Stagecoach Manchester

Stagecoach Manchester is a bus operator based in Manchester, England. It is a division of Stagecoach Group, and is the largest bus operator in the Greater Manchester area.

History

Stagecoach originally entered the Manchester market in the early 1990s, as a subsidiary of Ribble Motor Services, to compete with major operator Greater Manchester Buses South on select corridors. In February 1996, Stagecoach agreed to buy Greater Manchester Buses South, and its previous Manchester operations were sold to Finglands Coachways.

The Magic Bus branding was introduced to Manchester along the Wilmslow Road corridor in the 1990s. The "no-frills" brand attracted customers on corridors with heavy competition by using low fares with older, cheaper, high-capacity buses. Magic Bus service was expanded to the route 192 corridor in 2006, in response to competition from UK Buses; following the banning of UK Buses from the Manchester market, Magic Bus service was withdrawn from the corridor. Magic Bus branding was retained on the Wilmslow Road corridor until it was replaced by Bee Network in January 2025; it was the last remaining use of the Magic Bus branding.

Stagecoach continued to expand its Manchester business by purchasing competing bus operators. They purchased the bus operations of Mayne Coaches in January 2008, followed by Bullocks Coaches in August 2008. In December 2012, Stagecoach purchased First Greater Manchester's operations in Wigan; they were initially set up as Stagecoach in Wigan under Stagecoach Manchester's old A. Mayne & Son registration. Bluebird Bus & Coach was purchased by Stagecoach in March 2013, followed by JPT Bus Company in April 2014.

In 2019, Stagecoach Manchester commenced the first trial of an autonomous bus in the United Kingdom, where it outfitted a single Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC bus with AV technology; the vehicle can operate in driverless mode while inside the Sharston garage.

Stagecoach has been awarded a number of contracts to operate Bee Network routes in Manchester. Beginning in March 2024, Stagecoach Manchester took over Oldham and Queen's Road garages from First and Go North West as part of the second tranche of bus franchising, while retaining its existing Middleton garage. As part of the third tranche (effective January 2025), Stagecoach won the contract for the Stockport area as part of the third tranche, but lost their Ashton, Hyde Road, and Sharston depots to Metroline Manchester.

Garages

Current

• Little Hulton
• Middleton
• Oldham
• Queens Road
• Stockport

Former

• Ashton
• Hyde Road
• Stockport

Fleet

Active

Last updated May 2024.

Fleet Number	Thumbnail	Year	Manufacturer	Model	Length	Engine	Transmission	Notes
10042-10051		2012	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400				Ex-London 2012 Olympic shuttle fleet.
10401-10429		2014-15	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400 MMC
10430		2015	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400 MMC				Ex-80027; exx-Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire 80027; née-demonstrator. Equipped with engine start/stop technology.
10443-10451		2015	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400 MMC
10587-10616		2016	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400 MMC
10846-10864		2017	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400 MMC
11254-11271		2019	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400 MMC
11504-11529		2020	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400 MMC
11798-11799, 11801-11813, 11816, 11819-11880		2024	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400 MMC
11881-11930		2024	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400 City
12061-12067, 12070, 12072-12077		2011	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400H				Ex-Stagecoach North East.
12087-12090		2011	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400				Ex-Stagecoach Yorkshire.
12108-12127		2012	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400H
12180-12190, 12192		2013	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400H
13161-13174		2011	Volvo Wrightbus	B5LH Eclipse Gemini 2		Volvo		Ex-Go North West 3001-3014.
13175-13193		2012	Volvo Wrightbus	B5LH Eclipse Gemini 2		Volvo		Ex-Oxford Bus Company 351-369.
18922-18929		2024	Wrightbus	StreetDeck Ultroliner
19231, 19241, 19246-19247, 19250, 19255-19257, 19259, 19261-19262, 19283-19289		2008	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400
19326, 19329, 19331, 19356, 19358-19359		2008	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400
19411, 19421-19422, 19424-19425, 19429		2008	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400
19455, 19470, 19481-19483, 19532		2008-09	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400
19562-19563, 19565-19566		2009	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400				Ex-Stagecoach Yorkshire.
21417-21432		2024	Volvo MCV	B8RLE EvoRa		Volvo
25314-25315		2012	Optare	Versa V1210				Ex-Go North West 7001-7002, née-First. Used for school runs.
25348-25354		2012	Optare	Versa V1210				Ex-First. Used for school runs.
27234		2015	Alexander Dennis	Enviro300	11.8 m
27624-27625		2009	Alexander Dennis	Enviro300				Ex-JPT Travel 454-455.
27826-27827		2012	Alexander Dennis	Enviro300	11.8 m
27931-27959		2013	Alexander Dennis	Enviro300				Ex-First.
29825		2015	Iveco Vehixel	150E24 Scolabus				Owned by TfGM. Used for school runs.
36076-36077		2008	Alexander Dennis	Enviro200				Ex-Bluebird.
36112		2009	Alexander Dennis	Enviro200
36778-36790		2012	Alexander Dennis	Enviro200
36801		2012	Alexander Dennis	Enviro200
37146-37166		2014	Alexander Dennis	Enviro200
37631-37633		2024	Alexander Dennis	Enviro200 MMC	10.8 m
47472-47473		2007	Optare	Solo M880				Ex-Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire.
48023		2015	Optare	Solo SR M990SL				Ex-Stagecoach East.
48031		2016	Optare	Solo SR M990SL				Ex-Stagecoach East.
48104-48114		2024	Switch	Solo SR M8590SR	8.5 m
48804-48812		2010	Optare	Versa HEV V970H				Ex-Go North West, née-First.
48907-48909		2014	Optare	Versa EV V1040EV				Ex-Go North West, née-First.
80087-80121		2024	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400EV		Voith VEDS
84201-84250		2024	BYD Alexander Dennis	Enviro400EV City		BYD

