended up managing First Potteries and its sister First Pennine. That even included many GM Standard Atlanteans making their way to those two fleets. However, First Manchester soon became the hate of its passengers and the local PTE. Reliability plumeted, buses were often dirty and very few new buses came into the fleet. This partly fuelled the PTEs' calls for re-regulation in their areas.

First Pennine subsidiary - which was formerly known as Pennine Blue in PMT and Badgerline days - was merged into First Manchester, adding a number of routes in the Tameside area. A new management team was put on and Potteries was made separate. Huge numbers of new buses have mainly swept away the old orange fleet.

[edit] Service

First Manchester mainly run services in the Wigan, Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Salford and Rochdale and north and central Manchester areas of Greater Manchester. Some services run outside these areas. These include the 20 (Bacup - Manchester), the 22 (Bolton – Stockport) which is shared with Stagecoach, the 100 (Warrington / Hollins Green - Manchester) and the 184 (Huddersfield - Manchester) which is shared with First's Huddersfield depot. They also operate school services in the St Helens area. First in Greater Manchester services are:

  • 1 Manchester Metroshuttle – Piccadilly Rail Station – King Street – Deansgate – Cross Street – Chorlton Street Coach Station – Piccadilly Rail Station
  • 2 Manchester Metroshuttle – Victoria Rail Station – Deansgate – Castlefield – Oxford Road – Deansgate – Victoria Rail Station
  • 3 Manchester Metroshuttle – Piccadilly Rail Station – Oxford Road – Salford Central Station – Albert Square – Piccadilly Rail Station
  • 6 / 7 Rochdale – Kirkholt Circular
    • Mon-Sat daytime: every 7/8 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: every 30 mins
  • 8 Bolton – Farnworth – Pendlebury – Manchester Shudehill OVERGROUND Green Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Evenings: Every 30 mins
    • Sunday daytime: Every 15 mins
    • Night bus: Friday and Saturday nights – Every 30 mins (journeys running to/from Manchester Piccadilly
  • 10 Brookhouse – Eccles – Hope Hospital – Pendleton – Broughton – Manchester Shudehill
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 20 mins
    • Sunday evenings: Hourly
  • 12 Leigh – Atherton – Walkden – Swinton – Manchester Piccadilly
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 30 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly
  • 17 Rochdale – Castleton – Middleton – Manchester Shudehill OVERGROUND Red Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 6/8 mins
    • Evenings: Every 30 mins
    • Sunday daytime: Every 15 mins
    • Night bus: Friday and Saturday nights – Every 30 mins (journeys running to/from Manchester Piccadilly
  • 17A Rochdale – Castleton – Middleton – Manchester Cross Street OVERGROUND Red Line
    • Mon-Fri: One early morning journey each way
  • 19 Clifton Junction – Trafford Park
    • Mon-Fri: 1 early morning journey
  • 20 Bacup – Rochdale – Royton – Manchester Piccadilly (Express)
    • Mon-Fri peak times
  • 22 Bolton – Farnworth – Eccles – Trafford Centre – Stretford – Chorlton – Stockport
    • Daily daytime: Every 30 mins (Some journeys run by Stagecoach Manchester)
  • 24 Rochdale – Royton – Chadderton – Manchester Piccadilly
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 15 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly
  • 26 Leigh – Astley – Boothstown – Swinton – Manchester Piccadilly
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 30 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly
  • 32 Wigan – Atherton – Worsley – Pendleton – Manchester Piccadilly (Limited Stop)
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 30 mins
  • 33 Wigan – Atherton – Worsley – Eccles – Manchester Piccadilly
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 30 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly
  • X34 Lowton / Leigh – Manchester Piccadilly (Express)
    • Mon-Fri peak times
  • X35 Bury – Manchester (terminates at Piccadilly Gardens / commences from Stevenson Square) (Express) "The Flying Shuttle"
    • Mon-Fri peak times
  • 36 Bolton – Little Hulton – Walkden – Swinton – Manchester Piccadilly OVERGROUND Cyan Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Every 30 mins
