Blue Bus of Bolton

Blue Bus and Coach Services Ltd was one of the large independent bus companies serving the area of Greater Manchester. The company operated 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, as well as areas of Lancashire and Merseyside.

History

Blue Bus started life back in 1991 when two former senior managers from Shearings Holidays got together and bought a handful of buses. The two partners, Roger Jarvis and Alan Turner, founded the company at a former railway works in Horwich, some six miles to the west of Bolton.

The first of the buses to be acquired was a Leyland Leopard, given the fleet number 21. At first, the Leopard would form the backbone of the fleet, but were soon joined by a number of Leyland Atlantean double deckers as the fleet began to grow.

The company began operating in service during early May 1991, the first services targeting the main corridor between Bolton and Horwich via Chorley New Road. The ten initial buses that were in the fleet at the beginning were used on the 15 minute service, competing with the GM Buses service that used the same corridor. However, Blue Bus took advantage of the potential custom, with each service - the 573, 574, 575 and 577 - serving one of the numerous estates in Horwich.

The company became rather popular, and expansion began to occur at a quickening pace. The next route to be introduced in Bolton was the 518, a 20-minute service along Chorley Old Road to the Johnson Fold estate. In addition, a series of routes would be created in Wigan, the first of these being the 635 up to Shevington. The decision was taken to open an outpost Appley Bridge, to act as a local base for the Wigan routes.

As contracts came in, new routes were added to the network. A number of commercial routes were also introduced, taking the company into new areas such as Manchester. In addition, the company gained work from a holiday company, Alfa Tours. Because of this additional work, a total of five coaches were acquired, two were branded specially for Alfa whilst the additional three were to be used on additional private hire jobs.

Success in Bolton meant that the company decided to expand with a venture in West Yorkshire. Upon purchasing a depot in Huddersfield in August 1994, the first service was operated every 15 minutes between Huddersfield Bus Station and Marsden Centre. This venture could boast steady growth, and expansion into Bradford, but because Blue Bus's main rival was taken over by FirstBus during 1996, it was decided that the company should focus on its Bolton operations and pulled out of Huddersfield. Just weeks later, FirstBus took over Blue Bus's main Bolton rival - GM Buses North.

Despite this, Blue Bus saw off the competition and growth continued. During 2001, Blue Bus started intensive competition against Blazefield's Lancashire United in the Bolton area, after Stagecoach sold the East Lancashire end of the Ribble company to Blazefield. Blue Bus took over operation of the Bolton end of Lancashire United in August 2002, acquiring the former Ribble depot, as well as all staff, services and a significant number of vehicles. The head office was moved from Horwich to the acquired office at Bolton Bus Station, and the Horwich base was later closed down, with most buses moving to Bolton.

This acquisition saw rivalry develop between Blue Bus and FirstBus, with the competition doubling the number of buses on the 575 and duplicating the M10 service with their own. Blue Bus retaliated by taking over the 400 TransLancs Express service, and later introducing an X9 Express service into Manchester, to compete against the 8 and 36. However, both companies withdrew from their attack, cutting back the 575 to the original timetable, and Blue Bus eventually came off the 400 and X9 services.

During early 2005, Blue Bus sold off its Appley Bridge depot to South Lancs Travel, with themselves acquiring a total of six buses and all of the services (the depot itself initially closed but was reopened by SLT). This rationalisation allowed the company to focus on its key depots in Bolton and Eccles, with a proposal to expand further, especially having gained tenders in Salford and Manchester on eight routes.

However, this would not last long - on 31 July 2005, Blue Bus was acquired by Arriva.

