Harrogate bus route 36

Riding Redefined 36 is a bus service operated by Harrogate Bus Company. The service links Ripon and Harrogate with Leeds, operated by a fleet of high-specification double-deck Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 vehicles, branded in the red and black Riding Redefined livery.[1]

36
A Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5TL, seen in the latest version of the Riding Redefined livery on Harrogate Road in Ripon, in April 2017.
Overview
Operator	Harrogate Bus Company
Depot	Starbeck
Vehicle	Volvo B5TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 3
Route
Start	Leeds
End	Ripon
Service
Frequency	Monday – Saturday: 10 minutes (Leeds to Harrogate) 20 minutes (Harrogate to Ripon) Sunday: 20 minutes (Leeds to Ripon) Evening: Hourly (Leeds to Ripon)
Route map Legend Route 36 Ripon Wormald Green South Stainley Ripley Killinghall The Hydro Harrogate Oatlands Pannal Harewood Alwoodley Moortown Chapel Allerton Leeds ← {{{previous_line}}}  {{{system_nav}}}  {{{next_line}}} →

The service is an example of a premium service characterised by more luxurious vehicles compared to those used on other commuter lines,[2] which in combination with a high service frequency has significantly increased ridership and influenced the modal split in favour of public transport.[3]

Trains on the Leeds to Northallerton Railway had provided the main service between Leeds and Ripon between 1848 and 1967, until passenger services were cut back to Harrogate, following the infamous Beeching cuts. Since then, Ripon has only been served by bus services, with Harrogate and Knaresborough being the nearest rail stations to the town.

The 36 was originally operated by the West Yorkshire Road Car Company from the mid 1960s, with the route running between Vicar Lane in Leeds and Ripon Railway Station. However, most journeys only operated between Leeds and Harrogate.

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.[4][5][6][2] 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] fitted with leather seating, WiFi, and USB charging points.[4]