  • 37 Bolton – Farnworth – Walkden – Swinton – Pendleton – Manchester Piccadilly OVERGROUND Rose Pink Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Every 30 mins
  • 38 Daisy Hill – Walkden
    • Mon-Fri: 0650 and 0705 only
  • 38 Ashton-under-Lyne – Hazelhurst
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 20 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly
  • 39 Manchester Piccadilly – Leigh (NightBus)
    • Friday and Saturday nights only
  • 39 Ashton-under-Lyne – Hazelhurst
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 20 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly
  • 41 Ashton-under-Lyne – Dukinfield
    • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly
  • 51 Pendleton Shopping Centre – Cheetham Hill – North Manchester General Hospital – Manchester Piccadilly
    • Mon-Sat daytime:
      • 4 per hour between Pendleton and North Manchester General Hospital
      • Every 20 mins between North Manchester General Hospital and Manchester
  • 52 Pendleton Shopping Centre – Cheetham Hill – Newton Heath – Failsworth – Limeside – Oldham
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 30 mins
    • Evenings: Hourly between Pendleton and Failsworth
    • Sunday daytime:
      • Hourly between Pendleton and Failsworth
      • Every 30 mins between Pendleton and Cheetham Hill
  • 53 Cheetham – Sportcity – Belle Vue – Rusholme – Old Trafford – Pendleton Shopping Centre
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 20 mins
    • Evenings:
      • Every 30 mins between Cheetham and Old Trafford
      • Hourly between Cheetham and Pendleton
    • Sunday daytime: Every 30 mins
  • 58 Rochdale – Shaw – Oldham – Chadderton – Middleton – The Trafford Centre OVERGROUND Sky Blue Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime:
      • Every 15 mins between Rochdale and Middleton
      • Hourly between Rochdale and The Trafford Centre
  • 59 Rushcroft – Shaw – Oldham – Chadderton – Middleton – Cheetham Hill – Manchester Piccadilly OVERGROUND Sky Blue Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 15 mins
    • Evenings:
      • Every 30 mins between Rushcroft and Middleton
      • Hourly between Rushcroft and Manchester
    • Sunday daytime: Every 30 mins
  • 63 Brookhouse – Eccles – Weaste – Manchester Piccadilly
    • Mon-Fri: Early morning journeys
  • 64 Heywood – Hollin - Middleton – Heaton Park – Dam Head – Blackley – Manchester Shudehill
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 30 mins between Middleton – Manchester **Evenings/Sundays: Hourly between Heywood – Manchester
  • 65 Heaton Park – Dam Head – Blackley – Manchester Shudehill
    • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly
  • 67 Cadishead – Irlam – Eccles – Pendleton – Manchester Shudehill OVERGROUND Lime Green Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Evenings: Every 30 mins
    • Sunday daytime: Every 30 mins with additional journeys between Peel Green and Manchester
    • Night bus: Friday and Saturday nights – Every 30 mins between Peel Green and Manchester Piccadilly with the 0230 and 0300 journeys from Manchester continuing to Cadishead
  • 67L Higher Irlam OVERGROUND LINK
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
  • 68 Bolton – Farnworth – Little Hulton - Walkden – Worsley – Eccles – Pendleton – Manchester Shudehill
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 20 mins
    • Evenings: Hourly between Little Hulton and Manchester
    • Sunday daytime: Hourly
  • 79 Oldham – Werneth – Broadgate – Moston
    • Mon-Fri: One journey at 0630 to Moston
  • 81 Derker – Oldham – Werneth – Moston – Collyhurst – Manchester Piccadilly OVERGROUND Claret Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Evenings: Hourly between Derker and Moston
    • Sunday daytime: Every 30 mins
  • 82 Waterhead – Oldham – Hollinwood – Manchester Piccadilly OVERGROUND Orange Line (Some peak-time journeys run to/from Uppermill)
    • Uppermill – Manchester: Mon-Fri peak time
    • Waterhead – Manchester:
      • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
      • Evenings: Every 30 mins
      • Sunday daytime: Every 30 mins between Waterhead and Manchester, 4 per hour between Oldham Mumps and Manchester
  • 82 Manchester Piccadilly – Oldham – Waterhead – Lees
