Go-Ahead Group has agreed to purchase Queen’s Road depot from First Manchester, including 163 buses, for £11.2m.
It comes after speculation following a report in the Daily Telegraph that First Manchester was to be broken up and sold. The sale, which is due to complete in the next few months, will take Go-Ahead into Manchester for the first time.
Go-Ahead says the Queen’s Road depot will operate as Go North West, while a local brand will be chosen in collaboration with customers and stakeholders.
Giles Fearnley, Managing Director of First Bus, says: “Over the years we have enjoyed a constructive relationship with both the Go-Ahead Group and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and look forward to working closely with them to ensure this transfer goes ahead as smoothly as possible with minimal impact for our customers.
David Brown, Chief Executive of Go-Ahead Group, adds: “As a business that prides itself on looking after our colleagues, we hope to reinvigorate the Queen’s Road depot. We also look forward to engaging in open conversations with TfGM, stakeholders and customers in Manchester to better understand how we can create a sustainable and thriving service.”
First Manchester’s two other deports in Bolton and Oldham are not affected.
