| |
Public Transport Timeline for Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester's
rich transport heritage is detailed below by mode:
Select
a mode below to find out more!
 
  
Bus, Tram and Trolleybus Operators: 1824 - 1986
| Operator |
Dates of
Operation |
Horse
Buses |
Guided
Horse Buses |
Horse
Trams |
Steam
Trams |
Gas
Trams |
Electric
Trams |
Trolleybuses |
Motor
Buses |
Successor |
| John
Greenwood, Salford |
1824-1880 |
1824-1865 |
1861-c1872 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Manchester
Carriage Company |
| Henry
Charles Lacy, Manchester |
1830-1844 |
1830-1844 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| City
Omnibus Company, Manchester |
1852?-1865 |
1852?-1865 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Manchester
Carriage Company |
| McEwan,
Manchester |
1852-1852? |
1852-1852? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
City Omnibus
Company, Manchester |
| Robert
Turner & Company, Manchester |
?-1865 |
?-1865 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Manchester
Carriage Company? |
| Manchester
Carriage Company |
1865-1880 |
1865-1880 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Manchester
Carriage & Tramway Company |
| Hazel
Grove Carriage Company |
1873-1889 |
1873-1889 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockport
& Hazel Grove Carriage & Tramway Company Ltd |
| Manchester
& Salford Tramway Company |
1877-1880 |
|
|
1877-1880 |
|
|
|
|
|
Manchester
Carriage & Tramway Company |
| Manchester
Suburban Tramways Company |
1878-1880 |
|
|
1878-1880 |
|
|
|
|
|
Manchester
Carriage & Tramway Company |
| Edmund
Holden & Co, Bolton |
1880-1900 |
|
|
1880-1900 |
|
|
|
|
|
Bolton
Corporation, Wigan Corporation |
| Manchester
Carriage & Tramway Company |
1880-1903 |
1880-1903 |
|
1880-1903 |
|
|
|
|
|
Salford
Corporation, Manchester
Corporation, Oldham Corporation, Ashton
Corporation, SHMD, Stockport Corporation |
| Wigan
Tramways Company |
1882-1893 |
|
|
1880-1883 |
1882-1893 |
|
|
|
|
Wigan &
District Tramways Company |
| Manchester,
Bury, Rochdale & Oldham Steam Tramways Company |
1883-1886 |
|
|
|
1883-1886 |
|
|
|
|
Bury,
Rochdale & Oldham Steam Tramway Company |
| Bury,
Rochdale & Oldham Steam Tramway Company |
1886-1905 |
|
|
|
1886-1905 |
|
|
|
|
Bury
Corporation, Rochdale Corporation,
Oldham Corporation |
| Stockport
& Hazel Grove Carriage & Tramway Company Ltd |
1889-1905 |
|
|
1889-1905 |
|
|
|
|
|
Stockport Corporation |
| Wigan
& District Tramways Company |
1893-1902 |
|
|
|
1893-1902 |
|
|
|
|
Wigan
Corporation |
| British
Gas Traction Company, Trafford Park |
1897-1899 |
|
|
|
|
1897-1899 |
|
|
|
The Trafford Park Estates Company |
| The
Trafford Park Estates Company |
1899-1908 |
|
|
|
|
1899-1908 |
1903-1905 |
|
|
Manchester
Corporation, Salford Corporation |
| Oldham,
Ashton & Hyde Tramway Company |
1899-1921 |
|
|
|
|
|
1899-1921 |
|
|
Ashton-under-Lyne
Corporation, SHMD |
| Bolton
Corporation |
1899-1969 |
|
|
|
|
|
1899-1947 |
1933-1958 (operated by SLT) |
1923-1969 |
SELNEC |
| Oldham
Corporation |
1900-1969 |
|
|
|
|
|
1900-1946 |
1925-1926 |
1913-1919, 1924-1969 |
SELNEC |
| Salford
Corporation |
1901-1969 |
|
|
|
|
|
1901-1947 |
|
1920-1969 |
SELNEC |
| Manchester
Corporation |
1901-1969 |
|
|
|
|
|
1901-1949 |
1938-1966 |
1923-1969 |
SELNEC |
| Stockport
Corporation |
1901-1969 |
|
|
|
|
|
1901-1951 |
1913-1919 |
1919-1969 |
SELNEC |
| Wigan
Corporation |
1901-1974 |
|
|
|
1902-1904 |
|
1901-1931 |
1925-1931 |
1924-1974 |
Greater
Manchester Transport |
| Middleton
Electric Traction Company Ltd |
1902-1925 |
|
|
|
|
|
1902-1925 |
|
|
Rochdale
Corporation |
| South
Lancashire Tramways (SLT) |
1902-1958 |
|
|
|
|
|
1902-1933 |
1931-1958 |
|
Lancashire
