Transdev Blazefield

[SCH117X]

Looks to be a PVR of 4 with no interworking (2 on the 2 with a 15 min dwell at the bus station, the 3 a 6 min dwell and the 6 16mins) which at least will stop delays on one route compounding across the rest. The current 2B is often stuck in queuing traffic on the A59 but that is not resolved by the route of the 2. Wonder if any of the Electrics will be disposed of - 805 in anycase does not seem to have been in use since early November; the school it is named after has been closed.

 

[NorthOxonian]

The economies on the Harrogate Electrics have been announced effective 19 February with a 2 replacing the 2A and 2B running every 20 minutes as opposed to the half hourly interval of each current service, the 3 being reduced to every 20 minutes from every 15 Mon-Fri, but increased to every 20 on Saturdays from half hourly, and the 6 having a simpler end to its route going from a 9 to a O shaped end of route. www.transdevbus.co.uk/harrogate/changes-harrogate-19-feb.

Looking at the changes to the 36 - has the northern section to Ripon always been half hourly? I'm sure when there were services every 10 minutes alternate journeys extended north, but I might be wrong on that.

 

[Ken H]

Looking at the changes to the 36 - has the northern section to Ripon always been half hourly? I'm sure when there were services every 10 minutes alternate journeys extended north, but I might be wrong on that.

In this 2011 timetable its every 15 minutes Leeds - Ripon. but goes to half hourly in the rush hour!!
Link goes to image of timetable https://timetableworld.com/ttw-viewer.php?token=872d9444-28d8-459b-8276-be0f50e4fea5

 

[Andyh82]

I guess that provides the answer as to how they will resource the 36's.

The new PVR looks to be about 5 and I think it’s 6 now, so with the 36 increase overall it’s a net increase in resources as that’ll need more than 1 extra bus

 

[Deerfold]

Looking at the changes to the 36 - has the northern section to Ripon always been half hourly? I'm sure when there were services every 10 minutes alternate journeys extended north, but I might be wrong on that.

The northern part of the 36 was every 20 minutes pre - Covid.

In the early 2000s the whole route 36/36A was every 20 minutes with additional peak journeys between Harrogate and Leeds.

 

[Stan Drews]

The new PVR looks to be about 5 and I think it’s 6 now, so with the 36 increase overall it’s a net increase in resources as that’ll need more than 1 extra bus

Yes, I’d agree with a PVR of 4 on the 2/3 plus 1 on the 6. I would expect the 2 and 3 will interwork, with 10 mins ‘charge time’ between 2>3 and 7 mins between 3>2.

 

[Leedsbusman]

Looks to be a PVR of 4 with no interworking (2 on the 2 with a 15 min dwell at the bus station, the 3 a 6 min dwell and the 6 16mins) which at least will stop delays on one route compounding across the rest. The current 2B is often stuck in queuing traffic on the A59 but that is not resolved by the route of the 2. Wonder if any of the Electrics will be disposed of - 805 in anycase does not seem to have been in use since early November; the school it is named after has been closed.

Are you sure?
3 leaves 15 and back 43 then every 20
2 leaves 10 and back 45 then every 20
Looks like 2 on each or 4 together
6 leaves 20 and back 43 then every 30
So 1 on that with a sixth bus at peak times on X6.

 

[Deerfold]

The 2, 3 and 6 will be free on Sundays in January and February again.

Harrogate electric buses to be free on Sundays

thestrayferret.co.uk

Free Sunday bus journeys are to return to Harrogate in January and February.

The Sunday Freeway, which is a partnership between Harrogate Business Improvement District and the Harrogate Bus Company.will enable passengers to travel for free into the town centre on the company’s electric buses.

The Sunday Freeway buses are routes 2A, 2B, 3 and 6, which link Bilton, Dene Park, The Knox, Jennyfield and Pannal Ash with the town centre.

 

[SCH117X]

The northern part of the 36 was every 20 minutes pre - Covid.