    • Night bus: Friday nights – Hourly between Oldham Mumps and Manchester with the 0230 journey from Manchester continuing to Lees via Waterhead (Saturday nights journeys run by Stagecoach Manchester)
  • 83 Sholver – Oldham – Hollinwood – Manchester Piccadilly OVERGROUND Orange Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Every 30 mins
  • X84 Carrcote – Delph – Uppermill – Grotton – Lees – Hollinwood – Manchester Piccadilly (Limited Stop)
    • Mon-Fri peak time only
  • 88 Manchester – White Moss circular OVERGROUND Olive Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Evenings:
      • Hourly (full route)
      • Every 30 mins between White Moss and Manchester
    • Sunday daytime: Every 30 mins between White Moss and Manchester
  • 89 Manchester – White Moss circular OVERGROUND Olive Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Evenings:
      • Hourly (full route)
      • Every 30 mins between Manchester and White Moss
    • Sunday daytime: Every 30 mins between Manchester and White Moss
  • 90 Stubbins – Ramsbottom – Bury – Manchester (terminates at Piccadilly Gardens / commences from Stevenson Square) (Limited Stop)
    • Mon-Fri peak times only
  • 93 Bury – Unsworth – Prestwich – Manchester Shudehill
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 20 mins
    • Evenings: Hourly
    • Sunday daytime: Every 30 mins
  • 95 Bolton – Little Lever – Radcliffe – Whitefield – Prestwich – Pendleton, Salford Shopping Centre
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 30 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly
  • 98 Bury – Radcliffe – Whitefield – Prestwich – Manchester Shudehill OVERGROUND Blue Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Evenings: Hourly
    • Sunday daytime: Every 30 mins
  • 100 Warrington – Hollins Green – Irlam – The Trafford Centre – Eccles – Pendleton – Manchester Shudehill
    • Warrington – Manchester:
      • Daily daytime: Hourly
    • Hollins Green – Manchester:
      • Daily: Hourly
    • The Trafford Centre – Manchester:
      • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 20 mins
      • Evenings: Hourly
      • Sunday daytime: 3 per hour
  • 123 Langley – Middleton – Collyhurst – Manchester Shudehill OVERGROUND Indigo Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Evenings: Hourly
    • Sunday daytime: Every 30 mins
  • 124 Manchester Shudehill – Collyhurst – Middleton – Langley OVERGROUND Indigo Lane
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Sunday daytime: Every 30 mins
  • 132 Wigan – Atherton – Tyldesley – The Trafford Centre
    • Saturdays: Hourly (Mon-Fri service operated by South Lancs Travel)
  • 135 Bury – Whitefield – Heaton Park – Cheetham Hill – Manchester Piccadilly OVERGROUND Yellow Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 7/8 mins
    • Evenings: Every 20 mins
    • Sunday daytime: Every 15 mins
    • Night bus: Friday and Saturday nights – Every 30 mins
  • 137 Bury – Unsworth – Heaton Park – Cheetham Hill – Manchester Shudehill
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 20 mins
  • 138 Bury – Pilsworth – Unsworth – Heaton Park – Cheetham Hill – Manchester Shudehill
    • Evenings: Hourly
    • Sunday daytime: Every 30 mins
  • 149 Holts Estate – Alt - Oldham – Hollinwood – Moston – Cheetham Hill – Manchester Piccadilly
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 30 mins between Oldham and Manchester
    • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly between Holts Estate and Manchester
  • 163 Bury – Darn Hill – Heywood – Langley – Middleton – Manchester Piccadilly OVERGROUND Turquoise Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Evenings: Hourly
    • Sunday daytime: Every 30 mins
  • 167 Norden – Heywood – Cheetham Hill – Manchester Piccadilly
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Hourly
  • 180 Greenfield – Grotton – Lees – Oldham – Manchester OVERGROUND Purple Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 30 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly
  • 181 Rochdale – Milnrow – Shaw – Royton – Chadderton – Manchester Piccadilly (via Heyside)
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Hourly
  • 182 Rochdale – Milnrow – Shaw – Royton – Chadderton – Manchester Piccadilly (via Royal Oldham Hospital)
    • Daily: Hourly
  • 183 Grotton – Lees – Oldham – Garden Suburb – Limeside
