Connexionsbuses

Harrogate Coach Travel[lower-alpha 1] operates local and regional bus services in North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, England.

Connexionsbuses
FoundedFebruary 2002 (2002-02)
HeadquartersTockwith, North Yorkshire
England
Service area
Service typeBus and coach
Fleet39 (at February 2016)
Managing DirectorCraig Temple
Websitewww.connexionsbuses.com

History

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Moortown and White Rose Centre on a commercial basis, after Yorkshire Tiger withdrew the service.[7] The service was withdrawn in September 2018 following competition from independent operator, SquarePeg Buses, as well as the expected implementation of a low-emission zone in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]

Fleet

Depots

As of May 2022, the company operates from a single depot in Tockwith.

Vehicles

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.

Wetherby Bus War

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]

Preservation
A Leyland National in the former South Yorkshire Transport livery.

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]

Notes
  1. Since March 2011, the company has traded under the name Connexionsbuses.
  2. Transdev Harrogate & District has since been rebranded as The Harrogate Bus Company.

References
  1. "Fleet in Focus". Buses. No. 720. March 2015. p. 81.
  2. "Making Connexions". Coach & Bus Week. No. 1226. 2 February 2016. pp. 16–22.
  3. "August Public Transport Changes" (PDF). Metro. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  4. New service from Harrogate to York Connexionsbuses 5 March 2011
  5. "Eddie Brown Tours stops running NYCC contracts". Coach & Bus Week. 15 December 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  6. "Eddie Brown 'unexpectedly' cancel Harrogate bus services". Halifax Courier. 19 December 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  7. "Connexions steps in". Routeone. 21 June 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  8. "Clean air plans prompt Connexions to quit Leeds route". Buses. No. 764. November 2018. p. 7.
  9. "Leeds bus spotter hands true-to-life BUS CAKE to drivers to mark final day of 38 service". Yorkshire Post. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  10. Connexions to take over service 64 in Leeds Connexionsbuses 26 October 2018
  11. "Connexions cuts back again in Ripon and Harrogate". Buses. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  12. "Utopia and Shaun's close". Buses. 21 September 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  13. "Harrogate to Wetherby bus war breaks out". BBC News. 4 July 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  14. "War erupts over bus service". Yorkshire Post. 9 July 2011. Archived from the original on 5 August 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  15. "Historic Vehicles". Connexionsbuses. Archived from the original on 26 October 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
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