Diamond Bus North West last week marked 10 years of operation in Greater Manchester with a stakeholder reception and commemorative booklet.
Staff, local authority representatives and councillors, suppliers and customers were among those gathered in celebration – 10 years on from parent company Rotala’s purchase of Green Triangle Buses in Atherton.
That operation of 45 vehicles and 100 staff was rebranded and grew by 2019 to become Manchester’s second biggest operator.
That came via further acquisitions of Go Goodwins in 2017 and First Bolton’s depot in 2019.
In 2023, Diamond Bus North West was one of two businesses operating the first franchised buses in the city as part of the Bee Network.
It now holds 11 small franchises and and seven school bus franchises with Transport for Greater Manchester.
As of November 2024, it operated 100 buses and employed 327 staff.
Bob Dunn, Rotala Executive Director, says: “This is a great milestone at which to look back and reflect and celebrate our progress within Greater Manchester over the last decade.
“In that time, we have helped millions of people travel around the area, accessing employment, shopping or visiting friends. The key to our success has been the dedication and hard work of our staff.
“As we look to the future, I’m optimistic that the next 10 years in Greater Manchester will be even more successful than the first.”
Among those present at the celebration event was Tony Williamson, who has worked for Diamond Bus North West and its predecessors since 2015. He says: “I initially joined Diamond in Atherton over 10 years ago.
“Back then we were a small company, but the investment and transformation we have seen in recent years has been phenomenal. Along with the launch the Bee Network, being a bus driver really is a job to be proud of again.”
Download Diamond Bus North West’s 10-year anniversary booklet here.
