STAGECOACH 84013 AND GO NORTH WEST 2049 IN PICCADILLY GARDENS DURING THE START OF THE FRANCHISING ROLL-OUT
Manchester is the fifth-largest city in the United Kingdom by population. During the privatisation of the National Bus Company, Manchester's bus network was taken over by GM Buses, which was split in 1993 into GM Buses North and GM Buses South due to the Government deciding that they had a monopoly of bus services in Greater Manchester. In 1996, GM Buses North was sold to First Group and GM Buses South sold to Stagecoach. Stagecoach is still the major operator in the south of Manchester. First sold the majority of their operations off to Rotala (to trade as Diamond Bus North West) and Go Ahead (to trade as Go North West).
In 2023, Greater Manchester became the first place in the UK outside of London to introduce franchising for local bus services since deregulation under the name 'Bee Network'. The first tranche saw Bolton and Wigan operate regulated bus services from September 2023. By 2025, bus franchising will be in place across the whole of Manchester.
There are two main bus stations in Manchester: Picadilly Gardens and Shudehill. Buses for the north of Manchester generally use Shudehill Interchange, whereas services for the south of Manchester mostly use Piccadilly Gardens Bus Station. Manchester also has a coach station on Chorlton Street for National Express coach services. A number of longer distance bus services depart from bus stops on Chorlton Street, directly opposite the coach station.
The city is home to the 192 route between Manchester and Stockport, which is reputed to be the busiest bus route in the United Kingdom. The route has 18 buses per hour, running every 3-4 minutes.
| Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Variety |  A large variety of vehicles can be seen in Manchester. ADL Enviro 400 / MMCs have the most significant presence in the city, being used by Stagecoach on most of their high frequency services. Optare Versas, Wright-bodied Volvos and Citaros are just some of the buses used by Go North West and Diamond bring mostly StreetDecks into the city. Go North West have recently had some EvoSetis transferred from London, which are now in use in Manchester. |
| Operator Variety |  Since First have reduced their operations in Manchester, selling up depots to the Go Ahead and Rotala groups, Stagecoach have become the main operator in the city. First still make an appearance in the city from their Oldham depot, also stationing vehicles at Arriva's Bolton depot. Arriva and Transdev also operate a couple of services each into the city centre. Hulleys of Baslow also operate a service to and from Sheffield. In April 2022, Go Goodwins started services into Manchester. |
| Quantity of Buses | Manchester has a very high quantity of bus routes serving the city centre, a lot of which are high frequency, the most frequent being Stagecoach's 192 service, at 18 buses per hour. Most other routes operate at least every 15 minutes, so there are always plenty of buses in the city centre. |
| Photograph Opportunities | There are plenty of spots in Manchester City Centre to take photos of buses. Most bus services serve either Piccadilly, Shudehill or both. Taking photos at Piccadilly Gardens Bus Station is usually problem-free, however during certain times of day it can get very busy with pedestrians. Shudehill is much busier with traffic and pedestrians and it can be difficult to take good photos. |
Transdev Blazefield's 2752, a Wright Eclipse Gemini-bodied Volvo B7TL in 'Witch Way' livery, arriving into Manchester on an X43 service from Burnley
Transdev Blazefield's 1870, a Wright Eclipse-bodied Volvo B7RLE, passes Stagecoach E400 MMC 10445 on its way out of Manchester on an X41 to Accrington
Transdev Blazefield's 1871, a Wright Eclipse 2-bodied Volvo B7RLE in 'Main Line' livery, parked up on Chorlton Street in between journeys
Bruce's Coaches' BV17 GXT, a Caetano Levante 3-bodied Scania, departs the coach station whilst working a National Express 182 service from Edinburgh to Birmingham
Llew Jones' BG65 TGU, a Scania Caetano Levante 2, passes Transdev Blazefield's E400 MMC 2013 on Chorlton Street as it arrives into Manchester on a National Express 540 service from London
First's 33703, an ADL Enviro 400-bodied Dennis Trident, turns onto Piccadilly operating an 83 service to Oldham Mumps Interchange
Go North West's 3005, a Volvo Wright Gemini 2, turns onto Piccadilly whilst operating an 18 service towards Manchester Royal Infirmary