    • Mon-Fri off peak: Every 20 mins
  • 184 Huddersfield – Marsden – Diggle – Uppermill – Grotton – Oldham – Manchester OVERGROUND Purple Line
    • Huddersfield – Manchester:
      • Mon – Sat daytime: Hourly (jointly run by First Halifax & Huddersfield)
      • Sunday daytime: Every 2 hours (via Diggle Village)
    • Diggle – Manchester, via Dobcross:
      • Mon-Sat daytime: Hourly
      • Evenings: 2220 from Manchester Piccadilly, 2325 to Oldham
      • Sunday daytime: Every 2 hours (See Huddersfield service)
    • Uppermill – Manchester:
      • Mon-Sat daytime: 4 per hour
      • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly
  • 180/184 Saddleworth – Grotton – Lees – Oldham – Manchester OVERGROUND Purple Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Every 30 mins
  • 220 Tameside General Hospital – Stalybridge – Dukinfield – Openshaw – Manchester Piccadilly
    • Mon-Fri daytime: 1453 from Manchester, 1549 from Tameside General Hospital
    • Sat daytime: 0715 from Dukinfield to Manchester, 0755 from Manchester to Tameside General Hospital
    • Mon-Sat evenings: Hourly between Dukinfield and Manchester
  • 300 Bolton - Trafford Centre (Express)
    • Saturdays: Every 30 mins (Mon-Fri service operated by South Lancs Travel)
  • 331 Ashton-under-Lyne – Hurst Cross Circular
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 20 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly
  • 332 Ashton-under-Lyne – Hartshead Circular
    • Mon-Fri daytime: 0645 full route
    • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly
  • 333 Ashton-under-Lyne – Smallshaw Circular
    • Mon-Sat daytime: 17, 39 and 58 mins past each hour
  • 338 Ashton-under-Lyne – Crowhill Circular
    • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly
  • 343 Oldham – Lees – Grotton – Mossley – Stalybridge – Dukinfield – Hyde
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Hourly (Every 30 mins Mon-Fri afternoons)
    • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly (via Greenacres)
  • 344 Oldham – Waterhead – Grotton – Mossley – Stalybridge – Dukinfield – Hyde
    • Mon-Fri: 0745 to Hyde
  • 345 Ashton-under-Lyne – Denton Circular
    • Mon-Fri daytime: Early morning/evening journeys
    • Sat daytime: Early evening journeys
    • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly
  • 346 Ashton-under-Lyne – Dukinfield – Newton – Hyde
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 30 mins
    • Sundays: 0834 to Hyde
    • Additional journeys run by Stagecoach Manchester
  • 348 Ashton-under-Lyne – Stalybridge – Carrbrook
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 30 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly
  • 349 Ashton-under-Lyne – Dukinfield – Stalybridge – Carrbrook
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 30 mins
  • 350 Ashton-under-Lyne – Tameside General Hospital – Mossley – Hey Farm – Greenfield – Uppermill – Delph – Oldham OVERGROUND Brown Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime:
      • Every 10 mins between Ashton and Hey Farm
      • Every 30 mins between Ashton and Oldham
    • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly
  • 353 Ashton-under-Lyne – Stalybridge – Mossley – Grasscroft – Uppermill
    • Evenings:
      • 1817, 2055 and 2317 Ashton – Uppermill
      • 1847, 2125 Uppermill – Ashton
      • 2347 Uppermill – Stamford Park
    • Sunday daytime: Every 2 hours
  • 354 Ashton-under-Lyne – Stalybridge – Mossley – Greenfield – Uppermill – Diggle
    • Evenings:
      • 1930 and 2157 Ashton – Diggle
      • 2012 and 2238 Diggle - Ashton
    • Sunday daytime: Every 2 hours between Ashton and Uppermill
  • 386 Stockport – Bredbury – Greave
    • Sundays: Hourly
  • 387 Ashton-under-Lyne – Ridge Hill – Stalybridge – Newton – Hyde
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Hourly
  • 389 Ashton-under-Lyne – Ridge Hill – Stalybridge – Newton – Hyde – Gee Cross – Marple – Hawk Green
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 30 mins between Ashton and Hyde (Additional hourly journeys between Marple and Ashton operated by Stagecoach Manchester)
    • Evenings: Hourly between Gee Cross - Ashton
    • Sunday daytime: Hourly between Hawk Green and Ashton
  • 393 Ashton-under-Lyne – Hartshead Circular
