 | |
%2c_25_July_2008.jpg) Alexander Dennis Enviro 300 on route 112 inManchester in July 2008 | |
| Parent | Michael Dunstan |
|---|---|
| Founded | July 1988 |
| Ceased operation | 3 March 2013 |
| Headquarters | Greengate |
| Service area | Greater Manchester |
| Service type | Bus operator |
| Hubs | Middleton bus station |
| Depots | 1 |
| Fleet | 49 (May 2012) |
| Website | www.bluebirdbus.co.uk |
Bluebird Bus & Coach was a bus operator based inGreengate inChadderton,Greater Manchester between July 1988 and March 2013.
Bluebird Bus & Coach was formed in July 1988[1] when Tom Dunstan, a formerGreater Manchester PTE area manager, bought a small coach company called Bluebird of Middleton. Tom Dunstan died in 2004 and the company was taken over by his son Michael. The first route operated was commercial service 112, which was followed by a number of contracted routes. In 2006 and 2007, Bluebird expanded its operating area toOldham introducing buses on routes 181, 182, 402, 410 and 411.[2]
In November 2008, Bluebird was the first operator to run the BoltonMetroshuttle service[3] before being replaced byMaytree Travel in January 2010, although the company would resume running a Metroshuttle service later that year, when they took the operation of the Stockport Metroshuttle service from Swan's Travel,[4] although their Metroshuttle operation ended in March 2011, when the Stockport Metroshuttle service was taken over byStagecoach Manchester.[5]
On 7 November 2012, it was announced thatStagecoach Manchester had purchased the business, although the deal was subject to clearance from theOffice of Fair Trading[1][6][7][8] and was approved on 22 February 2013.[9] The purchase included Bluebird's 40 vehicles, 80 staff members and its lease on the depot atGreengate and was completed on 3 March 2013.[10]
As at May 2012, the fleet consisted of 49 buses.[11]
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