In the early 2000s the whole route 36/36A was every 20 minutes with additional peak journeys between Harrogate and Leeds.

Before that the 36 was half hourly and to prove nothing is new the 20 minute interval came about through the withdrawal of the X50; originally a Harrogate-York service it had been extended west via Otley and Ilkley to Skipton and that western section become the main part of the route.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

The new PVR looks to be about 5 and I think it’s 6 now, so with the 36 increase overall it’s a net increase in resources as that’ll need more than 1 extra bus

I thought it might be a couple of vehicles but I hadn't bothered to work it out

The northern part of the 36 was every 20 minutes pre - Covid.

In the early 2000s the whole route 36/36A was every 20 minutes with additional peak journeys between Harrogate and Leeds.

The 36 headway has changed a lot over the years.

• Between 1981 and 1987, it was hourly Ripon to Leeds, half hourly Harrogate to Leeds
• Then after Challenger introduced the 6 from Harrogate to Ripon so United introduced the X36 in response so 3 bph Ripon to Harrogate but half hourly Harrogate to Leeds
• After buying Challenger (c.1989/90??), Blazefield wrapped the 6 into the 36 as the 36A so Ripon to Leeds was half hourly plus the X36 still running hourly from Ripon to Harrogate
• Blazefield bought out United and I think it went every 20 mins throughout at the point
• Then it went to 20 mins (peak) and 15 mins (off peak) into the early 2010s

That brings you into the more modern times and when it got the uplift to 10 and 20 mins; I'm sure that I'll have misremembered bits and pieces

 

[SCH117X]

Uniteds Ripon operation was bought 27 Oct 1996 with no vehicles or depot involved - Blazefield took a temporary lease on the depot and based five Olympians from Keighley there along with some Leyland Lynxs to operate the acquired routes to which initially no changes were made. Source; Small is Beautiful, Keith A.Jenkinson, Auto Bus Review Publications 1999. There is then reference to serveral service changes taking place 1 Sept 1997 (Probably when the X36 was replaced by the 36A, incidentally that was when the Ripon-York service was commercially withdrawn). X36 then being used from 2 Aug 1998 for limited stop Harrogate-Leeds working and from which date it is stated the 36/36A was increased the 20 minute interval. The book staes it was Nov 1998 that the X50 was withdrawn which is not as I remembered it.

 

[Ken H]

Uniteds Ripon operation was bought 27 Oct 1996 with no vehicles or depot involved - Blazefield took a temporary lease on the depot and based five Olympians from Keighley there along with some Leyland Lynxs to operate the acquired routes to which initially no changes were made. Source; Small is Beautiful, Keith A.Jenkinson, Auto Bus Review Publications 1999. There is then reference to serveral service changes taking place 1 Sept 1997 (Probably when the X36 was replaced by the 36A, incidentally that was when the Ripon-York service was commercially withdrawn). X36 then being used from 2 Aug 1998 for limited stop Harrogate-Leeds working and from which date it is stated the 36/36A was increased the 20 minute interval. The book staes it was Nov 1998 that the X50 was withdrawn which is not as I remembered it.

I think Blazefield only bought Ripon to get total control of the 36. For many years West Yorkshire, then Blazefield had been dissatisfied with vehicle quality of the united vehicles.
Dont think it took long before Blazefield dumped the United routes because Proctors started Dales and District in 1998

 

[SCH117X]

United retained the services from Ripon northwards. Procters did acquire the Ripon-York service on tender although that passed back to Blazefield in Nov 1998. Aside from the 36/ X36 and York 142/143 the other services Blazefield acquired were the 56 and 57 which continued well into Transdev days before going elsewhere, Ripon City services and a Boroughbridge-Wetherby service.

 

[Ken H]

United retained the services from Ripon northwards. Procters did acquire the Ripon-York service on tender although that passed back to Blazefield in Nov 1998. Aside from the 36/ X36 and York 142/143 the other services Blazefield acquired were the 56 and 57 which continued well into Transdev days before going elsewhere, Ripon City services and a Boroughbridge-Wetherby service.

what about the services to Hawes?