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 30 mins
  • 408 Buckstones – Shaw – High Crompton – Royton – Oldham – Stalybridge
    • Mon-Fri daytime:
      • Hourly between Buckstones and Stalybridge
      • Every 30 mins between Buckstones and Oldham
    • Sat daytime: Hourly
    • Evenings: Hourly between Shaw, Wrens Nest and Stalybridge, via Royal Oldham Hospital, Alt and Tameside General Hospital
    • Sundays: Hourly between Shaw, Wrens Nest and Stalybridge, via Royal Oldham and Tameside General Hospitals
  • 409 Ashton-under-Lyne – Hathershaw – Oldham – Royton – Rochdale OVERGROUND Lilac Line
    • Mon-Fri daytime: Every 6 mins
    • Sat daytime: Every 7/8 mins
    • Evenings: Every 20 mins
    • Sunday daytime: Every 15 mins
  • 412 Oldham – Royton – Stottfield – Mills Hill – Boarshaw – Middleton
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 30 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly
  • 415 Holts Estate – Lees – Greenacres – Oldham – Alkrington – Middleton
    • Mon-Sat daytime:
      • Every 30 mins between Holts and Middleton
      • Every 15 mins between Oldham and Middleton
    • Mon-Sat Evenings: Hourly between Oldham and Middleton
  • 419 Ashton-under-Lyne – Hathershaw – Chadderton – Firwood Park – Middleton
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 30 mins
  • 425 Holts Estate – Alt – Glodwick – Oldham – Fitton Hill OVERGROUND Light Green Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Every 30 mins (doesn’t serve Alt)
  • 438 Rochdale – Daniel Fold – Lane Head
    • Mon-Sat daytime:
      • Hourly between Rochdale and Lane Head
      • Every 30 mins between Rochdale and Daniel Fold
  • 451 Rochdale – Milnrow – Bentgate – Newhey – Peppermint Bridge
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Hourly
  • 452 Rochdale – Milnrow – Hollingworth Lake – Littleborough
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Hourly
  • 454 Rochdale – Smallbridge – Littleborough – Shore - Stansfield
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 30 mins
  • 455 Rochdale – Smallbridge – Wardle – Smithy Bridge – Hollingworth Lake –Littleborough – Shore – Stansfield
    • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly
  • 457 Rochdale – Smallbridge – Littleborugh – Stansfield
    • Mon-Sat daytime:
      • Every 30 mins between Rochdale and Stansfield
      • 3 per hour between Rochdale and Littleborough
  • 469 Tottington – Bury – Jericho – Bamford – Rochdale OVERGROUND Rose Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime:
      • Every 10 mins between Tottington and Jericho
      • Every 20 mins between Tottington and Rochdale
  • 471 Rochdale – Sudden – Heywood – Bury – Breightmet – Bolton OVERGROUND Pink Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Evenings:
      • Every 30 mins between Rochdale and Bury
      • Hourly between Rochdale and Bolton
    • Sunday daytime: Every 30 mins
  • 472 Bury – Walmersley – Ramsbottom – Holcombe Brook – Bury Circular OVERGROUND Lime Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Every 30 mins
  • 474 Bury – Holcombe Brook – Ramsbottom – Walmersley – Bury Circular OVERGROUND Lime Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Every 30 mins
  • 501 Moss Bank Way – Bolton – Farnworth OVERGROUND Yellow Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Every 30 mins
  • 506 Bolton – Tonge Moor – Harwood Circular OVERGROUND Red Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly
  • 507 Bolton – Tonge Moor – Harwood Circular OVERGROUND Red Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly
  • 510 Bolton – Ainsworth – Walshaw – Bury
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 30 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly
  • 516 Horwich – Daisy Hill – Westhoughton – Atherton – Leigh
    • Sunday evenings: Hourly
  • 519 Bolton – Chorley Old Road – Johnson Fold OVERGROUND Indigo Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Every 30 mins
  • 524 Bolton – Moses Gate – Little Lever – Radcliffe – Bury OVERGROUND Purple Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 7/8 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Every 30 mins
  • 533 Bolton – Tonge Moor – Egerton
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 30 mins
  • 534 Bolton – Astley Bridge – Oldhams Estate OVERGROUND Brown Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
