Stagecoach marked the 125th anniversary of the opening of its Queens Road Bus Garage in Manchester with a well-attended open day.
Around 2,000 visitors attended the event, delivered in partnership with the neighbouring Museum of Transport, experiencing a mix of the past and present.
They were provided with a behind-the-scenes look at the current facilities and shuttle bus tours. On display was a modern Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC repainted in the SELNEC Central heritage livery, used in the region between 1969 and 1974.
Meanwhile, the Museum exhibited its collection of around 15 historic Manchester buses.
Opening as Manchester’s first purpose-built tram depot on 6 June 1901, Stagecoach took over Queens Road Bus Garage in March 2024 for operation of the region’s franchised Bee Network.
It now houses 153 buses and is used as a base for 504 employees. Stagecoach is the third bus operator to use the depot over recent years following Go North West and First Manchester.
Rob Jones, Managing Director of Stagecoach Manchester and Merseyside, says: “Queens Road is not just a building; it is a living piece of Manchester’s industrial and social history. From the electric trams of 1901 to the modern Bee Network buses of 2026, this garage has kept generations of Mancunians moving.
“To see 2,000 members of our community turn out to celebrate this 125-year milestone is a testament to the deep-rooted pride the city has in its public transport network.
“We are incredibly proud to steer this depot into a sustainable future alongside our partners at the Museum of Transport and our 504 fantastic colleagues on site.”
