Greater Manchester bus route 409

409
Bee Network branded Stagecoach Manchester Enviro400 MMC at Ashton-under-Lyne bus station in February 2025
Overview
Operator	Stagecoach Manchester
Garage	Middleton Oldham
Vehicle	Volvo B5LH Enviro400 MMC Enviro400EV
Predecessors	First Manchester
Route
Start	Ashton-under-Lyne bus station
Via	Hathershaw Oldham Royal Oldham Hospital
End	Rochdale Interchange
Service
Level	Daily
Frequency	10-60 mins
Route map Legend Ashton-under-Lyne bus station Hathershaw Oldham Royal Oldham Hospital Rochdale Interchange This diagram: view talk edit ← {{{previous_line}}}  {{{system_nav}}}  {{{next_line}}} →

Greater Manchester bus route 409 is a Bee Network contracted bus route in Greater Manchester, England. Running between Ashton-under-Lyne bus station and Rochdale Interchange, it is operated by Stagecoach Manchester.

History

The 409 was originally a trolleybus service lanuched in the 1930s, operating between Ashton-under-Lyne and Oldham. From November 1969, the trolley bus route was numbered 9, operated by SELNEC as a joint service between Rochdale, Oldham and Ashton-under-Lyne Corporations using conventional buses. ^[1]

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the 409 route witnessed significant competition, especially following bus deregulation in 1986. ^[2] Operators such as Citibus and Mayne of Manchester introduced parallel services, including routes 419, 428, and 424, challenging the established 409. Additionally, companies like The Bee Line Buzz Company and Pennine Blue offered competing journeys along the same corridor. Despite this rivalry, the 409 maintained its prominence, withstanding various competitive pressures. ^[3]

After that, GM Buses were split into GM Buses North and GM Buses South, which the former operated the 409.

In the early 2000s, First Manchester acquired the route, and become the sole operator of it until the launch of Trenche 2 Bee Network in 2024, this saw the route, with the operations of the First's Oldham depot, passed to Stagecoach Manchester.

Current route

The 409 serves the following locations: ^[4]

• Ashton-under-Lyne bus station
• Hathershaw
• Oldham
• Royal Oldham Hospital
• Rochdale Interchange

References

1. "Is This The 409? A Cloud of Nines". 10 July 2011.
2. "Greater Manchester Transport And Beyond". The SELNEC Preservation Society. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2009.
3. "Is This The 409? A Cloud of Nines". 10 July 2011.
4. "409 Ashton-under-Lyne - Hathershaw - Oldham - Royton - Rochdale". Transport for Greater Manchester. Retrieved 26 August 2024.