  • 540 Bolton – Westhoughton – Daisy Hill – Hindley – Wigan OVERGROUND Orange Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime:
      • Every 10 mins between Bolton and Daisy Hill
      • Every 30 mins between Bolton and Wigan
    • Evenings/Sundays: Every 30 mins
  • 551 Bolton – Little Hulton – Walkden – Boothstown – Higher Green – Leigh
    • Evening/Sundays: Hourly
  • 553 Bolton – Little Hulton – Walkden – Boothstown – Leigh
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Hourly
  • 554 Bolton – Little Hulton – Walkden – Eccles – The Trafford Centre
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Hourly
  • 559 Bolton – Over Hulton – Westhoughton – Hindley – Wigan
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 30 mins
  • 561/562 Bolton – Withins Circular
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 7/8 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Every 30 mins
  • 571/572 Bolton – Great Lever Circular
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 7/8 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Every 30 mins
  • 575 Bolton – Chorley New Road – Horwich OVERGROUND Turquoise Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Sunday daytime: Every 30 mins
    • Sunday evenings: Hourly
  • 582 Bolton – Over Hulton – Atherton – Leigh OVERGROUND Claret Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Evenings: Every 30 mins
    • Sunday daytime: Every 15 mins
  • 583 Leigh – Atherton – Hag Fold
    • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly
  • 584 Leigh – Crankwood
    • Sunday evenings: Hourly
  • 593 Wigan – Belle Green – Hindley – Hindley Green – Tamar – Leigh
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 15 mins
    • Sundays: Hourly
  • 598 Wigan – Hindley – Leigh (Night bus)
    • Night bus: Friday and Saturday nights – Hourly
  • 600 Wigan – Ashton-in-Makerfield – Golborne – Lowton – Leigh OVERGROUND Green Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 7/8 mins
    • Evenings: Hourly
    • Sunday daytime:
      • Hourly between Wigan and Leigh
      • 3 per hour between Wigan and Ashton
    • Night bus: Friday and Saturday nights – Hourly from Wigan to Golborne then via Platt Bridge to Wigan.
  • 601 Wigan – Ashton-in-Makerfield – Golborne – Lowton – Leigh OVERGROUND Green Line
    • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly
  • 610 Wigan – Hawkley Hall
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 15 mins
    • Mon-Sat Evenings: Hourly
    • Sundays: Every 30 mins
  • 612 Wigan – Shevington – Wrightington Hospital
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Hourly
    • Evenings: Hourly
    • Public Holidays: Hourly
  • 614 Wigan – New Springs
    • Sundays: Hourly
  • 615 Wigan – Blackrod – Horwich – Westhoughton – Atherton – Leigh
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Hourly
  • 621 Wigan – Kitt Green OVERGROUND Red Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly
  • 622 Wigan – Robin Park
    • Sunday daytime: Hourly
  • 625/626 Wigan – Beech Hill Circular
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Every 30 mins
  • 628 Wigan – Kitt Green OVERGROUND Red Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Hourly
    • Night bus: Friday and Saturday nights – Hourly
  • 629 Wigan – Castle Hill (Night Bus)
    • Night bus: Friday and Saturday nights – Hourly
  • 631/632 Wigan – Highfield Grange Circular
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Evenings/Sundays: Every 30 mins
    • Night bus: Friday and Saturday nights – Every 30 mins
  • 635 Wigan – Shevington – Appley Bridge
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 15 mins
    • Night bus: Friday and Saturday nights – Hourly
  • 651 Leigh – Tyldesley – Shakerley
    • Sunday evenings: Hourly
  • 658 Wigan – Platt Bridge – Leigh Higher Fold OVERGROUND Mauve Line
    • Mon-Sat daytime: Every 10 mins
    • Sunday daytime: Every 30 mins
    • Sunday evenings: Hourly between Wigan and Leigh
  • 695 Wigan – Upholland (Night Bus)
    • Night bus: Friday and Saturday nights – Hourly
  • 719 Rochdale – Castleton – Hopwood Hall
    • Collegedays:
      • 0825, 0840, 0855 from Rochdale to Hopwood Hall
      • 0920-1000 Hopwood Hall Shuttle service (Every 10 mins)
      • 1520, 1600, 1640 from Hopwood Hall to Rochdale

