It began operating on 15 November 1999, in competition with Blackburn Transport (BBT) from a base in Oswaldtwistle.

After two months fierce competition on BBT's mainline, service 346 (now spot on route 1) operating between Accrington and Darwen via Blackburn, Northern Blue sold out their initial business to BBT, and began to concentrate on school contracts and some coaching work.

Having already won some contracted service work in the Burnley area, Northern Blue acquired the Border Buses and Viscount Central businesses from the Stratus Group and took over its base at Dean Mill.

A number of local bus services and school contracts have been operated, mainly on behalf of Lancashire County Council.

Northern Blue operated a large number of school contracts for Lancashire County Council as well as some commercial and non-commercial service work and through associated company Lancashire County Transport[2] trading as Accrington Transport, operated a network of routes in the Hyndburn, Clitheroe, Burnley, Nelson and Bolton areas.