Stagecoach Manchester

[M60lad]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester
181/2 used to be operated by GMBuses Rochdale Depot (the now Ron Chalker factory) then when Rochdale Depot closed they were transferred and operated by Hyde Road Depot for a quite a number of years after that until Stagecoach took over GMBuses South, then for a brief period of time (A couple of years I think it was) it was operated out of Stagecoach's Chadderton outstation, as for Bluebird operating the route, I seem to remember both Bluebird and First Manchester taking over the route when it was relinquished by Stagecoach Manchester with both operators (First and Bluebird) both running to Rochdale, then Bluebird pulled the Rochdale section and only ran theirs 181/2s as far as Shaw Wrens Nest, then eventually they came off 181/2s altogether and left it to First to run the whole route Manchester-Rochdale, and come this September another change is set to happen with First set to cut the route so that it only runs from Manchester-Shaw Wren's Nest due to the Metrolink now open between Shaw & Rochdale