United |
| Rochdale
Corporation |
1902-1969 |
|
|
|
|
|
1902-1932 |
|
1926-1969 |
SELNEC |
| Ashton-under-Lyne
Corporation |
1902-1969 |
|
|
|
|
|
1902-1938 |
1925-1966 |
1923-1969 |
SELNEC |
| Bury Corporation |
1903-1969 |
|
|
|
|
|
1903-1949 |
|
1925-1969 |
SELNEC |
| Stalybridge,
Hyde, Mossley and Dukinfield Joint Board (SHMD) |
1903-1969 |
|
|
|
|
|
1903-1945 |
1938-1966 operated by
Manchester & Ashton) |
1925-1969 |
SELNEC |
| Heywood
Corporation |
1904-1905 |
|
|
|
1904-1905 |
|
|
|
|
Bury
Corporation, Rochdale Corporation |
| Lancashire
United |
1905-1981 |
|
|
|
|
|
1905-1926 |
|
1919-1981 |
Greater
Manchester Transport |
| British
Automobile Traction Company Ltd |
1913-1923 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1913-1923 |
North
Western Road Car Company |
| Ramsbottom
UDC |
1913-1969 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1913-1921 |
1923-1969 |
SELNEC |
| Ribble
Motor Services |
1919- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1919- |
|
| Leigh
Corporation |
1920-1969 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1920-1969 |
SELNEC |
| A Mayne
& Son Ltd |
1920-2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stagecoach
Manchester |
| North
Western Road Car Company |
1923-1972 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1923-1972 |
SELNEC |
| R
Bullock |
1928- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1928- |
|
| SELNEC |
1969-1974 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1969-1974 |
Greater
Manchester Transport |
| Greater
Manchester Transport |
1974-1986 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1974-1986 |
GM Buses |
| Operator |
Dates of
Operation |
Horse
Buses |
Guided
Horse Buses |
Horse
Trams |
Steam
Trams |
Gas
Trams |
Electric
Trams |
Trolleybuses |
Motor
Buses |
Successor |
Deregulated Bus Operators: 1986 onwards
Greater Manchester based bus operators
Deregulation
in 1986 introduced many operators to serve the
transport needs of the county. The table below contains details of the bus operators based in
Greater Manchester since Deregulation.
| Operator |
Location |
From |
To |
Successor |
| Ashall's
Coaches |
Clayton,
Gorton |
1996 |
present |
|
| Atherton
Bus Company |
Westhoughton |
1992 |
2007 |
|
| Bellairs
and Dootson (South Lancs Travel from 2000) |
Leigh, Atherton |
1992 |
present |
|
| Blue Bus |
Horwich, Bolton |
1991 |
2005 |
Arriva North West |
| Bluebird |
Middleton |
1990 |
present |
|
| Bolton
Coachways |
Bolton |
1986 (Deregulation) |
1995 |
|
| Bullock's |
Cheadle |
1990 |
present |
|
| Bu-Val |
Littleborough |
1990 |
present |
|
| Cannon
Coaches |
Bolton |
1990 |
1992 |
|
| Central
Coaches |
Oldham |
1990 |
1990 |
|
| Charterplan |
Stockport |
1993 |
1995 |
|
| Checkmate
Mini Coaches |
Mossley |
1990 |
present |
|
| Chester's
Coaches |
Pendlebury |
1993 |
1993 |
|
| Citibus |
Manchester, Chadderton |
1986 (Deregulation) |
1995 |
GM Buses North |
| C-Line |
Stockport, Macclesfield, Cannock |
1990 |
1993 |
Arriva Manchester |
| Courtesy
Coaches |
|
1996 |
1996 |
|
| Dalybus |
Eccles |
1993 |
1995 |
|
| Dennis's
Coaches |
Ashton-under-Lyne |
1986 (Deregulation) |
2006 |
Stagecoach Manchester |
| Douglas
Valley Transport |
Bolton |
2003? |
2006
|
|
| Eccles
Greys |
Boothstown |
1990 |
1992 |
|
| Ericsway |
Eccles |
1993 |
1996 |
|
| Evag
Cannon |
Bolton |
1988 |
1994 |
|
| Express
Coach Services |
Hyde |
2000 |
present |
|
| Finglands |
Rusholme |
1986 (Deregulation) |
present |
|
| GM Buses |
Ardwick |
1986 (Deregulation) |
1993 |
|
| GM Buses
North (Greater Manchester FirstBus 1996-1998, First Manchester
from 1998) |
Oldham |
1993 |
present |
|
| GM Buses
South (GMS Buses 1995-1996, Stagecoach Manchester from 1996) |
Stockport, Ardwick |
1993 |
