 | |
 | |
| Founded | February 2002 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Tockwith, North Yorkshire England |
| Service area | |
| Service type | Bus and coach |
| Fleet | 39 (at February 2016) |
| Managing Director | Craig Temple |
| Website | www |
Harrogate Coach Travel [lower-alpha 1] operates local and regional bus services in North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, England.
Harrogate Coach Travel was established in February 2002 by Craig and Julie Temple. Initially, the company operated local bus services between York and Ripon via Green Hammerton. The company later expanded, operating tendered services for both North Yorkshire County Council and West Yorkshire Metro. [1] [2]
In August 2010, the company expanded with the introduction of local services in and around the towns of Ilkley and Otley, which were transferred from First West Yorkshire and TLC Travel. [3]
In March 2011, the company was rebranded as Connexionsbuses. [2]
In April 2011, the X70 service was launched between Harrogate and Wetherby. At the same time, the company gained the contract for several local services in Harrogate from North Yorkshire County Council. [4] The service between York and Ripon was lost, with a jointly-operated service commencing between York to Ripon and Wetherby, in partnership with Eddie Brown Tours. [2]
In 2013, the company took over operation of service 780 between Knaresborough and Wetherby, as well as service 923 between Otley and Tadcaster.
In April 2014, local services 104, 110, 111 and 112 in Harrogate were replaced by services X4, X6, X6A and X12.
Following the collapse of Eddie Brown Tours in December 2014, the company took over temporary operation of services 142 and 143 between York and Harrogate via Ripon – a short-term arrangement lasting until 5 January 2015. Following this, the services were taken over by Transdev York. The company also took over short-term operation of services 56/56A and 57/57A between Harrogate and Ripon or Roecliffe, which was later transferred to The Harrogate Bus Company. [5] [6]
In June 2016, the company took over operation of service 38 between Moortown and White Rose Centre on a commercial basis, after Yorkshire Tiger withdrew the service. [7] The service was withdrawn in September 2018 following competition from independent operator, SquarePeg Buses, as well as the expected implementation of a low-emission zone in Leeds. [8] [9]
In October 2018, the company commenced operation of route 64, which runs between Aberford and Leeds via Cross Gates, under contract to First Leeds. As of January 2022, the service operates half-hourly on weekdays and Saturday, with First Leeds operating an hourly service during the evening and on Sunday. [10]
In November 2018, the company withdrew their operation in the cathedral city of Ripon, owing to the level of reimbursement for concessionary passes paid by North Yorkshire County Council. [11] The company had operated local services in the city since September 2017, following the cessation of Shaun's Travel. [12]
As of May 2022, the company operates from a single depot in Tockwith.
As of June 2022, the fleet consists of 40 buses. The fleet consists mainly of diesel-powered single and double-deck buses manufactured by Scania.
In 2011, the company became involved in a bus war with Transdev Harrogate & District. [lower-alpha 2] It concerned bus services operating in and around the market town of Wetherby. [13] [14]
Alongside service buses, the company also maintain a fleet of preserved heritage vehicles. As of October 2019, this consisted of a fleet of nine vehicles manufactured between 1971 and 1999 – most of which originally operated in and around Yorkshire. [15]
Wetherby is a market town and civil parish in the City of Leeds district, West Yorkshire, England, close to West Yorkshires county's border with North Yorkshire and lies approximately 12 miles from Leeds City Centre, 12 mi (19 km) from York and 8 mi (13 km) from Harrogate. The town stands on the River Wharfe, and for centuries has been a crossing place and staging post on the Great North Road midway between London and Edinburgh.
Upper Poppleton is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of the City of York in North Yorkshire, England. It is situated by the west bank of the River Ouse adjacent to Nether Poppleton, and west of York close to the A59 from York to Harrogate. The village is served by Poppleton railway station on the Harrogate Line. According to the 2001 census, the parish had a population of 1,961, increasing to 1,997 at the 2011 Census. Before 1996, it was part of the Borough of Harrogate.