Training

Fleet Number	Thumbnail	Year	Manufacturer	Model	Length	Engine	Transmission	Notes
19001		2006	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400				Ex-Stagecoach South West, née-Stagecoach Manchester.
22521		2008	MAN Alexander Dennis	18.240 ALX300		MAN		Ex-Stagecoach West Scotland.
22583, 22586		2008	MAN Alexander Dennis	18.240 ALX300		MAN		Ex-Stagecoach West Scotland.
22742		2009	MAN Alexander Dennis	18.240 ALX300		MAN		Ex-Stagecoach South.
36102		2009	Alexander Dennis	Enviro200

Retired/Transferred

Fleet Number	Thumbnail	Year	Manufacturer	Model	Length	Engine	Transmission	Notes
10000		2012	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400
10463-10487		2016	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400 MMC
10535		2016	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400 MMC				Ex-Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire.
10578-10586, 10617-10630		2016	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400 MMC
10844-10845, 10865		2017	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400 MMC
11530-11555		2020	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400 MMC
11717-11746		2023	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400 MMC
11814-11815, 11817-11818		2024	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400 MMC
12014-12026		2010	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400H				Ex-Stagecoach West.
12027-12056		2010	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400H
12191, 12193-12219		2013	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400H
12220-12257		2013-14	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400H
12258		2014	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400H				Ex-demonstrator.
13604-13608, 13610, 13614-13616, 13626, 13628, 13630, 13632-13633, 13639, 13641-13642, 13644, 13647, 13650-13651, 13653-13654		1989-91	Leyland Alexander	Olympian RH				Ex-Megabus; née-Citybus.
13801-13802		1996	Dennis Northern Counties	Arrow Palatine II				Ex-First Manchester; née-Capital Citybus.
13803-13809		1997-98	Dennis East Lancs	Arrow Pyoneer				Ex-First Manchester; née-Capital Citybus.
15180-15199		1996	Dennis Duple Metsec	Dragon		Cummins LT10	ZF	Ex-Stagecoach Kenya.
15381-15400		2009	Scania	CN230UD OmniCity		Scania DC9		Ex-Go North West 3601-3620, née-London United.
15444-15455		2008	Scania Alexander Dennis	N230UD Enviro400		Scania DC9
16191-16196		1995-96	Volvo Northern Counties	Olympian Palatine		Volvo		Ex-First Manchester; née-various.
16801-16852		2008-09	Volvo Wrightbus	B9TL Eclipse Gemini		Volvo		Ex-Go North West 3217-3268, née-First.
16949		2000	Volvo Alexander	B7TL ALX400				Ex-Bluebird; née-London Central.
16950-16959		2007	Volvo Wrightbus	B9TL Eclipse Gemini		Volvo		Ex-First Manchester.
16971			Dennis Plaxton	Trident 2 President				Ex-JP Travel 534; née-London Central PVL271.
17497, 17499		2001	TransBus	Trident 2 ALX400	9.9 m			Ex-Stagecoach London. Driver training vehicles.
17578		2002	TransBus	Trident 2 ALX400	9.9 m	Cummins ISCe	Voith D854.3E	Ex-Stagecoach London. Driver training vehicle.
18021-18050		2003	TransBus	Trident 2 President
18177-18194		2004	Alexander Dennis	Trident 2 ALX400
18309-18315		2005	Alexander Dennis	Trident 2 ALX400
18321-18330		2005	Alexander Dennis	Trident 2 ALX400
18350-18366		2005	Alexander Dennis	Trident 2 ALX400
18372-18390		2005-06	Alexander Dennis	Trident 2 ALX400
19002-19022		2006	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400
19031, 19037-19038, 19040-19041, 19043-19044		2006	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400				Ex-Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire, née-Stagecoach North East.