present |
|
| GM Buses
- UK North |
Gorton |
2004 |
2006 |
|
| Goodwins |
Eccles |
2000 |
present |
|
| Green
Triangle Buses (South Lancs Travel from 2000) |
Lostock |
1999 |
present |
|
| Greyhound |
Swinton |
1996 |
1996 |
|
| Haytons
Coaches |
Burnage |
1990 |
1996 |
|
| Heatons
Travel |
Wigan, Leigh |
1990 |
1995 |
|
| Hulme
Hall Coaches |
|
1996 |
1996 |
|
| JA
Griffiths |
Hyde |
1986 (Deregulation) |
1986 |
|
| JP
Executive Travel (JP Travel from 1996) |
Middleton |
1990 |
present |
|
| Leighline |
|
1996 |
1996 |
Arriva North West |
| Mancunian
Bus Co |
Manchester |
1993 |
1993 |
|
| Mayall
& Walsh |
Ashton-under-Lyne |
1996 |
1996 |
|
| Mayne of
Manchester |
Clayton |
1920 |
21/01/08 |
Stagecoach Manchester |
| McCarthy |
Blackley |
1986 (Deregulation) |
1986 |
|
| Midway |
Eccles, Manchester |
1990 |
1992 |
|
| Midwest |
Salford |
1996 |
2006 |
|
| Monks
European Tours |
Leigh |
1986 (Deregulation) |
1986 |
|
| MR Travel |
Rochdale |
1996 |
present |
|
| MTL
Manchester |
Trafford Park, Miles Platting |
1993 |
1995 |
|
| Mybus |
Hyde, Glossop |
1992 |
1993 |
|
| National
Express |
Manchester, Birmingham |
1993 |
present |
|
| National
Trust |
Altrincham |
2000 |
present |
|
| Olympia
Travel |
Hindley |
2000 |
present |
|
| P & C
Travel |
Wigan |
1999 |
1999 |
|
| Pacerbus |
Stockport |
1992 |
1992 |
|
| Pennine
Blue Buses (Pennine 1995-1997, Frist Pennine from 1998) |
Denton, Dukinfield |
1990 |
2007 |
First Manchester |
| Pine
Coaches |
Stalybridge |
1990 |
1992 |
|
| Red Rider |
Bredbury, Stoke-on-Trent |
1992 |
1995 |
First PMT? |
| Reliance
Travel |
|
1996 |
1996 |
|
| Rose Hill
Coaches |
Marple |
1990 |
1993 |
|
| Rothwell's
Travel |
Dukinfield |
1996 |
1996 |
|
| Sale
Coach Services |
Flixton |
1986 |
1986 |
|
| Shearings
(Timeline from 1992) |
Wigan, Leigh |
1986 (Deregulation) |
1998 |
First Manchester |
| Smiths
Coaches |
Marple |
1986 (Deregulation) |
1986 |
|
| South
Lancashire Transport (Arriva North West) |
|
|
|
|
| South
Manchester Tansport |
Denton |
1995 |
1996 |
|
| Speedwellbus |
Hyde |
2008 |
present |
|
| Sports
Tours (Pioneer 1997, First Pioneer 1999, First Rochdale from
2000) |
Littleborough |
1986 (Deregulation) |
2007 |
First Manchester |
| Springfield
Coachways |
Wigan |
1992 |
1999 |
|
| Stott's
Tours |
Oldham |
1986 (Deregulation) |
present |
|
| Stuart's |
Denton, Dukinfield |
1986 (Deregulation) |
1996 |
|
| Sureway
Travel |
Pemberton |
2000 |
present |
|
| Swans
Coaches |
|
1996 |
1996 |
|
| Tame
Valley Motor Services |
Hyde |
1992 |
1995 |
|
| Tandy |
Mossley |
1986 (Deregulation) |
1986 |
|
| Tattersall's
Bus & Coach |
Bolton |
|
|
|
| The Bee
Line Buzz Company (Bee Line 1995-1997, Arriva Manchester from
1999) |
Stockport, Manchester |
1987? |
1999 |
|
| The
Coachmasters |
Rochdale |
2000 |
present |
|
| Tyldesley
Taxibus |
Tyldesley |
1996 |
1997 |
|
| UK North |
Hyde, Gorton |
1996 |
2006 |
|
| Universal
Buses |
Littleborough |
1997 |
1999 |
|
| Vale of
Manchester |
Cheetham |
1990 |
19/05/2008 |
|
| Viking
Coaches |
|
1996 |
1996 |
|
| Wall's
Coaches |
Fallowfield |
1986 (Deregulation) |
1996 |
|
| Wigan Bus
Company (WiganBus from 1996) |
Wigan, Manchester, Haydock |
1993 |
1997 |
North Western (Arriva North West) |
| WTC
Coaches |
Wigan |
1993 |
1993 |
|
| Yelloway |
Rochdale |
1986 (Deregulation) |
1986 |
|
Updated: June 2008
Cross-boundary bus operators serving Greater Manchester
Deregulation
in 1986 introduced many operators to service the
transport needs of the county. The table below contains details of those operators based outside
Greater Manchester which have operated buses in the county since
Deregulation. Dates indicate bus operation within the county only, and
may differ from when operators were originally established.
