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Bluebird Bus and Coach

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Not to be confused with Blue Bird Corporation, an American manufacturer of buses.
Founded1988
HeadquartersAlexander House,
Greengate, Middleton
Service typebus service
HubsMiddleton Bus Station
Websitebluebirdbus.co.uk
A Bluebird Alexander Dennis Enviro300.

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 single-deck 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.

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 they will end their Metroshuttle operation in March 2011, when the Stockport Metroshuttle service is taken over by Stagecoach Manchester[5].

Routes

This is a summary of Bluebird services[6].

No. From To Via Notes
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 Gardens Failsworth, Newton Heath
Manchester Albert Square (peak times)
95 Whitefield Pendleton Prestwich, Carr Clough Sunday daytime only
112 Middleton Manchester Piccadilly Moston, Harpurhey
113 Middleton Manchester Piccadilly Moston, Harpurhey Peak times
Ancoats
Newton Heath
115
116 		Middleton Middleton White Moss, Moston, Harpurhey, North Manchester General Hospital, Higher Blackley Circulars. Service 116 runs in opposite direction.
125 Middleton Middleton Rhodes, Birch, Langley, Alkrington Circular
131 Boarshaw via Alkrington (peak times) Manchester Albert Square (peak times) Harpurhey
Alkrington Manchester Stevenson Square
151 Chadderton Hollinwood, Morrisons Butler Green Route split into two, due to Metrolink construction
Hollinwood, Morrisons Mandley Park New Moston, Failsworth, Newton Heath, Collyhurst, Cheetham Hill
154 Bury Cheetham Hill Pilsworth, Unsworth, Prestwich, Carr Clough, Crumpsall, North Manchester General Hospital Service runs a circular route between Crumpsall and Cheetham Hill
159 Oldham Middleton Royal Oldham Hospital, Chadderton, Hollinwood, Woodhouses, Failsworth, New Moston, Middleton Junction
188 Central Park Manchester Shudehill Harpurhey Some journeys start/terminate at Greengate (Bluebird depot)
300 Stockport bus station Stockport bus station Sainsbury's, Asda, Tesco Extra, Stockport railway station Metroshuttle until 12 March 2011
402 Oldham Royton Royal Oldham Hospital
410
411 		Oldham Oldham Glodwick, Clarksfield, Waterhead, Littlemoor, Derker, Higginshaw Circulars.
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. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
  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. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
  4. ^ "GMITA - Metroshuttle Patronage and Performance" (PDF). GMITA. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
  5. ^ "GMPTE - Buses - Latest Changes". GMPTE. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  6. ^ "Bluebird Routes". Bluebird Buses. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
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