ome of the services operated

*6: Bolton - Little Hulton - Walkden - Swinton - Manchester
*6A: Bolton - Little Hulton - Walkden - Swinton - Manchester
*7: Bolton - Little Hulton - Walkden - Swinton - Manchester
*9: Bolton - Horwich - Blackrod
*25: Bolton - Farnworth - Walkden - Swinton - Weaste - Manchester
*36A: Bolton - Little Hulton - Walkden - Swinton - Manchester
*55: Pendleton - Westwood Park - Eccles
*61: Eccles - Westwood Park (circular)
*62: Eccles - Westwood Park (circular)
*63: Brookhouse - Eccles - Manchester
*64: Eccles - Brookhouse - Westwood Park (circular)
*65: Eccles - Brookhouse - Westwood Park (circular)
*69: Eccles - Westwood Park - Pendleton - Stretford
*70: Clifton - Swinton - Eccles - Pendleton - Manchester
*70: Hope Hospital - Eccles - Swinton - Clifton
*71: Clifton - Swinton - Weaste - Pendleton - Manchester
*73: Clifton - Swinton - Weaste - Pendleton - Manchester
*74: Pendleton - Agecroft (circular)
*75: Pendleton - Agecroft (circular)
*99: Sale - Northenden - Southern Cemetery - Manchester
*111: Preston - Penwortham - Leyland - Eccleston - Standish - Wigan
*113: Preston Hospital - Preston - Leyland - Standish - Wigan
*116: Wigan - Standish - Charnock Richard - Leyland - Preston - Faringdon Park* (*Sats only)
*126: Bolton - Horwich - Lever Park
*127: Blackrod - Westhoughton - Deane - Bolton
*200: Bolton - Atherton - Leigh - Golborne - Ashton - Haydock - St Helens
*243: Bolton - Ramsbottom - Rawtenstall
*273: Bolton - Ramsbottom - Rawtenstall
*290: Manchester - Trafford Park - Trafford Centre - Flixton - Partington
*291: Manchester - Trafford Park - Trafford Centre - Flixton
*293: Eccles - Trafford Park (circular)
*400: Bolton - Bury - Rochdale - Oldham - Ashton - Stockport
*478: Bolton - Breightmet - Radcliffe - Bury
*484: Hope Hospital - Eccles - Swinton - Pendlebury - Agecroft - Prestwich
*502: Bolton - Barrow Bridge
*505: Bolton - Markland Hill
*505: Bolton - Markland Hill - Middlebrook
*505: Bolton - Markland Hill - Middlebrook - Horwich (Pennine Road)
*508: Bury - Tottington - Hawkshaw - Tonge Moor - Bolton
*510: Bolton - Withins - Bury
*511: Bury - Ainsworth - Radcliffe
*515: Bolton - Ladybridge (circular)
*515: Bolton - Ladybridge - Middlebrook - Aspull - Wigan
*516: Horwich - Horwich Parkway Station
*516: Horwich - Westhoughton - Atherton - Leigh - (Trafford Centre, as 673)
*517: Horwich - Middlebrook - Horwich Parkway Station
*520: Bolton - Willows - Hulton Hospital - Morris Green
*521: Bolton Hospital - Westhoughton - Wingates - Blackrod
*523: Bolton - Bury
*525: Bolton - Halliwell - Astley Bridge - Hall i'th' Wood - Bolton(circular)
*526: Bolton - Halliwell - Smithills
*527: Bolton - Hall i'th' Wood - Astley Bridge - Halliwell - Bolton (circular)
*528: Bolton - Astley Bridge - Belmont
*529: Bolton - Astley Bridge - Eagley
*535: Bolton - Asltey Bridge - Belmont
*535: Bolton - Asltey Bridge - Belmont - Blackburn (Sundays only)
*538: Bolton - Astley Bridge - Andrew Lane
*538: Bolton - Astley Bridge - Bank Top - Dunscar - Bromley Cross - Bolton
*539: Andrew Lane - Astley Bridge - Bolton
*539: Bolton - Bromley Cross - Dunscar - Bank Top - Astley Bridge - Bolton
*540: Bolton - Westhoughton - Daisy Hill
*544: Bolton - Darcy Lever - Little Lever (circular)
*545: Bolton - Harwood
*547: Bolton - Westhoughton - Daisy Hill (circular)
*548: Bolton - Westhoughton - Daisy Hill (circular)
*550: Farnworth - New Bury - Walkden (circular)
*554: Bolton - Farnworth - Walkden - Peel Green - Eccles - Trafford Centre (Bolton - Eccles only on schooldays)
*556: Bolton - Farnworth - Walkden - Peel Green - Eccles - Trafford Centre (Sundays only)
*557: Prestolee - Farnworth - Highfield
*563: Bolton - Bromley Cross - Edgworth
*570: Bolton - Lever Edge - Morris Green
*572: Bolton - Lever Edge (circular)
*573: Trafford Centre - Worsley - Little Hulton Bolton - Lostock - Horwich - Blackrod - Aspull - Wigan
*573: Coppull - Standish - Horwich - Bolton
*575: Bolton - Lostock - Horwich - Blackrod - Aspull - Wigan - (Bolton Hospital)
*576: Horwich - Middlebrook
*576: Bolton - Middlebrook - Horwich - Blackrod - Aspull - Wigan
*577: Bolton - Lostock - Brazley - Horwich (Pennine Road)
*581: Atherton - Bolton Hospital - Farnworth
*605: Ashton Heath - Ashton-in-Makerfield - Bryn (circular)
*607: Ashton Heath - Ashton-in-Makerfield - Bryn - Marus Bridge - Wigan
*609: Leyland Park - Hindley - Pennington Green - Aspull - Wigan
*611: Wigan - Shevington - Wrightington Hospital (circular)
*612: Wigan - Shevington - Wrightington Hospital (circular)
*613: Wigan - Orrell - Kitt Green - Shevington - Standish (diverted via Wrightington Hospital for a time)
*614: Wigan - New Springs (circular)
*615: Wigan - Aspull
*616: Shevington - Standish - Middlebrook - Westhoughton
*616: Bolton - Lostock - Horwich - Blackrod - Aspull - Wigan
*620: Bolton - Hag Fold - Atherton - Hindley - Ashton - Haydock - St Helens
*621: Haworth Road - Bradford Interchange - Bierley
*622: Wigan - Kitt Green
*622: Kitt Green - Wigan - Platt Bridge - Leigh - Astley - Worsley - Trafford Centre
*624: Wigan - Kitt Green (circular)
*627: Wigan - Pemberton - Kitt Green - Shevington - Wigan (circular)
*629: Wigan - Platt Bridge - Hindley - Castle Hill
*633: Wigan - Worsley Mesnes - Windy Arbour - Pemberton - Kitt Green
*634: Wigan - Shevington - Standish - Wigan (circular)
*635: Wigan - Shevington - Standish - Wigan (circular)
*637: Wigan - Shevington - Kitt Green - Pemberton - Wigan (circular)
*637: Wigan - Shevington - Kitt Green
*640: Standish - Boars Head - Wigan
*641: Standish - Red Rock - Boars Head - Wigan
*642: Wigan - Bradley Mills
*643: Wigan - Standish - Shevington - Wigan (circular)
*651: Atherton - Hindley - Ashton-in-Makerfield
*673: Leigh - Astley - Boothstown - Worsley - Trafford Centre
*700: Trafford Centre - Bolton - Ladybridge - Westhoughton - Wigan - Aspull - Wigan
*715: Bolton - Ladybridge - Westhoughton - Wigan - Aspull - Wigan
*M9: Manchester - Farnworth - Worsley - Peel Green - Eccles - Pendleton - Lower Broughton - Manchester
*M10: Brookhouse - Peel Green - Eccles -Hope Hospital - Pendleton - Lower Broughton - Manchester
*M70: Clifton - Swinton - Eccles - Pendleton - Manchester
*X1: Little Lever - Walkden - Atherton - Wigan - Blackpool - Fleetwood
*X9: Bolton - Lostock - Blackrod
*X9: Bolton - Farnworth - Manchester
*X11: Doffcocker - Bolton - Westhoughton - Wigan - Blackpool - Fleetwood
*X14: Pendleton - Walkden - Wigan - Blackpool - Fleetwood

