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Harrogate bus route 36

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The Harrogate Bus Company
Route 36
Overview
OperatorThe Harrogate Bus Company
DepotStarbeck
VehicleWright Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5TL (2016–2024)
Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV (2024–)
Route
LocaleNorth Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
Termini
Service
FrequencyEvery 10 minutes (Leeds to Harrogate) Every 30 minutes (Leeds to Ripon)
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The 36 is a bus service operated by The Harrogate Bus Company, which links Leeds, Harewood and Harrogate with Ripley and Ripon. It is operated by a fleet of high-specification Wright Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5TL double-deck vehicles, branded in a red and black livery.[1]

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]

History

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A selection of historic buses and liveries

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 city.

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 Lynxes. In the 1990s, they were replaced by a fleet of Alexander Strider and Wright Endurance bodied Volvo B10Bs, Wright Renown bodied Volvo B10BLEs and Alexander Royale bodied Volvo Olympians.[citation needed]

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 2011, the 36 fleet underwent a refurbishment program. The route received a new identity – named ‘36 City Connect’ – and a new red and black livery was introduced, alongside the addition of new leather coach-style seats, and the introduction of a 2+1 seating arrangement behind the staircase upstairs. The buses were also fitted with new new front fascias, as seen on their facelifted second generation model, and new powertrains.[citation needed]

In January 2016, route 36 was again relaunched with fourteen new Wright Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5TLs,[8][9] fitted with coach-style leather seating and passenger amenities such as WiFi connectivity, USB charging points, an on-board library and audio-visual next stop information.[4] It also launched under a new brand name – "The 36: Riding Redefined".[10]

In October 2017, a new timetable for route 36 was introduced, increasing the frequency from every 15 minutes to every 10 minutes between Leeds and Harrogate.[11] To accommodate the increased service, three additional Wright Gemini 3 buses were added to the fleet.

In September 2021, a night service was reintroduced on Saturdays.[12]

Funding from the UK Government's Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) scheme was secured in May 2022 to aid Transdev Blazefield and North Yorkshire County Council in the electrification of the 36, which will see nineteen Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV battery electric double-decker buses with pantograph chargers delivered to replace the existing diesel Volvo B5TLs on the service.[13][14] The first Enviro400EV was revealed at an unveiling event in June.[15][16] They were announced to be expected to start entering service from early September.[17][18][19][20][21]

References

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  1. ^ "36 - Ripon & Harrogate to Leeds". The Harrogate Bus Company. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  2. ^ a b Plisner, P. (4 February 2005). "Posh bus". Bus and Coach Professional (97): 18–20.
  3. ^ White, Peter (2011). "Discussion Paper: Equitable access: Remote and rural communities 'transport needs'" (PDF). International Transport Forum. International Transport Forum Discussion Papers. doi:10.1787/5kg9mq4wlzkk-en. hdl:10419/68817.
  4. ^ a b Jones, Stuart (26 January 2016). "Transdev Harrogate redefines the 36". Bus and Coach Buyer. Archived from the original on 5 September 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  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. ^ Transdev Harrogate redefines the 36 Bus & Coach Buyer 26 January 2016
  9. ^ £3m touch of luxury for Harrogate-Leeds no 36 rock star of buses Harrogate Advertiser 29 January 2016
  10. ^ "The 36: Riding, Redefined". Transdev. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  11. ^ "RIDING. REDEFINED...AGAIN". The Harrogate Bus Company. 2 October 2017. Archived from the original on 6 October 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  12. ^ Chalmers, Graham (2 September 2021). "New services announced as Harrogate Bus Company gets back to normal". Harrogate Advertiser. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  13. ^ Webster, Jacob (31 March 2022). "Millions awarded to turn Harrogate's bus fleet electric". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  14. ^ Kitchen, Ruby (14 May 2022). "How electric buses could be 'force for good' to ease travel woes as Harrogate bucks transport trend". The Yorkshire Post. Leeds. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Harrogate bus firm unveil brand new electric buses". Your Harrogate. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  16. ^ Chalmers, Graham (18 June 2024). "Crowds get a glimpse of Harrogate's first all-electric double decker as a revolution in the roads begins in style". Harrogate Advertiser. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  17. ^ "Our new electric buses". Transdev. 16 August 2023. Archived from the original on 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  18. ^ Plummer, John (16 August 2023). "Harrogate Bus Company places £21m order for 39 electric buses". The Stray Ferret. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  19. ^ "Transdev orders eCitaro and Enviro400EV for Harrogate". routeone. 16 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  20. ^ Chalmers, Graham (20 May 2024). "This is when Harrogate new £21 million electric bus fleet will be launched and what passengers can expect". Harrogate Advertiser.
  21. ^ Halford, Paul (18 June 2024). "New bus for iconic Harrogate 36 service is 'another level'". routeone. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
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