Route Branding
First Greater Manchester originally branded their frequent services as an 'Overground'. Based on the London Underground network where each frequent service is given a recognisable colour, each Overground service was also allocated its own colour line. The concept was a prominent fixture on network maps and coloured vinyls applied to the buses frequently serving those routes. However, the brand "overground" has largely been dropped from the route branding. The colours still remain on network maps but the vinyls for the most part have disappeared from the fleet's vehicles, apart from buses serving the 17/18 routes between Rochdale/Langley and Manchester. The coloured routes are those with Monday - Saturday daytime frequencies of 15 minutes or better. This has allowed services such as the 67, 98, 519, 540 and 598 to keep their coloured line despite the frequency of the service dropping under the 10 minutes minimum frequency.
Usually, the colours are allocated randomly. However, the 180/184 was allocated the Purple line when the services was made into an Overground route in 2004 and the 184 was extended to Huddersfield replacing service 365. The extension also saw the 184 service incorporated into the Huddersfield Overground with services 348, 350 and 352 (which was later re-numbered 181, 182, 183 and 185 to fit in with the 184) already branded as the Purple line (as had the 365 previously).
Due to ongoing fleet modernisation most Overground services are currently unbranded, with only the 8, 17/18, 36, 37, 82/83, 135, 163, 180/184 & 582 having significant route branding along with route 100 which is branded as "unmissable" & X34 branded as "Spinning Jenny" (this services is not frequent) rather than with a colour line.
The services that form the Overground network in Greater Manchester are:
8
Green |
17
Red |
18
Red |
36
Cyan |
37
Rose Pink |
- Bolton
- Burnden (for Asda)
- Moses Gate
- Farnworth
- Kearsley
- Pendlebury
- Irlams o'th' Height
- Pendleton Church (for Salford Shopping Centre)
- Salford Crescent
- University of Salford
- Salford Central
- Deansgate
- Manchester Victoria (for Victoria station, Manchester Arena, Urbis/National Football Museum and Printworks)
- Manchester Shudehill
Monday-Saturday daytime: 10 mins
Evenings: 30 mins
Sunday daytime: 15 mins
Nightbus: 30 mins
|
- Rochdale
- Sudden, Tesco
- Castleton
- Slattocks (for Stake Hill Industrial Estate)
- Hopwood Hall College
- Middleton
- Blackley
- Harpurhey (for North Manchester 6th Form College and North City Shopping Centre)
- Collyhurst
- Manchester Shudehill
Monday-Saturday daytime: 10 mins
Evenings: 30 mins
Sunday daytime: 15 mins
Nightbus: 30 mins
Combines with service 18 between Middleton and Manchester
|
- Langley
- Middleton
- Blackley
- Harpurhey (for North Manchester 6th Form College and North City Shopping Centre)
- Collyhurst
- Manchester Shudehill
- Manchester Church Street
- Manchester Portland Street (for Piccadilly Gardens and Chorlton Street coach station)
- Manchester Oxford Road
- Manchester Metropolitan University
- University of Manchester
- Central Manchester Hospitals
- Rusholme
Monday-Saturday daytime: 10 mins
Evenings: 30 mins
Sunday daytime: 15 mins
Combines with service 17 between Middleton and Manchester
|
- Bolton
- Bolton Interchange
- Harper Green
- New Bury
- Little Hulton
- Walkden (for Ellesmere Shopping Centre)
- Moorside
- Swinton
- Irlams o'th' Height
- Pendleton Church (for Salford Shopping Centre)
- Salford Crescent
- University of Salford
- Salford Central
- Manchester Piccadilly
Monday-Saturday daytime: 10 mins
Evenings and Sundays: 30 mins
Nightbus: 30 mins
|
- Bolton
- Burnden (for Asda)
- Moses Gate
- Farnworth
- Walkden (for Ellesmere Shopping Centre)
- Moorside
- Swinton
- Irlams o'th' Height
- Pendleton Salford Shopping Centre
- Salford Crescent
- University of Salford
- Salford Central
- Manchester Piccadilly
Monday-Saturday daytime: 10 mins
Evenings and Sundays: 30 mins
|
58/59
Dark Blue |
67
Lime Green |
81/81A
Claret |
83
Orange |
88/89
Olive |
- Rochdale (58)
