Harrogate bus route 36

Overview
Operator Harrogate Bus Company
Vehicle Volvo B5TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 3
Route
Start Ripon
Via South Stainley
Ripley
Killinghall
Harrogate bus station
Pannal
Harewood
Moortown
End Leeds City bus station

Route 36 is a bus service operated by Harrogate Bus Company between Ripon, Harrogate and Leeds, serving the commuter market between Harrogate and Leeds as well as the more rural hinterland between Ripon and Harrogate. It is an example of a premium service characterised by more luxurious vehicles compared to those used on other commuter lines,[1][2] which in combination with a high service frequency has significantly increased ridership and influenced the modal split in favour of public transport.[3][4]

History

Trains on the Leeds–Northallerton Railway had provided much of the public transport services between Ripon and Leeds from 1848 until 1967 when passenger services were cut back to Harrogate. Since then, Ripon has only had bus services.

Route 36 began operating using a fleet of Leyland Lynxs. In the 1990s, they were replaced by a fleet of Wright Renown bodied Volvo B10BLEs and Alexander Royale bodied Volvo Olympians.

In October 2003, Harrogate & District relaunched route 36 with fourteen Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TLs with leather seats.[5][6][1] The improvements lead to an increase in patronage by 18% in 2006 alone.[7] In 2010, the fleet was refurbished and remodelled with a new livery and 2+1 seating on the upper deck.[8][9][10]

In January 2016, route 36 was again relaunched with fourteen new Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5TLs.[9][10]

Seven of the fourteen B7TLs (3601-07) were transferred to Blackburn Bus Company for use on its new Red Express service to Manchester.[11] A further five (3608-12) were transferred to Transdev York for use on its new CityZap service between York and Leeds.[12][13] The remaining two (3613/14) were kept by Harrogate Bus Company as spare buses.

Route

Route 36 operates via:[14]

References

  1. 1 2 P. Plisner (4 February 2005). "Posh bus". Bus and Coach Professional: 18–20.
  2. ↑ Giles Fearnley (2004). "Comment faire sortir le conducteur de BMW de sa voiture". Public transport international (in French). 53 (4): 18–19. ISSN 1029-1261.
  3. ↑ E. H. Beale (2004). Improving Bus Imagine: Effects of Introducing Luxury Buses on the Ripon – Harrogate – Leeds Route. University of Leeds: Institute for Transport Studies (MSc dissertation.
  4. ↑ Peter White. "Equitable access: Remote and rural communities 'transport needs'" (PDF). International Transport Forum Discussion Paper (2011–19). doi:10.1787/5kg9mq4wlzkk-en.
  5. ↑ Commuters lured by luxury bus BBC News 27 October 2003
  6. ↑ Route 36 Harrogate Bus Company Accessed 26 February 2017
  7. ↑ The Ten Percent Club (2006). Routes to revenue growth: the message from nine successful bus services. London: Local Transport Today Limited.
  8. ↑ The famous Yorkshire 36 set to be the finest bus Transdev 22 January 2016
  9. 1 2 Transdev Harrogate redefines the 36 Bus & Coach Buyer 26 January 2016
  10. 1 2 £3m touch of luxury for Harrogate-Leeds no 36 rock star of buses Harrogate Advertiser 29 January 2016
  11. ↑ Lancashire United launches rebranded X41 Coach & Bus Week 4 April 2016
  12. ↑ Transdev launches new express services between York and Leeds Coach & Bus Week 21 March 2016
  13. ↑ Transdev Blazefield: A gimmick for growth Route One 22 June 2016
  14. ↑ 36 Leeds - Harrogate - Ripon Harrogate Bus Company

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