Harrogate is a spa town and the administrative centre of the Borough of Harrogate in North Yorkshire, England. Historically in the West Riding of Yorkshire, the town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters and RHS Harlow Carr gardens. 13 miles (21 km) away from the town centre is the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the Nidderdale AONB. Harrogate grew out of two smaller settlements, High Harrogate and Low Harrogate, in the 17th century. For three consecutive years (2013–2015), polls voted the town as "the happiest place to live" in Britain.
Transdev Blazefield is a bus group, which operates local and regional bus services across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, England. Formed in August 1991, the group has been a subsidiary of French-based operator Transdev since January 2006.
The Harrogate line is a passenger rail line through parts of North Yorkshire and the West Yorkshire area of northern England connecting Leeds to York by way of Harrogate and Knaresborough. Service on the line is operated by Northern, with a few additional workings by London North Eastern Railway starting and terminating at Harrogate. West Yorkshire Metro's bus and rail MetroCard ticket is available for journeys between Leeds and Harrogate.
Bus deregulation in Great Britain was the transfer of operation of bus services from public bodies to private companies as legislated by the Transport Act 1985.
Headingley railway station is off Kirkstall Lane in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, on the Harrogate Line, 3 miles (5 km) north west of Leeds. The station was opened in 1849 by the Leeds & Thirsk Railway, later part of the Leeds Northern Railway to Northallerton.
Harrogate railway station serves the town of Harrogate in North Yorkshire, England. Located on the Harrogate Line it is 18.25 miles (29 km) north of Leeds. Northern Trains operate the station and provide local passenger train services, with a London North Eastern Railway service to and from London King's Cross running 6 times per day.
First York operates local bus services, with a network centring around the cathedral city of York, North Yorkshire, England. It is a subsidiary of FirstGroup, which operates bus, rail and tram services across the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Transdev York & Country operates both local and regional bus services in North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, England. It is a subsidiary of Transdev Blazefield, which operates bus services across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.
The Keighley Bus Company operates both local and regional bus services in West Yorkshire, England. It is a subsidiary of Transdev Blazefield, which operates bus services across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.
The Harrogate Bus Company operates both local and regional bus services in North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, England. It is a subsidiary of Transdev Blazefield, which operates bus services across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.
The West Yorkshire Road Car Company was a major bus operator operating in North and West Yorkshire between 1906 and 1987.
Transport within Leeds consists of extensive road, bus and rail networks. The city has good rail and road links to the rest of the country. Leeds railway station is one of the busiest in Britain, and Leeds is connected to the national road network via the A1(M) motorway, M1 motorway and M62 motorway. The city is served by Leeds Bradford Airport.
First West Yorkshire operates both local and regional bus services in West Yorkshire, England. It is a subsidiary of the FirstGroup, and is made up of three sub-division brands: First Bradford, First Halifax, Calder Valley & Huddersfield and First Leeds.
The 36 is a bus service operated by Harrogate Bus Company, which links Leeds, Harewood and Harrogate with Ripley and Ripon. It is operated by a fleet of high-specification Volvo B5TL/Wright Gemini 3 double-deck vehicles, branded in a red and black livery.
Team Pennine operates both local and regional bus services in West Yorkshire, England. It is a subsidiary of Transdev Blazefield, which operates bus services across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.
Skipton bus station is a small bus station that serves the town of Skipton, North Yorkshire, England.
York Pullman is a bus operating company based in Rufforth, England. The first company to use the Pullman name was founded in 1926 by Norman Pearce and Hartas Foxton. The Yorkshire Pullman remained in use until the company was deregistered in 2000.
Flyer is the current brand name of a trio of bus services that call at Leeds Bradford Airport in England. Numbered A1, A2 and A3, the routes serve a range of towns and cities in Yorkshire including Leeds, Bradford and Harrogate.
Media related to Connexionsbuses at Wikimedia Commons