Manchester and its surrounds, such as Bolton, Wigan, Rochdale, Oldham and Stockport, have always been a haven for bus enthusiasts, with a wide variety of operators and liveries to be seen. Deregulation in 1986 changed the scene dramatically with the appearance of numerous independent companies – some of which were short-lived while others survived for many years or were swallowed up by the major national conglomerates such as Arriva, FirstBus and Stagecoach. Added to the mix is the Metrolink tramway system, which continues to grow and now reaches the airport where numerous buses can also be seen. Never failing to fascinate, and a city whose transport continually changes, Manchester is always worthy of a visit and can be recommended to all transport enthusiasts whether their interests are buses, rail or air.

Keith A. Jenkinson is a transport enthusiast who has been writing about related topics since 1977.