First's 49110, an Optare Versa Hybrid, parked up in between journeys near Manchester Piccadilly Station, with route branding for the 3 Free MetroShuttle bus
Go Goodwins' 1970, an ADL Enviro 200 in Little Gem livery, loading passengers on Lever Street for a 217 service to Ashton, followed by two GNW Geminis
Go North West's 3070, a Volvo MCV EvoSeti, on Lever Street waiting to operate a 135 service towards Bury after recently being transferred from London
Howards Travel Group's LG02 KHF, a Volvo B7TL / Wright Gemini, on Fairfield Street loading passengers for a private contract
First's 32959, an ex-London Plaxton President-bodied Dennis Trident, loading passengers for West Didsbury on a 41 service (now operated by Go North West)
Stagecoach's 12229, an ADL Enviro 400 Hybrid with green Electric Hybrid branding, waits at traffic lights to depart Piccadilly Gardens Bus Station
Stagecoach's 18110, an TransBus Trident with an ALX400 body, making its way around Piccadilly Gardens Bus Station to operate an 86 service to Chorlton
Stagecoach's 19186, an ADL Enviro 400-bodied ADL Trident, making its way out of Piccadilly Gardens Bus Station as it works a 143 service to Sale, shortly followed by E400 12223, as they pass Arriva North West's 3097
Stagecoach's ADL Enviro 400 12254 with 'Magic Bus' branding, parked up on one of the Piccadilly Gardens Bus Station stands in between journeys on the 142 to East Didsbury
First's ADL Enviro 400 33742 with Greater Manchester branding pulls onto one of the stands to load passengers for a 36 service to Bolton
Arriva North West's 3097, a Wright Pulsar 2-bodied VDL SB200, parked on one of the stands in Piccadilly Gardens Bus Station in between journeys
Stagecoach's 17699, an East Lancs Lolyne-bodied Dennis Trident, loading passengers in Piccadilly Gardens Bus Station for its next service, the 104 to Wythenshawe
Stagecoach's 19232, an ADL Trident with ADL Enviro 400 bodywork in 'Magic Bus' livery, parked on a stand in Piccadilly Gardens Bus Station, with First's 33752 approaching in the background
Stagecoach's 12230, an ADL Enviro 400 in 'Magic Bus' livery arrives into Manchester City Centre along Portland Street with a 142 service from East Didsbury
Stagecoach's 14016, an ADL Enviro 400 MMC with '100% Electric' branding, arrives into the City Centre along Portland Street on an 86 service from Chorlton, followed by A&A Coach Travel's YM02 CLY on rail replacement
Go North West's 6005, a Wright StreetLite DF, stopped in the bus stop outside the Polish Consulate on Portland Street
Go North East's Caetano Levante 3-bodied Volvo B11RT in National Express livery, 7148, heading towards Manchester Coach Station, arriving after operating an NX 172 service
Arriva North West's 2740, a Sapphire-branded ADL Enviro 200, arrives into Manchester City Centre on a 263 service from Altrincham
Stagecoach's 17642, an Alexander ALX400-bodied Dennis Trident in 'Magic Bus' livery, on Portland Street whilst not in service
Cranberry Coachways' T90 CBY, a Van Hool TD921 Altano, waiting at traffic lights on Portland Street whilst operating a Rail Replacement service for Northern Rail
Stagecoach's 17325, an Alexander ALX400-bodied Dennis Trident in 'Magic Bus' livery, on Portland Street whilst not in service
Go North West's 6216, a Mercedes-Benz Citaro in 'Cross-city' livery, arriving into Shudehill on a 41 service from Middleton to Sale
Diamond Bus North West's 40840, a Wright StreetDeck, passes Shudehill Bus Station whilst operating a 163 service to Piccadilly Gardens
Whippet Coaches' FX30, a Scania / Caetano Levante in Flixbus livery, departing Shudehill Bus Station on a Flixbus 023 service towards London
On loan to Go North West, Swindon's Bus Company's 2781 passes Victoria Station on a 10 service to Brookhouse
Go North West's 3221, a Wright Eclipse Gemini-bodied Volvo B9R branded for the 135, on Victoria Station Approach whilst operating a 67 service to Cadishead
Tyrer's Coaches' BN61 MXL, a Wright Eclipse Gemini 2-bodied Volvo B9TL, arrives into Manchester after operating a rail replacement service, turning on to Hunts Bank
Go North West's 6162, a Wright Eclipse 2-bodied Volvo B7RLE, on a 93 short working to Carr Clough, followed by Enviro 200 4007 and an Arriva VDL Wright Pulsar
Burnley Bus Company's 2008, an ADL Enviro 400 MMC in 'Witch Way' livery, on Victoria Street as it arrives into Manchester on an X43 service from Burnley
Tyrer's Coaches' TYR 17R, a 2015 VDL Futura HD 2, drops off passengers at Manchester Victoria station after operating a rail replacement service
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