 

[markymark2000]

The economies on the Harrogate Electrics have been announced effective 19 February with a 2 replacing the 2A and 2B running every 20 minutes as opposed to the half hourly interval of each current service, the 3 being reduced to every 20 minutes from every 15 Mon-Fri, but increased to every 20 on Saturdays from half hourly, and the 6 having a simpler end to its route going from a 9 to a O shaped end of route. www.transdevbus.co.uk/harrogate/changes-harrogate-19-feb.

The timetable layout used there is godawful. Why does Transdev have to make it so difficult for people to plan their journeys? The new route 2 timetable, 35 minute round trip and the only times that they reasonably offer are departure from Harrogate, arrival at Bilton Knox Way and departure from Bilton Dene Park to the bus station. If people want to work it out for a single intermediate point (Dene Park outbound, Knox Way inbound), they have to take the time from the starting point and add so many minutes on. Just provide a basic table format timetable that is easy to read. I don't see why they have decided that making it easy to plan bus journeys is beyond them. One of the worst timetables that I have ever seen in my life.

 

[Deerfold]

The timetable layout used there is godawful. Why does Transdev have to make it so difficult for people to plan their journeys? The new route 2 timetable, 35 minute round trip and the only times that they reasonably offer are departure from Harrogate, arrival at Bilton Knox Way and departure from Bilton Dene Park to the bus station. If people want to work it out for a single intermediate point (Dene Park outbound, Knox Way inbound), they have to take the time from the starting point and add so many minutes on. Just provide a basic table format timetable that is easy to read. I don't see why they have decided that making it easy to plan bus journeys is beyond them. One of the worst timetables that I have ever seen in my life.

I'm guessing that's just a summary (though I understand what you're saying). Their final timetables usually have that summary and then a normal timetable (such as the one for the current 2A/2B).

 

[SCH117X]

what about the services to Hawes?

Was retained by United, worked from Richmond.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Uniteds Ripon operation was bought 27 Oct 1996 with no vehicles or depot involved - Blazefield took a temporary lease on the depot and based five Olympians from Keighley there along with some Leyland Lynxs to operate the acquired routes to which initially no changes were made. Source; Small is Beautiful, Keith A.Jenkinson, Auto Bus Review Publications 1999. There is then reference to serveral service changes taking place 1 Sept 1997 (Probably when the X36 was replaced by the 36A, incidentally that was when the Ripon-York service was commercially withdrawn). X36 then being used from 2 Aug 1998 for limited stop Harrogate-Leeds working and from which date it is stated the 36/36A was increased the 20 minute interval. The book staes it was Nov 1998 that the X50 was withdrawn which is not as I remembered it.

I think Blazefield only bought Ripon to get total control of the 36. For many years West Yorkshire, then Blazefield had been dissatisfied with vehicle quality of the united vehicles.
Dont think it took long before Blazefield dumped the United routes because Proctors started Dales and District in 1998

It is well documented that Blazefield bought out United's Ripon depot for the 36 board mainly. The majority of customer complaints related to United journeys that were often operated by vehicles much older than the Blazefield fleet. Except for the very last days, you would see H&D Lynxes or B10Bs on the 36 but United using a dual purpose Tiger; on the X36, it could be anything from a decker to an LH to a Dodge minibus.

When they sold out, Blazefield did indeed gain the 36 board they cherished as well as the 56/57. They were happy to sacrifice the 142/143.

Was retained by United, worked from Richmond.

Not quite. The 159 from Hawes was worked by Gayle outstation (though it was an O/S of Richmond). The same bus did the 145 out to Grantley and Fountains Abbey. The 146 was retained by Richmond depot. So was the 70 from Northallerton and Richmond, up until Arriva closed Richmond depot some 10 years later.

Best stop there or I'll get a carpeting from the mods

 

[SCH117X]

They were happy to sacrifice the 142/143.

