Manchester
Shortly following their takeover of GM Buses South in February 1996, Stagecoach Manchester introduced the Magic Bus brand along the Wilmslow Road bus corridor in Manchester on routes 142 and 143, painting some of the oldest double-deckers in its fleet into a blue livery with yellow fleetnames. With fares reduced to £1 on the three services, eventually increasing to £1.50 in 2017, Stagecoach's Magic Bus services proved highly popular with students at the University of Manchester.[7] Buses used in Manchester included Leyland Olympians, Volvo B10Ms, Volvo Olympians and Scania N113NRBs, as well as some 3-axle Leyland Olympians imported from Stagecoach's Citybus operation in Hong Kong (via a stint with Megabus) and Stagecoach's Kenya Bus operation.[8][9]
In 2006, Stagecoach Manchester additionally introduced the Magic Bus brand on route 192 to counter a bus war started by UK North.[2] Following UK North being delicenced, the Magic Bus brand ceased operating on route 192, with services provided by Stagecoach returning to standard buses and fares.
In September 2014, route 141 commenced, funded by Manchester Metropolitan University, to serve its Birley Fields accommodation in Hulme.[10] This route was withdrawn in September 2018, after funding from MMU ceased.[11]
In 2018, Stagecoach started operating route 147, from Manchester Piccadilly railway station to West Didsbury,[12] after the expiry of the previous contract with Bullocks Coaches,[13] with the route being extended from its previous terminus at the Manchester Royal Infirmary to West Didsbury, but now omitting the hospital grounds.
As of June 2021, Stagecoach Manchester ran 51 Alexander Dennis Enviro400Hs and one conventional Enviro400 on Magic Bus services on Wilmslow Road routes 142, 143 & 147.[8] During the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, services 143 and 147 were temporarily withdrawn,[14] but were reinstated on 1 June 2020.
On 5 January 2025, Magic Bus services in Manchester officially ceased as a result of the rollout of Tranche 3 of Bee Network transferring routes 142, 143 and 147, along with most of their branded vehicles, to Metroline Manchester.[7][8]
