First has had a presence in Manchester since 1996, when it bought GM Buses North, a large operator which (as the name suggests) had been formed by the break up of former PTE operator GM Buses a few years previously. Over the intervening years, First has closed depots and passed routes to other operators, leaving it with just the garage at Oldham. Further changes took place in March 2024 when, as part of the new 'Bee Network' franchising scheme, Oldham depot passed to Stagecoach Manchester. This would have been the end of First in Greater Manchester but for the fact that they won the contracts to work Bee Network services in Rochdale, using the garage formerly run by Rossendale (Rosso). However, with a fleet of just 65 buses, the operation is only around a tenth that of the original First GM. Seen in Rochdale Bus Station on 17th August 2024 was DY23LBJ, a Renault Trafic minibus with First 'number for life' 90930. |
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Photo ID: |
7926 |
Photo date: |
17/08/2024 |
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Extra Large. View regular size
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Subject/s: |
First Manchester DY23LBJ
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Date added: |
24/10/2024 |