[edit] Overground

In the last few years, First has introduced branding known as 'Overground' on bus services which are frequent during the daytime. Based on the London Underground network where each frequent sevice is given a recognisable colour, each Overground service also has its own colour line. The concept is now a prominent fixture throughout all First bus companies in the UK. First Manchester has a lot of Overground services which has so far resulted in mulitple line colours. The standard frequency of services is 10 minutes. In other areas, some services have Overground frequencies of 15 or 20 minutes.

The services that form the Overground network in Greater Manchester are:

Number Colour Route
8 Green Bolton - Farnworth - Pendlebury - Manchester
17 Red Rochdale - Castleton - Middleton - Harpurhey - Manchester
36 Blue Bolton - Little Hulton - Walkden - Swinton - Pendleton - Manchester
37 Rose Bolton - Farnworth - Walkden - Swinton - Pendleton - Manchester
58 Sky Blue Rochdale - Shaw - Oldham - Middleton - Trafford centre
59 Sky Blue Rushcroft - Shaw - Oldham - Middleton - Manchester
67 Lime Green Cadishead - Irlam - Eccles - Pendleton - Manchester
81 Claret Derker - Oldham - Moston - Manchester
82 Orange Waterhead - Oldham - Failsworth - Manchester
83 Orange Sholver - Oldham - Failsworth - Manchester
88/89 OLIVE Manchester - Higher Blackley - Crumpsall - Manchester
98 Royal Blue Bury - Radcliffe - Whitefield - Prestwich - Manchester
123/124 Indigo Langley - Middleton - Collyhurst - Manchester
135 Yellow Bury - Whitefield - Cheetham Hill - Manchester
163 Turquoise Bury - Heywood - Langley - Middleton - Manchester
180/184 Purple Huddersfield (184 hourly) - Saddleworth - Oldham - Manchester Piccadilly
350 Brown (Oldham - Delph - Uppermill -) Hey Farm - Mossley - Tameside General Hospital - Ashton-under-Lyne
409 Mauve Rochdale - Royton - Oldham - Hathershaw - Ashton-under-Lyne
425 Lime Green Fitton Hill - Hathershaw - Oldham - Glodwick - Holts
469 Rose Rochdale (every 20 minutes) - Jericho - Bury - Tottington
471 Lilac Bolton - Breightmet - Bury - Heywood - Rochdale
472/474 Lime Green Bury - Ramsbottom Circulars
501 Yellow Farnworth - Royal Bolton Hospital - Bolton - Brownlow Fold - Moss Bank Way
506/507 Red Bolton - Harwood Circulars
519 Indigo Bolton - Johnson Fold
524 Purple Bury - Radcliffe - Bolton
534 Brown Bolton - Astley Bridge - Oldhams Estate
540 Orange Bolton - Westhoughton - Daisy Hill - Wigan
575 Turquoise Bolton - Heaton - Lostock - Horwich
582 Claret Bolton - Daubhill - Four Lane Ends - Atherton - Leigh
600 Green Wigan - Ashton-in-Makerfield - Lowton - Leigh
621/628 Red Wigan - Kitt Green Circulars
658 Mauve Wigan - Bickershaw - Leigh - Higher Folds

