View source for Bluebird Bus and Coach

{{distinguish|text=[[Stagecoach Bluebird]], a bus operator in Aberdeen, or [[Blue Bird Corporation]], an American manufacturer of buses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
|name           = 
|logo           = Bluebird_bus_logo.png
|logo_size      = 
|image          = Bluebird Bus & Coach bus 62 (1 BLU), 25 July 2008.jpg
|image_size     = 280
|image_caption  = [[Alexander Dennis Enviro 300]] on route 112 in [[Manchester]] in July 2008
|company_slogan = 
|parent         = Michael Dunstan
|founded        = July 1988
|ceased         = 3 March 2013
|headquarters   = [[Greengate, Greater Manchester|Greengate]]
|locale         = 
|service_area   = [[Greater Manchester]]
|service_type   = Bus operator
|hubs           =  [[Middleton bus station]]
|stations       =
|depots         = 1
|routes         = 
|fleet           = 49 (May 2012)
|ridership      = 
|fuel_type      = 
|operator       = 
|ceo            = 
|website         = [https://web.archive.org/web/20120906015758/http://www.bluebirdbus.co.uk/ www.bluebirdbus.co.uk]}}

'''Bluebird Bus & Coach''' was a bus operator based in [[Greengate, Greater Manchester|Greengate]] in [[Chadderton]], [[Greater Manchester]] between July 1988 and March 2013.

==History==
Bluebird Bus & Coach was formed in July 1988<ref name=ManchesterEveningNews7Nov12>{{cite news|title=Stagecoach Group to make swoop for Bluebird|url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/business/s/1593151_stagecoach-group-to-make-swoop-for-bluebird|access-date=7 November 2012|newspaper=[[Manchester Evening News]]|date=7 November 2012}}</ref> when Tom Dunstan, a former [[Transport for Greater Manchester|Greater 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 to [[Oldham]] introducing buses on routes 181, 182, 402, 410 and 411.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Lidstone|first=John G|title=Fleet in Focus: Bluebird Bus & Coach|journal=[[Buses Magazine|Buses]]|page=55|date=April 2009|issue=649}}</ref>

In November 2008, Bluebird was the first operator to run the Bolton [[Metroshuttle]] service<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://manchesterbus.typepad.com/manchester_buses/2008/11/bolton-metroshuttle-takes-off-stockports-due-by-christmas.html|title=Bolton Metroshuttle takes off, Stockport's due by Christmas|publisher=Manchester Buses|access-date=29 January 2011}}</ref> before being replaced by [[Maytree 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,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gmita.gov.uk/download/3285/item_12_metroshuttle_patronage_and_performance|title=GMITA - Metroshuttle Patronage and Performance|publisher=GMITA|access-date=29 January 2011}}</ref> although their Metroshuttle operation ended in March 2011, when the Stockport Metroshuttle service was taken over by [[Stagecoach Manchester]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gmpte.com/buses/service_changes.cfm|title=GMPTE - Buses - Latest Changes|publisher=GMPTE|access-date=14 February 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113140922/http://www.gmpte.com/buses/service_changes.cfm|archive-date=13 January 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

On 7 November 2012, it was announced that [[Stagecoach Manchester]] had purchased the business, although the deal was subject to clearance from the [[Office of Fair Trading]]<ref name=ManchesterEveningNews7Nov12/><ref>{{cite news|title=Acquisition of bus operations in North Manchester|url=http://otp.investis.com/clients/uk/stagecoach/rns/regulatory-story.aspx?cid=273&newsid=291057|access-date=7 November 2012|newspaper=Stagecoach Group|date=7 November 2012}}</ref><ref>[http://www.heraldscotland.com/business/company-news/stagecoach-agrees-2m-bluebird-deal.19358700 Stagecoach agrees £2m Bluebird deal] ''Herald Scotland'' 8 November 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=7290&categoryid=0 Stagecoach buys Bluebird - if OfT agrees] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812175114/http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=7290&categoryid=0 |date=12 August 2014 }} ''Bus & Coach Professional'' 9 November 2012</ref> and was approved on 22 February 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Anticipated acquisition by Greater Manchester Buses (South) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Stagecoach plc, of Bluebird Bus & Coach |url=http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/mergers_ea02/2013/greater-manchester-buses.pdf |publisher=Office of Fair Trading |access-date=27 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018143909/http://oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/mergers_ea02/2013/greater-manchester-buses.pdf |archive-date=18 October 2013 }}</ref> The purchase included Bluebird's 40 vehicles, 80 staff members and its lease on the depot at [[Greengate, Greater Manchester|Greengate]] and was completed on 3 March 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=ManchesterBluebird|url=http://www.stagecoachbus.com/manchesterbluebird.aspx|publisher=Stagecoach Bus|access-date=27 February 2013}}</ref>

==Fleet==
As at May 2012, the fleet consisted of 49 buses.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120513120736/http://www.bluebirdbus.co.uk/fleet.html Fleet] Bluebird</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{commons category-inline|Bluebird (bus company)|Bluebird}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120906015758/http://www.bluebirdbus.co.uk/ Company website]

{{Defunct British Bus Companies}}
{{Transport in Greater Manchester}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bluebird Bus And Coach}}
[[Category:Companies based in the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham]]
[[Category:Middleton, Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:Former bus operators in Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:1988 establishments in England]]
[[Category:2013 disestablishments in England]]
[[Category:Chadderton]]