Bluebird Bus and Coach

Not to be confused with Blue Bird Corporation, an American manufacturer of buses.
Bluebird Bus and Coach

Bluebird bus in Salford on service 151
Founded 1988
Headquarters Alexander House,
Greengate, Middleton, M24 1RU
Locale North West England
Service area Greater Manchester
Service type bus service
Destinations Manchester, Manchester Airport, Middleton, Oldham
Hubs Middleton Bus Station
Web site bluebirdbus.co.uk

Bluebird Bus and Coach is a bus operator based in Middleton in Greater Manchester. The company was formed in 1988 by three members of the Dunstan family)[1]. It operates a number of commercial and supported routes in the Middleton, Higher Blackley, Moston and North Manchester area.

The company's most popular route is the 112 service, providing Bluebird's main service from Middleton to Manchester. Several of their services run from Middleton bus station.

A Bluebird bus is also used by the University of Salford as a free service for staff and students to and from University Campus's and university halls of residences. This runs during weekdays from university opening hours till late in the evening.

Contents

History

The company was formed in 1988 when Tom Dunstan, a former Greater Manchester PTE area manager, bought a small coach company called Bluebird of Middleton. Tom Dunstan died in 2004 and the company is now run by his son Michael. The first route operated was commercial service 112, which was followed by a number of contracted routes. In 2006 and 2007, Bluebird expanded its operating area to Oldham introducing buses on the 181, 182, 402, 410 and 411 routes.[2].

In November 2008, Bluebird was the first operator to run the Bolton Metroshuttle service[3] before being replaced by Maytree Travel in January 2010, although the company would resume running a Metroshuttle service later that year, when they took the operation of the Stockport Metroshuttle service from Swan's Travel[4], although their Metroshuttle operation ended in March 2011, when the Stockport Metroshuttle service was taken over by Stagecoach Manchester[5].

Routes

This is a summary of Bluebird services[6].

No. From To Via Notes
27 Swinton Manchester Shudehill Salford Royal Hospital, Weaste, Pendleton, Broughton Until 29 January 2012
44 Manchester Airport Manchester Piccadilly Gatley, Cheadle, East Didsbury, Fallowfield, University of Manchester
72 Chadderton Sportsman Manchester Piccadilly New Moston, Newton Heath
Manchester Albert Square (Peak times)
77 Manchester Church Street Manchester Piccadilly Harpurhey, Moston, New Moston, Newton Heath Circular, runs in both directions. Some journeys run Moston or Newton Heath to Manchester only
Manchester Albert Square (Peak times) Manchester Albert Square (Peak times)
78 Oldham Manchester Piccadilly Limeside, Hollinwood, Woodhouses, Failsworth, Newton Heath Evenings and Sundays only
80 Middleton Manchester Church Street Moston, Miles Platting Monday-Saturday daytime
Manchester Piccadilly Evenings/Sundays
84 Woodhouses Manchester Piccadilly Failsworth, Brookdale Park, Newton Heath
Manchester Albert Square (peak times)
112
113		 Middleton Manchester Piccadilly Moston, Harpurhey 113 runs weekday mornings only via Albert Square
115
116		 Middleton Middleton White Moss, Moston, Harpurhey, North Manchester General Hospital, Higher Blackley Circulars. Service 116 runs in opposite direction.
131 Boarshaw Manchester Albert Square Alkrington, Harpurhey Peak times
Alkrington Manchester Stevenson Square Harpurhey Monday-Saturday daytime
145 Phillips Park Manchester Piccadilly Newton Heath, Moston, Harpurhey One weekday morning journey only
151 Hollinwood, Morrisons Mandley Park New Moston, Failsworth, Newton Heath, Collyhurst, Cheetham Hill
159 Oldham Middleton Royal Oldham Hospital, Chadderton, Hollinwood, Woodhouses, Failsworth, New Moston, Middleton Junction
188 Chadderton Manchester Piccadilly Hollinwood, Failsworth, Newton Heath
194 Longsight Wythenshawe Hospital East Didsbury, Withington Hospital, Northenden One weekday morning journey to Wythenshawe Hospital, one weekday afternoon journey from Wythenshawe Hospital to East Didsbury
196 West Didsbury Cheadle Withington Hospital, East Didsbury, Cheadle Royal
291 Trafford Park Manchester Piccadilly Old Trafford, Universities Weekdays only
324 Stockport Stockport Brinnington, Denton, Haughton Green, Denton, Brinnington Monday-Saturday evenings only
402 Oldham Royton Royal Oldham Hospital Until 29 January 2012
406 Oldham Mills Hill Royal Oldham Hospital, Fitton Park, Parkway Peak times runs Oldham-Parkway only. Until 29 January 2012
495 Prestwich Simister
X5 Stockport Sale Northenden
X75 Moston Gardener's Arms Manchester Piccadilly New Moston, Newton Heath
Manchester Albert Square (peak times)

See also

References

  1. ^ "About Bluebird". Bluebird Buses. http://www.bluebirdbus.co.uk/about.html. Retrieved 11 November 2009. 
  2. ^ Lidstone, John G (April 2009). "Fleet in Focus: Bluebird Bus & Coach". Buses (649): 55. 
  3. ^ "Bolton Metroshuttle takes off, Stockport's due by Christmas". Manchester Buses. http://manchesterbus.typepad.com/manchester_buses/2008/11/bolton-metroshuttle-takes-off-stockports-due-by-christmas.html. Retrieved 29 January 2011. 
  4. ^ "GMITA - Metroshuttle Patronage and Performance" (PDF). GMITA. http://www.gmita.gov.uk/download/3285/item_12_metroshuttle_patronage_and_performance. Retrieved 29 January 2011. 
  5. ^ "GMPTE - Buses - Latest Changes". GMPTE. http://www.gmpte.com/buses/service_changes.cfm. Retrieved 14 February 2011. 
  6. ^ "Bluebird Routes". Bluebird Buses. http://www.bluebirdbus.co.uk/routes.html. Retrieved 11 November 2009. 

External links