Greater Manchester bus route 163

163
Go North West Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TL in Piccadilly Gardens in September 2024
Overview
Operator	Go North West
Garage	Bolton
Vehicle	Wright Eclipse Gemini 2/Volvo B9TL
Route
Start	Piccadilly Gardens
Via	Harpurhey Blackley Alkrington Middleton Langley Hopwood Heywood Darn Hill Heap Bridge Openshaw
End	Bury Interchange
Service
Level	Daily
Frequency	10-30 mins
Route map Manchester Piccadilly Gardens Harpurhey Blackley Alkrington Middleton Langley Hopwood Heywood Darn Hill Heap Bridge Openshaw Bury Interchange ← {{{previous_line}}}  {{{system_nav}}}  {{{next_line}}} →

Greater Manchester bus route 163 is a Bee Network bus route runs between Piccadilly Gardens in the Manchester city centre and Bury Interchange. It is operated by Go North West on contract from Transport for Greater Manchester.

Current route

The 163 serves the following locations:

• Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
• Harpurhey
• Blackley
• Alkrington
• Middleton
• Langley
• Hopwood
• Heywood
• Darn Hill
• Heap Bridge
• Openshaw
• Bury Interchange

Route 163 primarily runs via the Rochdale Road, making the route more circultous in comparison to route 135, since it need to serve Middleton bus station, Heywood and The Rock shopping centre which the 135 uses a more straightforward Bury Old Road doesn't.

History

The 163 bus route in Greater Manchester was established as part of the development of public transportation services in the area in the early 20th century. Originally, the route was designed to connect communities in the growing urban and suburban areas of North Manchester. During its early years, the route was operated by Manchester Corporation Transport and later by the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) after the local government reorganization in 1974.

The 163 route has seen numerous changes over the decades in terms of its exact routing and the areas it served. Initially, it connected Manchester city center with the northern suburbs, but over time, the route was extended and modified to serve new housing developments, retail centers, and other urban developments. The route has often been associated with serving key areas like Middleton, Heywood, and Bury, making it an important service for commuters and local residents.

The 1980s saw significant changes in the UK bus industry due to the deregulation of bus services in 1986. This led to increased competition, and many traditional routes, including the 163, were affected by changes in operation and service levels. During this period, private bus operators began to take over routes that were once operated by the local authority.

By the 1990s, the 163 route was operated by several different companies over the years due to the highly competitive nature of the bus industry post-deregulation. This era also saw various changes in the route's operation, with some services being shortened, extended, or even temporarily withdrawn, depending on the operator's commercial considerations.

In the 21st century, the 163 route continued to be a key bus service in Greater Manchester, operated by First Greater Manchester. The 163 passed to Diamond North West in June 2019. Under Diamond North West, route 163 received a fleet of Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 bodied Wright Streetdeck Micro Hybrids painted in blue of standard Diamond North West fleet livery. The operations of the 163, passed to Go North West upon commencement of Tranche 1 of Bee Network bus franchising in 2023, which saw Bolton garage transfer from Diamond North West to Go North West. Under Go North West, A fleet of Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TL, originally from Go Ahead London, which repainted to Bee Network yellow and having the middle set of exit doors removed and replaced by window and seats, were deployed on this route.