- Milnrow (58)
- Newhey (58)
- Rushcroft (59)
- Shaw
- Heyside
- Higginshaw
- Oldham Mumps
- Oldham
- Chadderton
- Mills Hill
- Middleton
- Rhodes (59)
- Heaton Park (59)
- Bowker Vale (59)
- Cheetham Hill (59)
- Strangeways (59)
- Manchester Victoria (59) (for Victoria station, Manchester Arena, Urbis/National Football Museum and Printworks)
- Manchester Piccadilly (59)
Monday-Saturday daytime:
15 mins each
7/8 mins combined
Evenings and Sundays:
60 mins
30 mins
Sunday daytime: 30 mins
|
- Cadishead
- Irlam (for Irlam & Cadishead College)
- Barton Aerodrome
- Salford City Stadium
- Peel Green
- Patricroft
- Eccles
- Salford Royal Hospital
- Pendleton Salford Shopping Centre
- Salford Crescent
- University of Salford
- Salford Central
- Manchester Victoria (for Victoria station, Manchester Arena, Urbis/National Football Museum and Printworks)
- Manchester Shudehill
Monday-Saturday daytime: 15 mins
Evenings and Sundays: 30 mins
Nightbus: 30 mins
|
- Derker (81)
- Holts Estate (81A)
- Lees (81A)
- Waterhead (81A)
- Hill Stores (81A) (for Tesco Extra)
- Oldham Mumps
- Oldham
- Werneth
- Coalshaw Green
- South Chadderton
- Moston
- Harpurhey (for North Manchester 6th Form College and North City Shopping Centre)
- Collyhurst
- Shudehill (for Shudehill Interchange and Manchester Arndale)
- Manchester Piccadilly
Monday-Saturday daytime:
20 mins
20 mins
10 mins combined
Evenings:
60 mins
60 mins
30 mins
Sunday daytime:
30 mins
30 mins
15 mins
|
- Sholver
- Moorside
- Hill Stores (for Tesco Extra)
- Oldham Mumps
- Oldham
- Werneth
- Hollinwood
- Failsworth
- Newton Heath
- Miles Platting
- Manchester Piccadilly
Monday-Saturday daytime:
10 mins
6-8 mins
Evenings:
30 mins
4 per hour
Sunday daytime:
30 mins
15 mins
Nightbus:
See service 82
|
- Manchester Piccadilly (88 starts/89 ends)
- Miles Platting
- Monsall
- Central Park
- Moston
- White Moss
- Higher Blackley
- Bank House
- Bowker Vale
- Crumpsall
- North Manchester General Hospital
- Cheetham Hill
- Cheetham (for Manchester Fort and Museum of Transport)
- Manchester Victoria (for Victoria station, Manchester Arena, Urbis/National Football Museum and Printworks)
- Manchester Shudehill (88 end/89 starts)
Monday-Saturday daytime: 10 mins
4 per hour
Evenings/Sundays: run by JPT
|
98
Blue |
100
Unmissable |
135
Yellow |
162/163
Turquoise |
180/184
Purple |
- Bury
- Elton
- Watling Street Health Centre
- Ainsworth
- Radcliffe
- Whitefield
- Prestwich
- Sedgley Park
- Higher Broughton
- Lower Broughton
- Manchester Victoria (for Victoria station, Manchester Arena, Urbis/National Football Museum and Printworks)
- Manchester Shudehill
Monday-Saturday daytime: 15 mins
Evenings: 60 mins
Sunday daytime: 30 mins
|
- Warrington (hourly)
- Woolston (hourly)
- Hollins Green (hourly)
- Cadishead (hourly)
- Irlam (2 per hour) (for Irlam & Cadishead College)
- Barton Aerodrome (2 per hour)
- Salford City Stadium (2 per hour)
- Peel Green (2 per hour)
- The Trafford Centre (for ChillFactore and Legoland Discovery Centre)
- Patricroft
- Eccles
- Salford Royal Hospital
- Pendleton Salford Shopping Centre
- Salford Crescent
- University of Salford
- Salford Central
- Manchester Victoria (for Victoria station, Manchester Arena, Urbis/National Football Museum and Printworks)
- Manchester Shudehill
Monday-Saturday daytime:
60 mins
2 per hour
15 mins
Evenings:
60 mins
30 mins
Sunday daytime:
60 mins
4 per hour
|
- Bury
- Whitefield
- Besses o'th' Barn
- Heaton Park
- Cheetham Hill
- Cheetham (for Manchester Fort and Museum of Transport)
- Manchester Victoria (for Victoria station, Manchester Arena, Urbis/National Football Museum and Printworks)
- Manchester Piccadilly
Monday-Saturday daytime: 7-8 mins
Evenings: 20 mins
Sunday daytime: 10 mins
Nightbus: 30 mins
|
- Bury
- Angoulême Way (for The Rock Shopping Centre)
- Heap Bridge
- Darn Hill
- Norden
- Bamford
- Heywood
- Hopwood
- Hollin
- Langley
- Middleton
- Blackley
- Harpurhey (for North Manchester 6th Form College and North City Shopping Centre)
- Collyhurst
- Shudehill (for Shudehill Interchange and Manchester Arndale)
