Blue Bus of Bolton
Encyclopedia
Blue Bus and Coach Services Ltd was a large independent bus company serving the area of Greater Manchester
. The company operated within the area covered by the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive
, as well as areas of Lancashire and Merseyside. It was active between 1991 and 2005, and is now part of Arriva North West
.
, six miles to the west of Bolton
. The first type to be acquired in bulk was the Leyland Leopard
, which were followed by a number of Leyland Atlantean
s.
The company launched its first local route in May 1991, running between Bolton and Horwich via Chorley New Road every 15 minutes in competition with GM Buses
. Each of the five services introduced to give this combined frequency served a different estate in Horwich. A 20-minute service along Chorley Old Road from Bolton to the Johnson Fold estate was next to be introduced, followed by a series of routes in Wigan
. The first of these ran to Shevington
. It was decided to open an outpost at Appley Bridge
to act as a local base for the Wigan routes.
New routes were added to the network following contract wins, and a number of commercial routes were also introduced, taking the company into new areas such as Manchester
. In addition, the company gained work from a holiday company, Alfa Tours. Five coaches were acquired for this, with two were specially branded for Alfa.
Blue Bus purchased a depot in Huddersfield
in August 1994, launching a service to Marsden
in competition with Yorkshire Rider
. This venture was later expanded into Bradford
. Rider was taken over by First Group in 1996, and Blue Bus' West Yorkshire operation was withdrawn. Just weeks later, FirstBus took over Blue Bus's main Bolton
rival, GM Buses North
.
During 2001, after Stagecoach
sold the East Lancashire
end of the Ribble
company to Blazefield
, Blue Bus started intensive competition against newly-formed Lancashire United
in the Bolton area. Blue Bus took over operation of the Bolton end of Lancashire United in August 2002, acquiring the former Ribble depot, staff, services and several vehicles. The head office was moved to the former Lancashire United office at Bolton Bus Station, and the Horwich
base was later closed down, with most buses moving to Bolton
. This acquisition saw rivalry develop between Blue Bus and FirstBus, with Blue Bus moving onto the 400 TransLancs Express service and introducing an X9 Express service into Manchester
. Both companies eventually withdrew and the services were withdrawn.
In early 2005 Blue Bus sold its Appley Bridge depot to South Lancs Travel
along with six buses and all of the depot's routes. This allowed the company to focus on its depots in Bolton
and Eccles
, with a proposal to expand further having gained tenders in Salford
and Manchester
on eight routes.
On 31 July 2005, Blue Bus was acquired by the Arriva
subsidiary Arriva North West and Wales.
Single-deck buses
Double-deck buses
Low-floor buses (known as "Blue Buggy Buses")
Minibuses
Coaches
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
. The company operated within the area covered by the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive
Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive
Transport for Greater Manchester is the public body responsible for co-ordinating public transport services throughout Greater Manchester, in North West England. The organisation traces its origins to the Transport Act 1968, when the SELNEC Passenger Transport Executive was established to...
, as well as areas of Lancashire and Merseyside. It was active between 1991 and 2005, and is now part of Arriva North West
Arriva North West
Arriva North West is a division of Arriva that operates bus services around North West England. It consists of two companies: Arriva North West Ltd and Arriva Merseyside Ltd....
.
History
Blue Bus was formed in 1991 by Roger Jarvis and Alan Turner, two former managers of Shearings. It was based at a former railway works in HorwichHorwich
Horwich is a town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, in Greater Manchester, England. It is southeast of Chorley, northwest of Bolton and northwest from the city of Manchester. It lies at the southern edge of the West Pennine Moors with the M61 motorway close to the...
, six miles to the west of Bolton
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
. The first type to be acquired in bulk was the Leyland Leopard
Leyland Leopard
The Leyland Leopard was a mid-engined single-deck bus and coach chassis built by Leyland between 1959 and 1982. It was popular with bus and coach operators throughout the British Isles...
, which were followed by a number of Leyland Atlantean
Leyland Atlantean
The Leyland Atlantean is a model of double-decker bus built by Leyland in the United Kingdom from 1958 to 1986....
s.
