First Manchester 49101 (YJ60 KCU) in Manchester - 24 May 2019 (P1020072)

Friday 24 May 2019 (1355) – First Manchester 49101 (YJ60 KCU), an Optare Versa new in October 2010, seen in King Street, Manchester when operating free circular service 1 around Manchester city centre. There are two such free circulars supported by Transport for Greater Manchester, Manchester City Council, Salford City Council and the Mayor of Manchester. The buses used on these services (around 12 hybrids and 3 electrics) are owned by TfGM and on 2 June 2019 when First Manchester sold their Queens Road garage and operations to Go-Ahead the buses remained at Queens Road operated by the newly formed Go North West.

King Street is lined with quite a number of Listed Buildings. The grand building in the background, 82 King Street, was originally the Manchester branch of the Bank of England. Pizza Express, just visible of the left, occupies what was once the Manchester and Salford Savings Bank