_Metroline_Manchester_WDS316_MJ74JMV_43_2025-06-10.jpg/2000px-(GBR-Greater_Manchester)_Metroline_Manchester_WDS316_MJ74JMV_43_2025-06-10.jpg)
Community hub
Recent from talks
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Wilmslow Road bus corridor
The Wilmslow Road bus corridor is a 5.5 mi (8.9 km)-long section of road in Manchester, England, that is served by a large number of bus services. The corridor runs from Parrs Wood to Manchester city centre along Wilmslow and Oxford Roads, via Didsbury, Withington, Fallowfield and Rusholme.
Several frequent routes combine to operate along the northern section, providing access to the University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI) and The Christie hospital.
Bus deregulation in October 1986 allowed bus companies to run services wherever and whenever they wanted. Prior to this, most bus services along Wilmslow Road had been operated by publicly-owned operator Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE).
In 1986, the bus operation was separated into a stand-alone company, GM Buses. Finglands Coachways started operating their own competitive bus services soon after, capitalising on the lack of capacity for students along the route. They were soon followed by other operators including Wall's and Bullocks Coaches.
GM Buses fought back by reintroducing conductor-operated buses to the route. Ten AEC Routemasters were acquired from London in 1988 and operated on route 143 to West Didsbury, branded as the Piccadilly Line after the London Underground line. They operated until June 1990, when they were replaced with standard vehicles. Larger operators also operated competing services along Wilmslow Road during the 1990s, including Bee Line and MTL Manchester.
The southern half of GM Buses was sold to Stagecoach Holdings in February 1996, which introduced the "no frills" Magic Bus services along the route in competition with their main routes. Intense competition from a new operator called UK North led to lower fares, with Finglands Coachways offering a £2 student weekly ticket in 2001. Competition eventually reduced by the end of the 2000s; UK North ceased operations in 2006, after an investigation into their safety records by the North West Traffic Commissioner, whilst Bullocks sold their bus services to Stagecoach in 2008.
Stagecoach Manchester introduced 30 new Alexander Dennis Enviro400H double-decker hybrid electric buses on services 42 and 43 in September 2010. The vehicles were funded through the Department for Transport's Green Bus Fund. Bullocks Coaches were also awarded similar funding for the delivery of four Wright Eclipse Gemini 2-bodied Volvo B5LHs for use on Oxford Road Link route 147 in collaboration with the University of Manchester.
On 1 August 2013, First Greater Manchester announced that it had agreed to purchase Finglands Coachways. The deal was concluded on 9 February 2014. On 27 April 2014, First Greater Manchester increased service levels and extended some route 42 journeys to North Manchester General Hospital under the Cross Connect banner.
Hub AI
Wilmslow Road bus corridor AI simulator
(@Wilmslow Road bus corridor_simulator)
Wilmslow Road bus corridor
The Wilmslow Road bus corridor is a 5.5 mi (8.9 km)-long section of road in Manchester, England, that is served by a large number of bus services. The corridor runs from Parrs Wood to Manchester city centre along Wilmslow and Oxford Roads, via Didsbury, Withington, Fallowfield and Rusholme.
Several frequent routes combine to operate along the northern section, providing access to the University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI) and The Christie hospital.
Bus deregulation in October 1986 allowed bus companies to run services wherever and whenever they wanted. Prior to this, most bus services along Wilmslow Road had been operated by publicly-owned operator Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE).
In 1986, the bus operation was separated into a stand-alone company, GM Buses. Finglands Coachways started operating their own competitive bus services soon after, capitalising on the lack of capacity for students along the route. They were soon followed by other operators including Wall's and Bullocks Coaches.
GM Buses fought back by reintroducing conductor-operated buses to the route. Ten AEC Routemasters were acquired from London in 1988 and operated on route 143 to West Didsbury, branded as the Piccadilly Line after the London Underground line. They operated until June 1990, when they were replaced with standard vehicles. Larger operators also operated competing services along Wilmslow Road during the 1990s, including Bee Line and MTL Manchester.
The southern half of GM Buses was sold to Stagecoach Holdings in February 1996, which introduced the "no frills" Magic Bus services along the route in competition with their main routes. Intense competition from a new operator called UK North led to lower fares, with Finglands Coachways offering a £2 student weekly ticket in 2001. Competition eventually reduced by the end of the 2000s; UK North ceased operations in 2006, after an investigation into their safety records by the North West Traffic Commissioner, whilst Bullocks sold their bus services to Stagecoach in 2008.
Stagecoach Manchester introduced 30 new Alexander Dennis Enviro400H double-decker hybrid electric buses on services 42 and 43 in September 2010. The vehicles were funded through the Department for Transport's Green Bus Fund. Bullocks Coaches were also awarded similar funding for the delivery of four Wright Eclipse Gemini 2-bodied Volvo B5LHs for use on Oxford Road Link route 147 in collaboration with the University of Manchester.
On 1 August 2013, First Greater Manchester announced that it had agreed to purchase Finglands Coachways. The deal was concluded on 9 February 2014. On 27 April 2014, First Greater Manchester increased service levels and extended some route 42 journeys to North Manchester General Hospital under the Cross Connect banner.