19046-19090		2006	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400
19091-19120		2007	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400
19130		2007	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400				Ex-Stagecoach West.
19164-19168, 19177-19180		2007	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400
19181-19192		2007	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400
19220-19230, 19232-19240, 19242-19245, 19248-19249, 19251-19254, 19258, 19260, 19263-19275, 19277-19282, 19290-19294		2008	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400
19327-19328, 19330, 19332-19355, 19357, 19360-19365		2008	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400
19390-19410, 19012-19420, 19423, 19426-19428		2008	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400
19447-19454, 19456-19469, 19471-19480, 19484-19531, 19533-19534		2008-09	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400
19561, 19564		2009	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400				Ex-Stagecoach Yorkshire.
19621-19640		2009-10	Alexander Dennis	Enviro400
21169-21188		1998	Volvo Wrightbus	B10BLE Renown		Volvo		Ex-First Manchester.
21236-21247		2005	Volvo Wrightbus	B7RLE Eclipse Urban		Volvo		Ex-First Manchester.
21248		2006	Volvo Wrightbus	B7RLE Eclipse Urban		Volvo		Ex-First Manchester.
22055-22056		2003	MAN TransBus	18.220 ALX300		MAN
22083-22100		2004	MAN Alexander Dennis	18.220 ALX300		MAN
22391-22399		2006	MAN Alexander Dennis	18.220 ALX300		MAN
22400-22404		2006	MAN Alexander Dennis	18.220 ALX300		MAN		Ex-Stagecoach East Scotland.
26130-26131		2007	VDL Plaxton	SB120 Centro		Cummins ISBe		Ex-Bluebird.
26141-26145		2017	Alexander Dennis	Enviro200 MMC
27207-27208		2015	Alexander Dennis	Enviro300	11.8 m
27229-27233, 27235-27237		2015	Alexander Dennis	Enviro300	11.8 m
27598		2004	TransBus	Enviro300				Ex-Bluebird; née-Go North East.
27599-27600		2007	Alexander Dennis	Enviro300				Ex-Bluebird.
27817-27825		2012	Alexander Dennis	Enviro300	11.8 m
29801-29802		2003	Iveco Vehixel	150E24 Scolabus				School bus; owned by Greater Manchester.
29803-29804		2005	Iveco Vehixel	150E24 Scolabus				School bus; owned by Greater Manchester.
33856, 33858		2001	Dennis Plaxton	Dart SLF Pointer 2				Ex-Bluebird; née-London Central.
33860		2001	Dennis Alexander	Dart SLF ALX200				Ex-Bluebird; exx-Ambassador Travel; née-2 Travel.
33863-33865		2004	Alexander Dennis	Dart SLF Pointer 2				Ex-Bluebird.
33866		2005	Alexander Dennis	Dart SLF Pointer 2				Ex-Bluebird.
33867-33868		2006	Alexander Dennis	Dart SLF Pointer 2				Ex-Bluebird.
33869-33872		2007	Alexander Dennis MCV	Enviro200 Evolution				Ex-Bluebird.
33873-33876		2008	Alexander Dennis MCV	Enviro200 Evolution				Ex-Bluebird.
36073-36075		2007	Alexander Dennis	Enviro200				Ex-Bluebird.
36095-36101, 36103-36111, 36113		2009	Alexander Dennis	Enviro200
36416-36430		2011	Alexander Dennis	Enviro200
36480-36485		2012	Alexander Dennis	Enviro200
36791		2012	Alexander Dennis	Enviro200
36796-36800		2012	Alexander Dennis	Enviro200
37034-37037		2013	Alexander Dennis	Enviro200
39642		2004	MAN East Lancs	14.220 Myllennium		MAN		Ex-Bluebird.
47559		2008	Optare	Solo M880
47618-47624		2008	Optare	Solo M880
47670-47672		2009	Optare	Solo M880
47822-47824		2009	Optare	Solo SR M890SR				Ex-Bluebird.
47825		2011	Optare	Solo SR M890SR				Ex-Bluebird.
47649-47650		2008	Optare	Solo M880
48024-48025		2015	Optare	Solo SR M990SL				Ex-Stagecoach East.
48101-48103		2024	Switch	Solo SR M8590SR	8.5 m
50147-50149		2005	Neoplan	N122/3L Skyliner
84001-84032		2020	BYD Alexander Dennis	Enviro400EV		BYD		Renumbered from 14001-14032 in 2023.

References

1. Bus Lists on the Web
2. Stagecoach Fleet List, UK Buses, retrieved July 2023.