The company launched its first local route in May 1991, running between Bolton and Horwich via Chorley New Road every 15 minutes in competition with GM Buses
GM Buses
GM Buses was the main bus company serving Greater Manchester, a metropolitan county in North West England. The company was public owned by Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive, which is a public body responsible for helping to co-ordinate public transport services in the Greater...
. Each of the five services introduced to give this combined frequency served a different estate in Horwich. A 20-minute service along Chorley Old Road from Bolton to the Johnson Fold estate was next to be introduced, followed by a series of routes in Wigan
Wigan
Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
. The first of these ran to Shevington
Shevington
Shevington is a village and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England.Lying within the historic county boundaries of Lancashire, Shevington lies approximately from Wigan town centre and at the 2001 census had a population of 9,786.-Topynomy:Shevington, a...
. It was decided to open an outpost at Appley Bridge
Appley Bridge
Appley Bridge is a village in West Lancashire, England. It is located off Junction 27 of the M6 motorway and is nestled in the Douglas valley alongside the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.-History:...
to act as a local base for the Wigan routes.
New routes were added to the network following contract wins, and a number of commercial routes were also introduced, taking the company into new areas such as Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. In addition, the company gained work from a holiday company, Alfa Tours. Five coaches were acquired for this, with two were specially branded for Alfa.
Blue Bus purchased a depot in Huddersfield
Huddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
in August 1994, launching a service to Marsden
Marsden, West Yorkshire
Marsden is a large village within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, west of Huddersfield and located at the confluence of the River Colne and the Wessenden Brook...
in competition with Yorkshire Rider
Yorkshire Rider
-History:Yorkshire Rider was formed in 1986, as a result of deregulation of bus services in the UK. The West Yorkshire PTE was no longer allowed to operate buses itself, so an arm's length operating company was created. In 1988 the undertaking became fully privatised when it was subject to an...
. This venture was later expanded into Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
. Rider was taken over by First Group in 1996, and Blue Bus' West Yorkshire operation was withdrawn. Just weeks later, FirstBus took over Blue Bus's main Bolton
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
rival, GM Buses North
First Manchester
First Manchester is one of the bus companies serving Greater Manchester, a metropolitan county in North West England. It forms part of FirstGroup, a company operating transport services across the British Isles and in North America...
.
During 2001, after Stagecoach
Stagecoach
A stagecoach is a type of covered wagon for passengers and goods, strongly sprung and drawn by four horses, usually four-in-hand. Widely used before the introduction of railway transport, it made regular trips between stages or stations, which were places of rest provided for stagecoach travelers...
sold the East Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
end of the Ribble
Ribble Motor Services
Ribble Motor Services was a large regional bus operator in the North West of England, based in Preston. The company was started in 1919, and grew to be the largest operator in the region, with a territory stretching from Carlisle to south Lancashire...
company to Blazefield
Blazefield Group
Transdev Blazefield is one of the main bus groups in England. Owner of several bus companies around the Yorkshire and Lancashire regions, since 2006 it has been part of the international transport company Transdev.-History:...
, Blue Bus started intensive competition against newly-formed Lancashire United
Lancashire United
Transdev Lancashire United is an English bus operator, running mainly in and around the boroughs of Blackburn, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley. The company was founded in April 2001 following the buyout of Stagecoach Ribble by Blazefield Holdings and has since overcome other operators...
in the Bolton area. Blue Bus took over operation of the Bolton end of Lancashire United in August 2002, acquiring the former Ribble depot, staff, services and several vehicles. The head office was moved to the former Lancashire United office at Bolton Bus Station, and the Horwich
Horwich
Horwich is a town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, in Greater Manchester, England. It is southeast of Chorley, northwest of Bolton and northwest from the city of Manchester. It lies at the southern edge of the West Pennine Moors with the M61 motorway close to the...
base was later closed down, with most buses moving to Bolton
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
. This acquisition saw rivalry develop between Blue Bus and FirstBus, with Blue Bus moving onto the 400 TransLancs Express service and introducing an X9 Express service into Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. Both companies eventually withdrew and the services were withdrawn.
