Greater Manchester bus routes 36 • 37

EndBolton InterchangeServiceLevel24 hoursFrequency9-30 mins (daytime)
60-210 mins (midnight)

37
Go North West Alexander Dennis Enviro400 EV at Manchester Cheapside in September 2024
Overview
Operator	Go North West
Garage	Bolton
Vehicle	Wright StreetDeck Micro Hybrid Alexander Dennis Enviro400 EV
Route
Start	Piccadilly Gardens
Via	Salford Pendleton Pendlebury Irlams o’ th’ Height Swinton Wardley Whittle Brook Linnyshaw Walkden Farnworth Moses Gate Burnden Rose Hill
End	Bolton Interchange
Service
Level	Daily
Frequency	10-30 mins

Greater Manchester bus routes 36 • 37 are Bee Network bus routes run between Piccadilly Gardens in the Manchester city centre and Bolton Interchange. They are sister routes to each other, and operated by Go North West on contract from Transport for Greater Manchester.

The history of the 36 and 37 can be traced back to 1950s. When local municipal bus services, such as the 36 by Bolton Corporation Transport and later by the Greater Manchester Transport (GMPTE) following the formation of Greater Manchester in 1974, began connecting Bolton with Manchester via Walkden, Swinton, and Salford. Its sister route, 37, was established shortly afterward, following a comparable route but serving slightly different areas such as Farnworth, Moses Gate and Burnden. Both routes became formalized after the nationalization and reorganization of public transport systems in Greater Manchester in 1974s when GMPTE (which later became GM Buses) integrated local services under a coordinated regional transport plan.^{[citation needed]}

The Transport Act of 1985 led to the deregulation of bus services across the UK^[1], including in Greater Manchester. This meant that private operators could run bus services on routes of their choice, leading to increased competition. Prior to deregulation, routes 36 and 37 would have been controlled by GMPTE, but after 1986, the market opened up, and companies like GM Buses (the successor of GMPTE) took over. After deregulation, GM Buses (and later its successors) ran routes 36 and 37 as part of the integrated bus network serving the areas around Bolton, Salford, and Manchester. The routes underwent adjustments over time, adapting to changes in demand and road networks.^{[citation needed]}

In the 1990s, GM Buses was split into GM Buses North and GM Buses South, which were eventually privatized. GM Buses North, which operated in the area covering Bolton and Manchester, was later acquired by FirstGroup, which became the main operator of routes 36 and 37. Throughout the late 1990s and 2000s, First Manchester was the primary operator of these routes, with regular service adjustments to accommodate shifts in traffic, urban development, and passenger demand. The 36 and 37 passed to Go North West in June 2021. This transfer occurred after First Manchester decided to withdraw from running these routes as part of a broader restructuring of its operations in the Greater Manchester area.^{[citation needed]}

Go North West, a subsidiary of the Go-Ahead Group, had already been operating in Greater Manchester since March 2019, when it took over the Queens Road bus garage from First Manchester. In June 2021, the transfer of routes 36 and 37 marked further expansion of Go North West's services, solidifying its presence in the region, particularly in connecting Bolton with Manchester.^{[citation needed]}

Since taking over, Go North West has made some adjustments to the timetables and services, but the core operation of routes 36 and 37 remains largely similar to what was provided under First Manchester.^{[citation needed]}

From 2023, upon commencement of Tranche 1 of Bee Network, both routes are under it without having their operator changed.^{[citation needed]}

From September 2024, route 36 will be under trial for 24 hours operation, bus operates around hourly every midnight. ^[2]

The 36 and 37 serves the following primary destinations. Destinations in italics and bold are only served by 36 and 37 respectively:^[3][4]

• Salford
• Pendleton
• Irlams o’ th’ Height
• Swinton
• Wardley
• Whittle Brook
• Linnyshaw
• Walkden
• Engine Fold
• Madam's Wood
• Peel
• Little Hulton
• Harper Green
• Great Lever
• Farnworth
• Moses Gate
• Burnden
• Rose Hill