Magic Bus (Stagecoach)

File:Stagecoach Perth 601 602 DYE (4921521500).jpgs similar to the type used on early Magic Bus services at Stagecoach's depot in Perth]]

The name was first introduced in Glasgow in 1986, where ex London Transport AEC Routemasters were used on a route to Castlemilk.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ujhAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=N1kMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3351,2257422&dq=magic-bus+glasgow&hl=en Bus Industry Shooting Star With A New Target In Sight] The Herald (Glasgow) 9 April 1989 In 1992 this operation was sold to Kelvin Central Buses.{{cite book|last=Brown|first=Stewart J|title=Buses in Britain|date=September 1993|publisher=Capital Transport|isbn=978-1-85414-158-3|page=13}}

The brand was used in Newcastle around 1997 when trying to eliminate smaller companies operating in the area. The buses were prone to breaking down due to their age and broken down Magicbuses in Newcastle were common sights.

The Magic Bus brand was reintroduced to Glasgow by Stagecoach West Scotland in 2002.[https://www.proquest.com/docview/332855686 Only minutes to wait as bus war looms on lucrative route] The Herald (Glasgow) 27 May 2002 At its peak it was used on three routes; one was withdrawn in 2005,[https://www.proquest.com/docview/335862840 Magic bus route to vanish] The Herald (Glasgow) 15 April 2005 and the remainder in 2006.

It was also used more recently{{when|date=October 2024}} in Liverpool by Stagecoach Merseyside.

In April 2012, Magic Bus was introduced in Rotherham by Stagecoach Yorkshire on route 22 to compete directly with First South Yorkshire's service of the same route number, albeit a slightly different route terminating at Manvers instead of Barnsley. Dennis Darts were used on this service.[http://www.travelsouthyorkshire.com/viewtimetable.aspx?id=1845 Bus 22 22X X22] Travel South Yorkshire[http://www.stagecoachbus.com/serviceupdatedetails.aspx?Id=4749 Service 22 Magicbus Rotherham - Manvers - Wath] Stagecoach April 2012 This service has since ceased due to low patronage.

File:Stagecoach Magic Bus (Manchester) bus 15316 (H466 GVM), 25 July 2008.jpg Northern Counties Palatine bodied Scania N113NRB at Manchester Piccadilly Gardens bus station in July 2008]]

File:MX57DZF.jpgs at Manchester Piccadilly Gardens bus station in March 2019]]

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.{{cite news |last1=George |first1=Thomas |title=A £1 student staple for decades, the last Magic Bus has made its final journey |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/1-student-staple-decades-last-30710000 |access-date=5 January 2025 |work=Manchester Evening News |date=5 January 2025}} 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.{{cite news |title=Stagecoach marks end of Magic Bus brand in Greater Manchester |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/stagecoach-marks-end-of-magic-bus-brand-in-greater-manchester/ |access-date=7 January 2025 |work=routeone |date=6 January 2025}}{{cite magazine |author= |url=https://archive.org/details/buscoachbuyer-issue449/page/n3/mode/1up |date=6 March 1998 |issue=449 |page=4 |title=Kenya Dragons for Manchester |magazine=Bus & Coach Buyer |location=Spalding |publisher=Glen-Holland Limited |access-date=7 January 2025}}

In 2006, Stagecoach Manchester additionally introduced the Magic Bus brand on route 192 to counter a bus war started by UK North.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/4871214.stm Council concerns over 'bus war'] BBC News 3 April 2006 Following UK North being delicenced, the Magic Bus ceased operating on route 192, with services provided by Stagecoach returning to standard liveried buses.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/6204717.stm Bus companies banned from roads] BBC News 22 December 2006