In early 2005 Blue Bus sold its Appley Bridge depot to South Lancs Travel
South Lancs Travel
South Lancs Travel is a privately owned bus operator in the districts of Bolton and Wigan in Greater Manchester operating an extensive commercial network along with tendered services on behalf of Transport for Greater Manchester. It also serves some areas of the districts of Salford & Trafford such...
along with six buses and all of the depot's routes. This allowed the company to focus on its depots in Bolton
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
and Eccles
Eccles, Greater Manchester
Eccles is a town in the City of Salford, a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester in North West England, west of Salford and west of Manchester city centre...
, with a proposal to expand further having gained tenders in Salford
City of Salford
The City of Salford is a city and metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It is named after its largest settlement, Salford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Eccles, Swinton-Pendlebury, Walkden and Irlam which apart from Irlam each have a population of over...
and Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
on eight routes.
On 31 July 2005, Blue Bus was acquired by the Arriva
Arriva
Arriva plc is a multinational public transport company owned by Deutsche Bahn and headquartered in Sunderland, United Kingdom. It has bus, coach, train, tram and waterbus operations in 12 countries across Europe, employs more than 47,500 people and services over 1.5 billion passenger journeys each...
subsidiary Arriva North West and Wales.
Services operated
Blue Bus operated numoerous bus services, including the following:- 6: Bolton - Little Hulton - Walkden - Swinton - Manchester
- 6A: Bolton - Little Hulton - Walkden - Swinton - Manchester
- 7: Bolton - Little Hulton - Walkden - Swinton - Manchester
- 9: Bolton - Horwich - Blackrod
- 25: Bolton - Farnworth - Walkden - Swinton - Weaste - Manchester
- 36A: Bolton - Little Hulton - Walkden - Swinton - Manchester
- 55: Pendleton - Westwood Park - Eccles
- 61: Eccles - Westwood Park (circular)
- 62: Eccles - Westwood Park (circular)
- 63: Brookhouse - Eccles - Manchester
- 64: Eccles - Brookhouse - Westwood Park (circular)
- 65: Eccles - Brookhouse - Westwood Park (circular)
- 69: Eccles - Westwood Park - Pendleton - Stretford
- 70: Clifton - Swinton - Eccles - Pendleton - Manchester
- 70: Hope Hospital - Eccles - Swinton - Clifton
- 71: Clifton - Swinton - Weaste - Pendleton - Manchester
- 73: Clifton - Swinton - Weaste - Pendleton - Manchester
- 74: Pendleton - Agecroft (circular)
- 75: Pendleton - Agecroft (circular)
- 99: Sale - Northenden - Southern Cemetery - Manchester
- 111: Preston - Penwortham - Leyland - Eccleston - Standish - Wigan
- 113: Preston Hospital - Preston - Leyland - Standish - Wigan
- 116: Wigan - Standish - Charnock Richard - Leyland - Preston - Faringdon Park* (*Sats only)
- 126: Bolton - Horwich - Lever Park
- 127: Blackrod - Westhoughton - Deane - Bolton
- 200: Bolton - Atherton - Leigh - Golborne - Ashton - Haydock - St Helens (only lasted a few months)
- 243: Bolton - Ramsbottom - Rawtenstall
- 273: Bolton - Ramsbottom - Rawtenstall
- 290: Manchester - Trafford Park - Trafford Centre - Flixton - Partington
- 291: Manchester - Trafford Park - Trafford Centre - Flixton
- 293: Eccles - Trafford Park (circular)
- 400: Bolton - Bury - Rochdale - Oldham - Ashton - Stockport (now service 200 ran by first)
- 478: Bolton - Breightmet - Radcliffe - Bury
