Longest surviving bus routes.

[farwest]

While waiting for the L1 from the Lizard to Helston today I just realised I had missed the first bus by about 119 years. Still an open top very often too!!

 

[Jordan Adam]

Not strictly a "bus" service through it's full history however First Aberdeen's Service 1 can be traced back as far as December 1883 (139 years ago) when it began as a horse drawn tram service operating from Market Street up Union Street and down Holburn Street to Bloomfield Road operated by Aberdeen District Tramways. By 1894 the service had been extended to operate from Bridge Of Don to Bridge Of Dee, the full route of which is still covered to this day. Aberdeen Corporation Tramways took over operation of the service in August 1898 and this is when the use of the Service number 1 first started along with the colour red on publicity, although the service was more commonly known simply as "The Bridges".

The service remained mostly unchanged until May 1958 when Aberdeen withdrew the last of its trams and the service was converted to bus operation. The bus service from 1958 followed the exact same route but was extended at either end to serve the new housing estate at Garthdee and the rapidly expanding housing developments north of the Bridge Of Don.

Below are links to two network maps:
Aberdeen Corporation Tramways (1898)
First Aberdeen (Current)

 

[Fokx]

1826 was the first regular public bus service in the UK between Manchester Market Street and Salford.

I’d suggest this may be where the answer to the question lies as there are still regular services between Manchester Shudehill (closest you can get to Market Street) and Salford operated by Stagecoach and go North West (albeit extended further West)

 

[jp4712]

1826 was the first regular public bus service in the UK between Manchester Market Street and Salford.

I’d suggest this may be where the answer to the question lies as there are still regular services between Manchester Shudehill (closest you can get to Market Street) and Salford operated by Stagecoach and go North West (albeit extended further West)

January 1824, according to the Museum of Transport Greater Manchester- five years before Shillibeer in London. https://motgm.uk/timeline-1-origins.html