In April 2010, Stagecoach Manchester purchased competitor Bullocks Coaches' bus operations,[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/bus-firm-sells-routes-963621 Bus firm sells routes] Manchester Evening News 19 April 2010 but the sale of Finglands Coachways to First Greater Manchester has ensured competition remain on the corridor.[http://www.firstgroup.com/corporate/latest_news/?id=009651 FirstGroup plc Agree to Acquire Finglands Bus Operations in Manchester] FirstGroup 1 August 2013 In September 2014, route 141 commenced, funded by Manchester Metropolitan University, to serve its Birley Fields accommodation in Hulme.[http://www.tfgm.com/journey_planning/RouteMaps/141.pdf Route 141 timetable] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402164249/http://www.tfgm.com/journey_planning/RouteMaps/141.pdf |date=2 April 2015 }} Transport for Greater Manchester 15 September 2014[http://www.mmu.ac.uk/news/news-items/3004/ All aboard! New bus route for Birley] Manchester Metropolitan University 31 October 2014 This route was withdrawn in September 2018, after funding from MMU ceased.{{cite web |title=Forthcoming Changes to the Bus Network - Part A |url=https://www.gmcameetings.co.uk/download/meetings/id/3580/item_6_forthcoming_changes_to_the_bus_network_part_a |website=TfGM Committee |access-date=27 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190127191351/https://www.gmcameetings.co.uk/download/meetings/id/3580/item_6_forthcoming_changes_to_the_bus_network_part_a |archive-date=27 January 2019 |page=4 |date=24 August 2018}}

In 2018, Stagecoach started operating route 147, from Manchester Piccadilly railway station to West Didsbury,{{cite web |title=Service 147 has gone magic! |url=https://www.stagecoachbus.com/magic147 |website=Stagecoach Bus |access-date=27 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205193520/https://www.stagecoachbus.com/magic147 |archive-date=5 December 2018}} after the expiry of the previous contract{{cite web |title=Changes to the 147 bus service |url=https://www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/news/display/?id=20288 |website=University of Manchester StaffNet |access-date=27 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205193637/https://www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/news/display/?id=20288 |archive-date=5 December 2018 |date=5 July 2018}} with Bullocks Coaches, 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. During the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, services 143 and 147 were temporarily withdrawn, but were reinstated on 1 June 2020.[https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/manchester/government-coronavirus-measures-changes-to-bus-services Government Coronavirus Measures - Changes to Bus Services] Stagecoach Manchester 31 March 2013

On 5 January 2025, Magic Bus services ceased their operations in Manchester as a result of the rollout of the Bee Network transferring routes 142, 143 and 147, along with most of their branded vehicles, to Metroline Manchester.

The Magic Mini minibus brand was used in a small number of locations across the UK, including Corby and Ayr.

The brand was used in Corby as "Corby's Magic Mini's" operated using Iveco minibuses along lettered routes around the town centre. The service commenced in 1990 under the then-separate United Counties Omnibus Company, with the purpose of revitalising the bus network in the town from the previous downfall of bus travel due to an influx of Hackney carriages. The service was operated by United Counties until the 29 November 1999, when it was incorporated into the Stagecoach group. The livery used on the vehicles was a recoloured version of the Stagecoach "Stripes" paintwork. The main bodywork was black, with the stripes being recoloured to gold. The services ran a 5-6 minute frequency, and were free on Saturdays.

The brand was also used in Ayrshire for a time to compete against Ayrways in Ayr and T&E Docherty in Irvine. The Ayr operation used minibuses and larger single-deck buses branded as Magic Mini, which were introduced in February 2004.{{cite magazine|last=Millar|first=Alan|title=Stagecoach spells Magic in Ayr|magazine=Buses|issue=590|date=May 2004|page=7}} The brand has since been dropped in Ayrshire when the competing operators withdrew their services.

The Magic Mini brand was also engaged in a miniature bus war on the Black Isle to Inverness route in the Scottish Highlands with local operator Scotbus, with Stagecoach in Inverness adopting aggressive tactics such as scheduling buses five minutes before the rival operator and undercutting fares. Competition between the two operators was acrimonious, climaxing in an arson attack on Stagecoach's Inverness depot.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4713656.stm|title=Man jailed over bus depot fires|work=BBC News|date=14 February 2006|access-date=13 June 2006}}

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Category:Bus transport brands

Category:Stagecoach Group bus operators in England

Category:Transport in Glasgow

Category:Former bus operators in Greater Manchester

Category:Former bus operators in Scotland