- 484: Hope Hospital - Eccles - Swinton - Pendlebury - Agecroft - Prestwich
- 502: Bolton - Barrow Bridge
- 505: Bolton - Markland Hill
- 505: Bolton - Markland Hill - Middlebrook
- 505: Bolton - Markland Hill - Middlebrook - Horwich (Pennine Road)
- 508: Bury - Tottington - Hawkshaw - Tonge Moor - Bolton
- 510: Bolton - Withins - Bury (first do mon-sat mornings first do evenings and sundays are ran by arriva
- 511: Bury - Ainsworth - Radcliffe
- 515: Bolton - Ladybridge (circular)
- 515: Bolton - Ladybridge - Middlebrook - Aspull - Wigan
- 516: Horwich - Horwich Parkway Station
- 516: Horwich - Westhoughton - Atherton - Leigh - (Trafford Centre, as 673)
- 517: Horwich - Middlebrook - Horwich Parkway Station
- 520: Bolton - Willows - Hulton Hospital - Morris Green
- 521: Bolton Hospital - Westhoughton - Wingates - Blackrod
- 523: Bolton - Bury
- 525: Bolton - Halliwell - Astley Bridge - Hall i'th' Wood - Bolton(circular)
- 526: Bolton - Halliwell - Smithills
- 527: Bolton - Hall i'th' Wood - Astley Bridge - Halliwell - Bolton (circular)
- 528: Bolton - Astley Bridge - Belmont
- 529: Bolton - Astley Bridge - Eagley
- 535: Bolton - Asltey Bridge - Belmont (still ran by arriva)
- 535: Bolton - Asltey Bridge - Belmont - Blackburn (Sundays only withdrawn 2011)
- 538: Bolton - Astley Bridge - Andrew Lane
- 538: Bolton - Astley Bridge - Bank Top - Dunscar - Bromley Cross - Bolton
- 539: Andrew Lane - Astley Bridge - Bolton
- 539: Bolton - Bromley Cross - Dunscar - Bank Top - Astley Bridge - Bolton
- 540: Bolton - Westhoughton - Daisy Hill (first route now continues to wigan)
- 544: Bolton - Darcy Lever - Little Lever (circular)
- 545: Bolton - Harwood
- 547: Bolton - Westhoughton - Daisy Hill (circular)
- 548: Bolton - Westhoughton - Daisy Hill (circular)
- 550: Farnworth - New Bury - Walkden (circular)
- 554: Bolton - Farnworth - Walkden - Peel Green - Eccles - Trafford Centre (Bolton - Eccles only on schooldays)
- 556: Bolton - Farnworth - Walkden - Peel Green - Eccles - Trafford Centre (Sundays only)
- 557: Prestolee - Farnworth - Highfield
- 563: Bolton - Bromley Cross - Edgworth
- 570: Bolton - Lever Edge - Morris Green
- 572: Bolton - Lever Edge (circular)
- 573: Trafford Centre - Worsley - Little Hulton - Bolton - Lostock - Horwich - Blackrod - Aspull - Wigan
- 573: Coppull - Standish - Horwich - Bolton
- 575: Bolton - Lostock - Horwich - Blackrod - Aspull - Wigan - (Bolton Hospital) (ran by arriva but not to bolton hospital)
- 576: Horwich - Middlebrook
- 576: Bolton - Middlebrook - Horwich - Blackrod - Aspull - Wigan (ran by maytree)
- 577: Bolton - Lostock - Brazley - Horwich (Pennine Road)
- 581: Atherton - Bolton Hospital - Farnworth
- 605: Ashton Heath - Ashton-in-Makerfield - Bryn (circular)
- 607: Ashton Heath - Ashton-in-Makerfield - Bryn - Marus Bridge - Wigan (ran by strawberry)
- 609: Leyland Park - Hindley - Pennington Green - Aspull - Wigan
- 611: Wigan - Shevington - Wrightington Hospital (circular)
- 612: Wigan - Shevington - Wrightington Hospital (circular)
- 613: Wigan - Orrell - Kitt Green - Shevington - Standish (diverted via Wrightington Hospital for a time)
- 614: Wigan - New Springs (circular)
- 615: Wigan - Aspull
- 616: Shevington - Standish - Middlebrook - Westhoughton
- 616: Bolton - Lostock - Horwich - Blackrod - Aspull - Wigan
- 620: Bolton - Hag Fold - Atherton - Hindley - Ashton - Haydock - St Helens (this route was continued by arriva until 2008 now is st helens- hindley green only)
- 621: Haworth Road - Bradford Interchange - Bierley
