Connexionsbuses

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.{{Cite news |date=March 2015 |title=Fleet in Focus |pages=81 |work=Buses |issue=720}}{{Cite news |date=2 February 2016 |title=Making Connexions |pages=16–22 |work=Coach & Bus Week |issue=1226}}

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.{{Cite web |title=August Public Transport Changes |url=http://www.wymetro.com/NR/rdonlyres/C5306F80-9775-4B54-BF91-D8E4CA4A29B7/0/CT53_infoleaflet.pdf |publisher=Metro |accessdate=5 August 2010}}{{dead link|date=November 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}

In March 2011, the company was rebranded as Connexionsbuses.

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.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110722073715/http://www.harrogatecoachtravel.com/harrogate-to-york.htm New service from Harrogate to York] Connexionsbuses 5 March 2011 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.

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.{{Cite web |date=2014-12-15 |title=Eddie Brown Tours stops running NYCC contracts |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/eddie-brown-tours-stops-running-nycc-contracts/ |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=Coach & Bus Week |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=19 December 2014 |title=Eddie Brown 'unexpectedly' cancel Harrogate bus services |url=https://www.northyorkshirenews.com/news/politics/council/eddie-brown-unexpectedly-cancel-harrogate-bus-services-2494440 |access-date=26 May 2022 |website=Halifax Courier}}

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.{{Cite web |date=2016-06-21 |title=Connexions steps in |url=https://www.route-one.net/bus-routes/connexions_steps_in/ |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=Routeone |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite news |date=November 2018 |title=Clean air plans prompt Connexions to quit Leeds route |pages=7 |work=Buses |issue=764}}{{Cite web |date=28 September 2018 |title=Leeds bus spotter hands true-to-life BUS CAKE to drivers to mark final day of 38 service |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/leeds-bus-spotter-hands-true-life-bus-cake-drivers-mark-final-day-38-service-571472 |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=Yorkshire Post |language=en}}

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.[https://web.archive.org/web/20190324051357/http://www.connexionsbuses.com/uncategorized/connexions-to-take-over-service-64-in-leeds/ Connexions to take over service 64 in Leeds] Connexionsbuses 26 October 2018

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.{{Cite web |date=15 November 2018 |title=Connexions cuts back again in Ripon and Harrogate |url=https://www.keybuses.com/article/connexions-cuts-back-again-ripon-and-harrogate |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=Buses |language=en}} The company had operated local services in the city since September 2017, following the cessation of Shaun's Travel.{{Cite web |date=21 September 2017 |title=Utopia and Shaun's close |url=https://www.keybuses.com/article/utopia-and-shauns-close |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=Buses |language=en}}

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.{{Efn|Transdev Harrogate & District has since been rebranded as The Harrogate Bus Company.}} It concerned bus services operating in and around the market town of Wetherby.{{Cite news |date=2011-07-04 |title=Harrogate to Wetherby bus war breaks out |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-14017780 |access-date=2022-04-22}}{{Cite web |date=9 July 2011 |title=War erupts over bus service |url=http://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/transport/war-erupts-over-bus-service-1-3556139 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805224638/http://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/transport/war-erupts-over-bus-service-1-3556139 |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 August 2016 |access-date=22 April 2022 |website=Yorkshire Post}}

File:20190727-Connexions-FWA475V (5).jpg 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.{{cite web |title=Historic Vehicles |url=http://www.connexionsbuses.com/historic-vehicles/ |website=Connexionsbuses |accessdate=26 October 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026181352/http://www.connexionsbuses.com/historic-vehicles/ |archivedate=26 October 2019}}

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{{Reflist}}

• {{commons category-inline}}
• [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/04367719 Connexionsbuses (Harrogate Coach Travel)] on Companies House
• [http://www.connexionsbuses.com/ Connexionsbuses] website

{{Bus companies in Yorkshire|state=collapsed}}

Category:Bus operators in North Yorkshire

Category:Bus operators in West Yorkshire

Category:Companies based in Harrogate

Category:Transport companies established in 2002

Category:2002 establishments in England