Other services that have route brandings are:

  • 53 Cheetham - Belle Vue - Rusholme - Old Trafford - Pendleton
  • X34 Lowton - Leigh - Astley - Swinton - Pendleton - Manchester
  • X35 FLYING SHUTTLE Bury - Manchester Express

[edit] Good Friday problems on the 184

Ever since the 184 service was extended to Huddersfield in November 2004, there as always been a problem of what to do with the service on a Good Friday. On Good Friday, buses in Greater Manchester tend to run a Sunday service, while in West Yorkshire, who don't take Good Friday as a holiday run a Saturday service. During Easter 2005, First Huddersfield, who partly run the 184 route between Huddersfield and Manchester with First Manchester, running a normal Saturday service, while First Manchester didn't. But with Speedwell running their Sunday 365 service, it meant at times, two buses running to Huddersfield at the same time, as both left at 05 minutes past each hour.

In 2006, First Manchester ran a normal Sunday service on its 180 and 184 service but also shared the operation of the Huddersfield service with First Huddersfield, running to its normal Saturday service, which meant there was 3 buses per hour, although the two 184 services would leave Uppermill 3 minutes apart with the Sunday service leaving Uppermill at 20 minutes past each hour and the Huddersfield service leaving Uppermill at 23 minutes past each hour.

In 2007, with First Manchester now running Sunday journeys to/from Huddersfield, it was decided to merge the two 184 Huddersfield services together, running to the Sunday times in Greater Manchester and the Saturdays times in Huddersfield with a bus every hour to Huddersfield, running along its weekday route, therefore not running to Diggle, Old Station Turning, as the services does on Sundays.

There were problems with this plan. One being is the length of time buses would have to run between Uppermill and Marsden, as the 184 is scheduled to arrive at Uppermill at 15 minutes past the hour while it is scheduled to leave Marsden at 00 minutes past each hour, leaving a 45 minute gap to complete what is normally a 20 minute run. Another was the fact that First Huddersfield's drivers were not made aware of the situation and continued to run the service as a normal Saturday service running to the Saturday times. This meant an uneven gap between the 180 and 184.

[edit] External links


v • d • e
Major bus companies based in North West England
Cheshire Arriva North West and Wales | ChesterBus | First Chester & The Wirral | Halton Transport | Warrington Borough Transport North West England
Cumbria Mountain Goat | Stagecoach North West
Greater Manchester Ashall's Coaches | Arriva North West and Wales | Bluebird | Bullocks | Finglands | First Manchester | Hulme Hall Coaches | Jim Stones Coaches | JPT | Maynes | Rossendale Transport | Stagecoach Manchester | South Lancs Travel
Lancashire Blackburn Transport | Blackpool Transport | Blue Bus of Penwortham | Burnley & Pendle | John Fishwick & Sons | King Travel | Lancashire United | Northern Blue | Preston Bus | Rossendale Transport | Stagecoach North West
Merseyside Arriva North West and Wales | First Chester & The Wirral | Stagecoach Merseyside
National Megabus | National Express
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