- 622: Wigan - Kitt Green
- 622: Kitt Green - Wigan - Platt Bridge - Leigh - Astley - Worsley - Trafford Centre (this is now first route wigan)
- 624: Wigan - Kitt Green (circular)
- 627: Wigan - Pemberton - Kitt Green - Shevington - Wigan (circular)
- 629: Wigan - Platt Bridge - Hindley - Castle Hill
- 633: Wigan - Worsley Mesnes - Windy Arbour - Pemberton - Kitt Green
- 634: Wigan - Shevington - Standish - Wigan (circular)
- 635: Wigan - Shevington - Standish - Wigan (circular)
- 637: Wigan - Shevington - Kitt Green - Pemberton - Wigan (circular)
- 637: Wigan - Shevington - Kitt Green
- 640: Standish - Boars Head - Wigan
- 641: Standish - Red Rock - Boars Head - Wigan
- 642: Wigan - Bradley Mills
- 643: Wigan - Standish - Shevington - Wigan (circular)
- 651: Atherton - Hindley - Ashton-in-Makerfield
- 673: Leigh - Astley - Boothstown - Worsley - Trafford Centre
- 700: Trafford Centre - Bolton - Ladybridge - Westhoughton - Wigan - Aspull - Wigan
- 715: Bolton - Ladybridge - Westhoughton - Wigan - Aspull - Wigan (now ran by arriva)
- M9: Manchester - Farnworth - Worsley - Peel Green - Eccles - Pendleton - Lower Broughton - Manchester
- M10: Brookhouse - Peel Green - Eccles -Hope Hospital - Pendleton - Lower Broughton - Manchester
- M70: Clifton - Swinton - Eccles - Pendleton - Manchester
- X1: Little Lever - Walkden - Atherton - Wigan - Blackpool - Fleetwood
- X9: Bolton - Lostock - Blackrod
- X9: Bolton - Farnworth - Manchester
- X11: Doffcocker - Bolton - Westhoughton - Wigan - Blackpool - Fleetwood
- X14: Pendleton - Walkden - Wigan - Blackpool - Fleetwood
Vehicle types
Blue Bus had a wide variety of buses in its fleet, including the following:Single-deck buses
- Dennis DartDennis DartThe Dennis Dart is a rear-engined midibus built by Dennis in the United Kingdom. More than 11,000 were built during 18 years of production....
/ Alexander Dash - Dennis Dart / East Lancs EL2000East Lancs EL2000The East Lancs EL2000 is a type of single-deck bus body built on a wide variety of chassis by East Lancashire Coachbuilders.-Chassis:Many different chassis types, both new and secondhand, were fitted with EL2000 bodywork...
- Dennis JavelinDennis JavelinThe Dennis Javelin is an underfloor-engined bus and coach chassis originally built by Dennis in the United Kingdom. It was unveiled in 1986 and acted more or less as a modern replacement for the discontinued Bedford Y-series...
/ Duple 300 - Dennis LanceDennis LanceThe Dennis Lance is a single-decker bus built by Dennis between 1991 and 2000, replacing the Dennis Falcon. Its low-floor variant, the Dennis Lance SLF, was built between 1993 and 1996...
/ Alexander PS - Leyland LeopardLeyland LeopardThe Leyland Leopard was a mid-engined single-deck bus and coach chassis built by Leyland between 1959 and 1982. It was popular with bus and coach operators throughout the British Isles...
/ Alexander AT - Leyland Leopard / Alexander AYAlexander Y TypeThe Alexander Y Type was a long-running design of single-deck bus or coach bodywork built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders of Falkirk, Scotland. It was built on a wide range of chassis between 1962 and 1983...
- Leyland Leopard / Alexander AYS
- Leyland Leopard / Duple Dominant Bus
- Leyland Leopard / Duple DominantDuple DominantThe Duple Dominant was a design of coach bodywork built by Duple between 1972 and 1982. It had an all-steel structure.-Chassis:Duple Dominant bodywork was built on different chassis types including:*Albion Viking EVK55CL*AEC Reliance...