| Operator |
Location |
From |
To |
Successor |
| A2B
Travel |
Wirral |
1993 |
1993 |
|
| ABC
Travel |
Southport |
1999 |
1999 |
|
| Bakers
Coaches |
Stoke-on-Trent |
1996 |
1996 |
|
| Blackburn
Borough Transport (Blackburn Transport from 1990) |
Blackburn |
1986 |
2005 |
|
| Border
Buses |
Burnley |
2000 |
present |
|
| Bostock's
Coaches |
Congleton |
2000 |
present |
|
| Bowers
Coaches |
Chapel-en-le-Frith |
1992 |
present |
|
| Burnley
and Pendle (Stagecoach Burnley & Pendle 1997-1999) |
Burnley |
1990 |
present |
|
| Calderline
(First Calderline 1998-2006,
First Calderdale from 2007) |
Halifax |
1996 |
present |
|
| Chesterfield Transport
(Stagecoach East
Midlands from 1996) |
Chesterfield |
1993 |
1996 |
|
| Cranberry
Coachways |
Darwen |
2000 |
present |
|
| Crosville
(PMT 1996, First PMT from 1998) |
Chester |
1986
(Deregulation) |
present |
|
| Crosville
Wales (Arriva Cymru from 1999) |
Mold |
1995 |
2005 |
|
| Crystal
Coaches |
Stoke-on-Trent |
1990 |
1992 |
|
| Darwen
Coach Services |
Darwen |
1993 |
1999 |
|
| David
Ogden |
St Helens |
1992 |
1995 |
|
| David
Tanner Travel |
St Helens |
2000 |
present |
|
| Devaway
Travel |
Chester |
1990 |
1990 |
|
| East
Lancashire Motor Services |
Blackburn |
1999 |
1999 |
|
| East
Midland |
Chesterfield |
1990 |
1990 |
Stagecoach East Midlands |
| Ellen
Smith |
Rawtenstall |
2000 |
2003 |
|
| EMS
Travel |
Wirral |
1997 |
1999 |
|
| Executive
Minibus Travel (Executive Mini Travel from 1996) |
Liverpool, Wirral |
1992 |
1996 |
|
| Glossopdale
Bus Company |
Glossop |
1993 |
1999 |
Stagecoach Manchester? |
| Hulleys
of Baslow |
Baslow, Derbyshire |
1990 |
1997 |
|
| Hyndburn
Transport |
Accrington |
1992 |
1996 |
|
| Jim
Stones |
Glazebury, Cheshire |
1986
(Deregulation) |
present |
|
| Lancashire
United |
Blackburn |
2003 |
present |
|
| Little
White Buses |
Liverpool |
1997 |
1997 |
|
| Lofty's
Tours |
Chester |
1996 |
1996 |
|
| Mainline |
Sheffield |
1995 |
1995 |
|
| Merseybus
(Lancashire Travel 1995-1997, MTL North from 1999) |
St Helens / Liverpool |
1986
(Deregulation) |
1999 |
|
| Nip
On Transport |
St Helens |
2000 |
present |
|
| North
Star Buses |
Liverpool |
2000 |
present |
|
| North
Western (Arriva North West from 1999) |
Bootle, Wigan, Liverpool |
1986
(Deregulation) |
present |
|
| Northern
Blue |
Oswaldtwistle |
2000 |
present |
|
| Nova
Scotia Travel Services |
Winsford, Cheshire |
1997 |
1999 |
|
| Peter
Moore Coaches |
Congleton |
1995 |
1995 |
|
| Red
Line (Midland Red - North 1995-1996, Arriva Midlands North 1999,
Arriva Cheshire from 2000) |
Cannock, Staffordshire |
1992 |
2005 |
|
| Red
Rose Travel |
Blackburn |
2000 |
present |
|
| Ribble
(Stagecoach Ribble 1996-2007, Stagecoach North West from 2007) |
Preston |
1986
(Deregulation) |
present |
|
| Rigby's
Coaches |
Eccles |
1995 |
1995 |
|
| Ringwood
Luxury Coaches |
Chesterfield |
1999 |
present |
|
| Roadliner
Travel |
Crewe |
1997 |
1997 |
|
| Rossendale
Transport |
Rawtenstall |
1986
(Deregulation) |
present |
|
| S
and L Coaches |
St Helens |
1995 |
1995 |
|
| Selywn's |
Runcorn |
2000 |
present |
|
| Stagecoach
Manchester |
Preston |
1994 |
1996 |
|
| Star
Line Travel |
Knutsford, Wythenshawe |
1990 |
1997 |
Arriva Manchester |