- Manchester Piccadilly
Monday-Saturday daytime: 10 mins
Peak times: 30 mins, 4 per hour
Evenings: 60 mins
Sunday daytime: 30 mins
|
- Huddersfield (184 hourly)
- Cowlersley (184 hourly)
- Linthwaite (184 hourly)
- Slaithwaite (184 hourly)
- Marsden (184 hourly)
- Standedge (184 hourly) (for Pennine Way and associated hiking, cycling and riding trails)
- Diggle (184 - 2 per hour)
- Dobcross (184 some)
- Uppermill (184 - 3 per hour) (for Saddleworth Museum and associated tourist attractions)
- Greenfield (180 hourly)
- Greenfield station
- Grasscroft
- Grotton
- Springhead
- Lees
- Clarksfield
- Oldham Mumps
- Oldham
- Primrose Bank
- Copster Hill
- Garden Suburb
- Hollins
- Hollinwood
- Failsworth
- Newton Heath
- Miles Platting
- Manchester Piccadilly
Monday-Saturday daytime:
60 mins
60 mins
60 mins
3 per hour
15 mins combined
6-8 mins combined
Evenings:
30 mins combined
60 mins
Sunday daytime:
15 mins combined
30 mins combined
60 mins
120 mins
|
348
Yellow |
350
Brown |
409
Mauve |
425
Lime Green |
469
Rose Pink |
- Ashton-under-Lyne
- Stalybridge
- Copley
- Millbrook
- Carrbrook
Monday-Saturday daytime: 10 mins
Evenings: 60 mins
Sunday daytime: 30 mins
|
- Ashton-under-Lyne
- Tameside General Hospital
- Hazelhurst
- Mossley
- Micklehurst
- Hey Farm
- Greenfield (30 mins)
- Uppermill (30 mins) (for Saddleworth Museum and associated tourist attractions)
- Delph (30 mins)
- Carrcote (30 mins)
- Scouthead (30 mins)
- Greenacres (30 mins)
- Oldham (some)
Monday-Saturday daytime:
30 mins
10 mins
Evenings: 60 mins
Sunday daytime:
60 mins
30 mins
|
- Ashton-under-Lyne
- Waterloo
- Bardsley
- Hathershaw
- Primrose Bank
- Oldham
- Royal Oldham Hospital (for hospital and Boundary Park)
- Royton
- Thornham (for Tandle Hill Park)
- Rochdale
Monday-Saturday daytime: 9 mins
Evenings:
20 mins
30 mins
Sunday daytime: 15 mins
|
- Holts Estate
- Abbeyhills
- Alt
- Glodwick (for Alexandra Park)
- Oldham Mumps
- Oldham
- Primrose Bank
- Hathershaw
- Fitton Hill
Monday-Saturday daytime: 12 mins
Evenings and Sundays: 30 mins
|
- Tottington
- Bury
- Angoulême Way (for The Rock Shopping Centre)
- Fairfield General Hospital
- Jericho
- Bamford (some)
- Dane Street (some - for Asda and Hopwood Hall College Rochdale)
- Newgate (some - for Rochdale Town Hall)
- Rochdale (some)
Monday-Saturday daytime:
30 mins
10 mins
Evenings and Sundays: Run by Rossendalebus
|
471
Lilac |
472/474
Lime Green |
501
Yellow |
507
Red |
519
Indigo |
- Bolton
- Tonge Fold
- Breightmet
- Ainsworth
- Bury (for Lancashire Fusiliers Museum and East Lancs Railway)
- Angoulême Way (for The Rock Shopping Centre)
- Heap Bridge
- Heywood
- Sudden, Tesco
- Rochdale railway station
- Rochdale
Monday-Saturday daytime: 10 mins
Evenings:
60 mins
30 mins
Sunday daytime: 30 mins
|
- Bury (472 starts/474 ends)
- Walmersley
- Ramsbottom
- Holcombe Brook
- Brandlesholme
- Bury (472 ends/474 starts)
Monday-Saturday daytime: 10 mins
Evenings and Sundays: 30 mins
|
- Moss Bank Way
- Doffcocker (for Moss Bank Park)
- Brownlow Fold
- Bolton
- Bolton Interchange
- Royal Bolton Hospital
- Hollins
- Highfield
- Farnworth
Monday-Saturday daytime: 10 mins
Evenings and Sundays: 30 mins
|
- Bolton
- Tonge Moor
- Hall i' th' Wood
- Bradshaw
- Harwood
Monday-Saturday daytime: 15 mins
Sunday daytime: 30 mins
Evenings: Run by Maytree
|
- Bolton
- Bolton Interchange
- Doffcocker
- Montserrat
- Johnson Fold
Monday-Saturday daytime: 10 mins
Sunday daytime: 30 mins
Monday-Saturday evenings: Run by Maytree
Sunday evenings: Run by Arriva
|
524
Purple |
575
Turquoise |
582
Claret |
- Bolton
- Burnden (for Asda)
- Moses Gate
- Little Lever
- Radcliffe
- Bury
Monday-Saturday daytime: 9 mins
Evenings and Sundays: 30 mins
|
- Bolton
- Bolton Interchange
- Heaton
- Lostock (for Middlebrook Retail Park and Reebok Stadium)
- Horwich Old Lord's Estate
Monday-Saturday daytime: 10 mins
Sunday daytime: 30 mins
Sunday evenings: 60 mins
Monday-Saturday Evenings: Run by Maytree
|
- Bolton
- Daubhill
- Over Hulton
- Atherton
- Leigh
Monday-Saturday daytime: 9 mins
Sunday daytime: 20 mins
Evenings: 30 mins
|