IV - Leyland Leopard / East Lancs EL2000 (rebody)
- Leyland Leopard / Marshall BET
- Leyland Leopard / Pennine
- Leyland Leopard / Plaxton Derwent
- Leyland Leopard / Willowbrook BET
- Leyland Leopard / Willowbrook 003
- Leyland Leopard / Willowbrook Warrior
- Leyland NationalLeyland NationalThe Leyland National is a British single-deck bus built in large quantities between 1972 and 1985. It was developed as a joint project between two UK nationalised industries - the National Bus Company and British Leyland. Buses were constructed at a specially built factory at the Lillyhall...
(integral) - Leyland TigerLeyland TigerThe Leyland Tiger, also known as the B43, was a mid-engined bus and coach chassis which was built between 1981 and 1993. This name had previously been used for a front-engined bus built between 1920s and 1950s. It replaced the Leyland Leopard, which had been in production for over 20 years...
/ Duple DominantDuple DominantThe Duple Dominant was a design of coach bodywork built by Duple between 1972 and 1982. It had an all-steel structure.-Chassis:Duple Dominant bodywork was built on different chassis types including:*Albion Viking EVK55CL*AEC Reliance...
Bus - Leyland Tiger / Duple 300
- Leyland Tiger / East Lancs EL2000 (rebody)
- Volvo B10MVolvo B10MThe Volvo B10M is a popular mid-engined bus and coach chassis built by Volvo between 1978 and 2001. It was built as the successor of the B58 and was equipped with a 9.6-litre horizontally-mounted Volvo THD100/THD101/THD102/THD103/THD104/DH10A diesel engine mounted under the floor, near the middle...
-56 / Plaxton Derwent 3000Plaxton Derwent 3000The Plaxton Derwent 3000 was a bus body built by Plaxton. It was introduced in 1986, and is not related to the earlier Plaxton Derwent body which was built between 1962 and 1977.... - Volvo B10M-61 / Duple Dominant Bus
- Volvo B58Volvo B58The Volvo B58 is a mid-engined bus chassis built by Volvo of Sweden from 1966 until early 1982. It was the forerunner to the highly successful B10M....
-56 / East Lancs EL2000 (rebody)
Double-deck buses
- DAF DB250VDL DB250The VDL DB250 is a double-decker bus sold in the UK through VDL Bus International's UK dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. A small number of DB250s have also been exported to Istanbul, Turkey.-DB250:...
/ Northern Counties Palatine II - Leyland AtlanteanLeyland AtlanteanThe Leyland Atlantean is a model of double-decker bus built by Leyland in the United Kingdom from 1958 to 1986....
/ Alexander AL - Leyland Atlantean / East Lancs
- Leyland Atlantean / Park Royal
- Leyland OlympianLeyland OlympianThe Leyland Olympian was a double-decker bus built by British Leyland/Leyland Bus in the United Kingdom from 1980 to 1993. It was the last Leyland bus model in production before the demise of Leyland Bus.-Construction:...
/ Alexander RL - Leyland Olympian (integral)
- Volvo B10M Citybus / Alexander RV
- Volvo OlympianVolvo OlympianThe Volvo Olympian was a rear-engine double decker bus built by Volvo at Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland. It was first built in 1992 and entered production in March 1993, replacing the Leyland Olympian....
/ East Lancs PyoneerEast Lancs PyoneerThe East Lancs Pyoneer is a type of double-decker bus body built on the Volvo Olympian, Dennis Arrow and Volvo B10M by East Lancashire Coachbuilders. The name continues the pattern of using 'misspelt' product names, started by the Cityzen.-History:...
Low-floor buses (known as "Blue Buggy Buses")
- DAF SB120VDL SB120The VDL SB120 is a low-floor light-weight midibus produced from 1999 by VDL Bus International of the Netherlands primarily for the UK market....
/ Wright CadetWright CadetThe Wright Cadet was a midibus body built by British coachbuilder Wrightbus, solely on the DAF/VDL SB120; it was sold via VDL dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. For a time, Volvo additionally sold the chassis/body combination, however the body was marketed as the Merit.The Cadet was replaced by the Wright... - DAF SB220DAF SB220The DAF SB220 is a city bus chassis produced by DAF Bus International in the 1980s and 1990s.It has been superseded by the DAF/VDL SB200 and SB250.-United Kingdom :*Optare Delta*Ikarus Citibus...