ome of the vehicles operated

Blue Bus had a wide variety of buses in its fleet, including the following:

;Single-deck buses
* Dennis Dart / Alexander Dash
* Dennis Dart / East Lancs EL2000
* Dennis Javelin / Duple 300
* Dennis Lance / Alexander PS
* Leyland Leopard / Alexander AT
* Leyland Leopard / Alexander AY
* Leyland Leopard / Alexander AYS
* Leyland Leopard / Duple Dominant Bus
* Leyland Leopard / Duple Dominant IV
* Leyland Leopard / East Lancs EL2000 (rebody)
* Leyland Leopard / Marshall BET
* Leyland Leopard / Pennine
* Leyland Leopard / Plaxton Derwent
* Leyland Leopard / Willowbrook BET
* Leyland Leopard / Willowbrook 003
* Leyland Leopard / Willowbrook Warrior
* Leyland National (integral)
* Leyland Tiger / Duple Dominant Bus
* Leyland Tiger / Duple 300
* Leyland Tiger / East Lancs EL2000 (rebody)
* Volvo B10M-56 / Plaxton Derwent 3000
* Volvo B10M-61 / Duple Dominant Bus
* Volvo B58-56 / East Lancs EL2000 (rebody)

;Double-deck buses
* DAF DB250 / Northern Counties Palatine II
* Leyland Atlantean / Alexander AL
* Leyland Atlantean / East Lancs
* Leyland Atlantean / Park Royal
* Leyland Olympian / Alexander RL
* Leyland Olympian (integral)
* Volvo B10M Citybus / Alexander RV
* Volvo Olympian / East Lancs Pyoneer

;Low-floor buses (known as "Blue Buggy Buses")
* DAF SB120 / Wright Cadet
* DAF SB220 / East Lancs Myllennium
* DAF SB220 / Ikarus 481
* DAF SB220 / Ikarus Polaris 489
* DAF SB220 / Plaxton Prestige
* Dennis Dart SLF / Alexander ALX200
* Dennis Dart SLF / Plaxton Pointer
* Dennis Dart SLF / Plaxton Pointer II
* Dennis Trident 2 / Plaxton President
* MAN 14.220 / East Lancs Myllennium
* MAN 18.220 / Alexander ALX300
* Volvo B10BLE / Wright Renown

;Minibuses
* Dodge S56 / Alexander AM
* Dodge S56 / Northern Counties
* Mercedes-Benz 709D / Plaxton Beaver
* Mercedes-Benz O814D / Plaxton Beaver II
* Mercedes-Benz L608D / Rootes
* Optare Metrorider Mk II (integral)
* Optare Metrorider Mk III (integral)

;Coaches
* DAF SB3000 / Plaxton Premiere 320
* DAF SB3000 / Van Hool Alizee
* Leyland Tiger / Plaxton Paramount III 3200

External links

* [http://bluebus.fotopic.net/ Blue Bus Photo Gallery]