The original timetable they issued after the takeover had a comment that they were looking to improve the Ripon-York service so initally it appeared they were going to keep it.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

The original timetable they issued after the takeover had a comment that they were looking to improve the Ripon-York service so initaily it appeared they were going to keep it.

It was always distinctly marginal and being some distance from their existing depots (I think they still had Knaresborough?), it was going to be difficult. When Blazefield bought the operations, I think the properties had already been separated from United aka National Express Group. Certainly, Ripon bus station was retained by Westcourt Properties (that was part of Westcourt Group that had sold out to West Mids Travel) for redevelopment.

 

[SCH117X]

The current Starbeck depot came into use in September 1999 (Source the book I referenced previously) with the smaller depots at Starbeck and Knaresborough being closed. Knaresborough was used later a period for school buses.

 

[Swimbar]

It is well documented that Blazefield bought out United's Ripon depot for the 36 board mainly. The majority of customer complaints related to United journeys that were often operated by vehicles much older than the Blazefield fleet. Except for the very last days, you would see H&D Lynxes or B10Bs on the 36 but United using a dual purpose Tiger; on the X36, it could be anything from a decker to an LH to a Dodge minibus.

Didn't United base a new Bristol VRT at Ripon for some years to work the 36?

 

[GusB]

I think we should keep to discussing current Transdev operations rather than diverting via Memory Lane!

Feel free to start a new thread if you wish to discuss the historical aspects of their services.

 

[Andyh82]

Good news for Transdev is that Connexions are withdrawing peak hour journeys on their competitive Knaresborough Road services. The X1/X1A will now only run between 9am and 3pm on schooldays

There is a PDF here

http://www.connexionsbuses.com/content/uploads/2023/01/X1-timetable-change-22-1-23.pdf

 

[RustySpoons]

Good news for Transdev is that Connexions are withdrawing peak hour journeys on their competitive Knaresborough Road services. The X1/X1A will now only run between 9am and 3pm on schooldays

There is a PDF here

http://www.connexionsbuses.com/content/uploads/2023/01/X1-timetable-change-22-1-23.pdf

Don't see how a service that only runs when the majority of passengers don't travel can still be justified, especially when Transdev run a full service for 16 hours a day... Doubt it'll be a problem for Transdev for much longer.

 

[SCH117X]

Most regular paying customers have stayed with Transdev anyway using weekly etc passes which allow use in the evenings and Sundays when Connexions never run. Similar to the issue First had competing with Coastliner between Leeds and York.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Don't see how a service that only runs when the majority of passengers don't travel can still be justified, especially when Transdev run a full service for 16 hours a day... Doubt it'll be a problem for Transdev for much longer.

They’ll simply be working around schools so marginally costed and look to hoover up concessionary passes

 

[Andyh82]

The threat of the Whitby leg of the Coastliner being withdrawn is the main story on Look North (Leeds version) today

This thread’s favourite person also makes an appearance in the report

Watch on iPlayer

 

[Goldfish62]

The threat of the Whitby leg of the Coastliner being withdrawn is the main story on Look North (Leeds version) today

This thread’s favourite person also makes an appearance in the report

Watch on iPlayer

Thanks, just watched it.

 

[leedslad82]

Just seen on another forum site the following services been withdrawn

PB0001748/123 Cancelled
KEIGHLEY & DISTRICT TRAVEL LTD
Route: Otley Bus Station to Otley Bus Station
Service number: Dash
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 19 Feb 2023

PB0001748/120 Cancelled
KEIGHLEY & DISTRICT TRAVEL LTD
Route: Otley to Ilkley
Service number: 962
Service type: Hail & Ride, Normal Stopping
Effective date: 19 Feb 2023

PB0001748/119 Cancelled
KEIGHLEY & DISTRICT TRAVEL LTD
Route: Eccleshill, Park Road to Apperley Bridge Rail Station
Service number: 948
Service type: Hail & Ride, Normal Stopping
Effective date: 19 Feb 2023