Red Express X41 line

X41
Blackburn Bus Company Wright Eclipse Urban 2 bodied Volvo B7RLE at The Printworks, Manchester in September 2024
Overview
Operator	Blackburn Bus Company
Garage	Intack Bus Depot
Vehicle	Wright Eclipse Urban 2/Volvo B7RLE
Predecessors	The Lancashire Way GM Buses
Route
Start	Accrington
Via	Ramsbottom M66 Prestwich
End	Manchester, Chorlton Street
Service
Level	Daily
Frequency	Monday-Sunday: 60 Weekday Peak Mornings: 45 Weekday Peak Evenings: 50

The Red Express X41 is a bus service run by the Blackburn Bus Company which runs between Accrington and Manchester, serving the communities of Haslingden, Ramsbottom, Prestwich and Harpurhey, Collyhurst during peak times. The service uses the M60 and M66 motorways, connecting communities and schools like The Hollins and Haslingden High School. A point of interest in the route is the East Lancashire Railway in Ramsbottom.

History

'The Lancashire Way' Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL in Salford in May 2009

Not much is known about its history before 2000. However, it was run under the Lancashire United brand by Transdev Blazefield and was given the brand The Lancashire Way in the black, red, and silver Blazefield livery used for their flagship route including The Witch Way and Harrogate & District's 36 . The service ran from Blackburn to Manchester via Accrington, Haslingden and Helmshore. An express X40 service bypassed Helmshore via the motorway.

In 2016, following a rebrand across the Transdev Blazefield network, the X41 was rebranded as 'The Red Express' and gained an upgraded fleet of Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TLs. These buses received facelifted front ends from later Eclipse Gemini models and were upgraded internally to feature leather seats, free WiFi and USB charging outlets.

In 2018, following strong customer feedback and a campaign by local MPs, the service was re-routed to serve Ramsbottom whilst removing Blackburn from the route. This, however, is believed to be a large factor to a decine in passenger numbers and the service was almost withdrawn in January 2020 as a result of running costs exceeding what the service was making. However a petition was generated to rescue the service, and with meetings between Hyndburn MP Sara Britcliffe, Bury North MP James Daly and directors at Blazefield, a rescue plan was agreed and withdrawal of the X41 was cancelled. Shortly after, the deckers were withdrawn from the route and replaced by single deck Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLEs.

Modern day

Today, the bus service runs every hour from Accrington to Manchester via Haslingden, Ramsbottom and Prestwich. In January 2020, a 'FAST' variant was added during peak times, where buses skipped Prestwich and instead went down Rochdale Road through Harpurhey, Collyhurst and Shudehill, drastically reducing journey times.

The route is operated by a combination of double and single decker buses.