/ East Lancs MyllenniumEast Lancs MyllenniumThe East Lancs Myllennium is a type of bus body built on MAN, Volvo, DAF/VDL and Alexander Dennis chassis. It was built as a single and double deck body, with double deck bodies having slightly different names .-Single decker:... - DAF SB220 / Ikarus 481
- DAF SB220 / Ikarus Polaris 489
- DAF SB220 / Plaxton Prestige
- Dennis Dart SLF / Alexander ALX200Alexander ALX200The Alexander ALX200 was a midibus body built by Alexander of the United Kingdom. It was one of the ALX-series, which accounted for 5 different models , built for new generation bus chassis produced since late 1990s.It was designed by John Worker, and was launched in summer...
- Dennis Dart SLF / Plaxton PointerPlaxton PointerThe Plaxton Pointer is a successful single-decker bus body manufactured during the 1990s by Plaxton and latterly built by Alexander Dennis.With the launch of the Dennis Dart in 1989, Plaxton's subsidiary Reeve Burgess made the Pointer body on the short 8.5 m...
- Dennis Dart SLF / Plaxton Pointer II
- Dennis Trident 2Dennis Trident 2Dennis Trident 2 is a 2-axle low-floor double-decker bus chassis originally built by Dennis in the United Kingdom, which was unveiled in 1997 and replaced the Dennis Arrow...
/ Plaxton PresidentPlaxton PresidentThe Plaxton President was a double-decker bus body built at Northern Counties plant in Wigan, England and branded as a Plaxton product for its main production run. It was unveiled in 1997 and built between 1999 and 2005. When Plaxton became part of TransBus International, the body was sold under... - MAN 14.220 / East Lancs Myllennium
- MAN 18.220 / Alexander ALX300Alexander ALX300The Alexander ALX300 is a full size single-decker bus body built by Alexander at Falkirk, Scotland, United Kingdom, which was first built in 1997...
- Volvo B10BLEVolvo B10BLEThe Volvo B10BLE is a low-entry city bus chassis which was popular in Scandinavia, the United Kingdom and Australia. It was launched around 1992 with the engine mounted on the rear overhang of the bus. It was the successor of the citybus version of Volvo B10B and is used as a base for single-deck...
/ Wright Renown
Minibuses
- Dodge S56 / Alexander AM
- Dodge S56 / Northern Counties
- Mercedes-Benz 709D / Plaxton Beaver
- Mercedes-Benz O814DMercedes-Benz VarioThe Mercedes-Benz Vario is a heavy van manufactured by Mercedes-Benz. Originally launched as the T2 in 1986, the Vario gained its current name when it was facelifted in 1996. The T2 van itself succeeded the Mercedes-Benz L van series.The bodyshell remained relatively unchanged since production...
/ Plaxton Beaver IIPlaxton BeaverThe Plaxton Beaver, originally known as the Reeve Burgess Beaver, is a minibus body built by Plaxton. It was built at the Pilsley, Derbyshire factory of Plaxton's Reeve Burgess subsidiary from 1987-1991, at Plaxton's main Scarborough factory from 1991, and from 1995 at Anston in South Yorkshire.The... - Mercedes-Benz L608D / Rootes
- Optare MetroriderOptare MetroRiderThe Optare MetroRider was a midibus built by Optare between 1989 and 2000. Optare based the original design on the MCW Metrorider after Optare bought the rights following a decision by MCW to end bus production. This model also replaced the less successful StarRider.The MetroRider was an integral...
Mk II (integral) - Optare Metrorider Mk III (integral)
Coaches
- DAF SB3000 / Plaxton PremierePlaxton PremiereThe Plaxton Premiere, Plaxton Excalibur and Plaxton Prima were closely related designs of coach bodywork built by Plaxton.The Premiere and Excalibur were introduced in 1991 as replacements for the Paramount. The Premiere was the mainstream design, available in the same two heights as its predecessor...
320 - DAF SB3000 / Van Hool Alizee
- Leyland Tiger / Plaxton ParamountPlaxton ParamountThe Plaxton Paramount was a design of coach bodywork built by Plaxton. It first appeared at the 1982 British Motor Show and was built until 1991....
III 3200