| Stevensons
of Uttoxeter |
Uttoxeter |
1995 |
1997 |
Arriva |
| Tony's
Travel |
Winsford, Cheshire |
1992 |
1995 |
|
| Trent
Buses (Trent Barton) |
Derby, Heanor |
1986
(Deregulation) |
present |
|
| Warrington
Borough Transport |
Warrington |
1990 |
present |
|
| Warrington
Goldline |
Warrington |
1997 |
1997 |
|
| Whitegate
Travel |
Whitegate, Cheshire |
2000 |
present |
|
| Whites
of Calver |
Calver, Sheffield |
1992 |
1995 |
|
| Yorkshire
Rider (Kingfisher 1996-1997, First Huddersfield from 1998) |
Leeds |
1986
(Deregulation) |
present |
|
| Yorkshire
Traction |
Barnsley |
1993 |
1993 |
|
Updated: June 2008
Door to Door Public Transport
| Operator |
Area
Served |
Dates
of Operation |
| Dial-a-Ride - Godfrey Abbott |
Sale |
1974-1981 |
| Ring & Ride |
Greater Manchester |
1985 onwards |
Railways: 1828 onwards
| Operator |
Dates
of Operation |
Successor |
| Bolton & Leigh Railway |
1828-1845 |
London
& North Western Railway |
| Liverpool & Manchester
Railway |
1830-1845 |
London
& North Western Railway |
| Wigan Branch Railway |
1832-1834 |
North Union
Railway |
| North
Union Railway |
1834-1846 |
London
& North Western Railway |
| Lancashire
& Yorkshire Railway |
| Grand Junction Railway |
1837-1846 |
London
& North Western Railway |
| Manchester, Bolton & Bury
Canal Navigation & Railway |
1838-1847 |
Lancashire
& Yorkshire Railway |
| Manchester & Leeds
Railway |
1839-1847 |
Lancashire
& Yorkshire Railway |
| Manchester & Birmingham
Railway |
1840-1846 |
London
& North Western Railway |
| Bolton & Preston Railway |
1841-1844 |
North Union
Railway |
| Sheffield, Ashton -u-Lyne
& Manchester Railway |
1841-1847 |
Manchester,
Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway |
| Lancashire
& Yorkshire Railway |
1844-1922 |
London
& North Western Railway |
| London
& North Western Railway |
1844-1923 |
London,
Midland & Scottish Railway |
| "Victoria
Link" |
1844 |
London
& North Western Railway |
| Lancashire
& Yorkshire Railway |
| East Lancashire Railway |
1846-1859 |
Lancashire
& Yorkshire Railway |
| Manchester,
Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway |
1847-1897 |
Great
Central Railway |
| Manchester South Junction
& Altrincham Railway |
1849-1948 |
British
Railways |
| Cheshire Lines Committee |
1862-1948 |
British
Railways |
| Midland Railway |
1880-1923 |
London,
Midland & Scottish Railway |
| Great
Central Railway |
1897-1923 |
London
& North Eastern Railway |
| London,
Midland & Scottish Railway |
1923-1948 |
British
Railways |
| London
& North Eastern Railway |
1923-1948 |
British
Railways |
| British
Railways / British Rail |
1948-1995 |
Rail franchises, Railtrack
(Network Rail) |
| Rail franchises |
1995 onwards |
- |
The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Network
This map is located at Victoria Station, once the head office of the
Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway.
Lancashire
and Yorkshire Network Map (PDF format, 1.11MB)
Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway network in Greater Manchester
Light
Rapid Transit: 1992 onwards
| System
Name |
Area
Served |
Dates
of Operation |
| Metrolink |
Bury, Manchester, Trafford,
Salford |
1992 onwards |
|
