A new bus service is set to once again serve Wedderburn Road in Harrogate.
The X4, operated by Connexions, will offer two return services a day from Monday to Friday.
It will depart from Harrogate Bus Station to Wedderburn Road, via Wetherby Road, and will return to the bus station via Knaresborough Road.
The X4 will leave Harrogate at 10.30am and 1pm, and will return from Wedderburn Road at 10.42am and 1.12pm, Monday to Friday.
A Connexions spokesperson told the Stray Ferret the X4 service will begin operating on May 20.
They said, due to “registration reasons”, the service will be free to ride between May 20 and June 3. After that, the £2 bus fare cap will apply.
The spokesperson added:
“We wanted to give people in that area a service since they didn’t have one.
“I just hope as many people use it as possible to make sure it keeps running.”
The service is funded solely by Connexions, the spokesperson said.
The news comes after the 104 service, which ran between Wedderburn Road and Harrogate town centre, was scrapped in November 2018.
Nearby residents and councillors have since called for the service to be reinstated, as one local told the Stray Ferret the removal of the service was like a “slap in the face”.
Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, Andrew Jones, responded to the news:
“It has been many years since there was a bus service from Wedderburn Road into town. Local councillors and I tried repeatedly to persuade bus companies to re-instate a service.
“Whilst this is a low number of services per day I hope that residents are able to use the service and demonstrate to the operators that there is demand for the service to grow.”
Read more:
- Historic Harrogate Arms reopens for first time in a decade
- Harrogate primary school appoints new headteacher
- Fresh calls to reinstate Harrogate Wedderburn bus
Business Breakfast: Connexions to withdraw Knaresborough-Harrogate bus service
The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is a breakfast event on Thursday, October 26 at Banyan in Harrogate from 8am to 10am.
The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.
Connexions, the family-run bus operator based at Tockwith, is to withdraw its X1 service in two weeks’ time.
The last X1 service, which runs from St James’ Retail Park to Harrogate via Knaresborough High Street and Starbeck, will run on Friday, November 3.
Connexions managing director Craig Temple told the Stray Ferret:
“We do have quite a lot of passengers on that route, but it loses more money during the school holidays than it makes during term-time.
“Our costs have soared – it’s incredibly difficult. Since covid, not many people want to drive buses, so we’ve had to put up wages by 25% over the last two years.
“Fuel costs have risen, insurance has gone up by a third, and concessionary fare reimbursement hasn’t kept up with rising costs. We’re also losing money because of the £2 fare-cap because the government doesn’t cover the costs adequately.”
He added that customers would not be left “high and dry” because the X1 route was serviced by other buses, and said that all the company’s other routes remain unchanged.
Connexions currently operates 37 bus services, including many school buses, on routes around York, Leeds, Tadcaster, Otley, Harrogate and Knaresborough.
CNG liquidator appointed
A liquidator has been appointed to oversee the final chapter in CNG Group’s saga.
The commercial gas supplier was once one of Harrogate’s fastest-growing and most successful businesses, and a sponsorship deal with Harrogate Town AFC even saw the club’s ground renamed the CNG Stadium.
But a surge in wholesale gas prices made it uneconomical for many providers to continue to trade, and CNG collapsed in November 2021 owing £82m, with the loss of all 145 jobs. At the time, it was the 19th energy supplier to fail that year.
The group’s creditors have appointed Timothy Bateson, director of national business advisory company Interpath Ltd, as liquidator.
Read more:
- Business Breakfast: House prices stabilise, data suggest
- Business Breakfast: Cedar Court managers launch new company
- Business Breakfast: Masham brewery announces leadership changes
Government extends £2 bus fare cap for three months
The government has announced that a cap on single ticket bus fares will be extended for three months.
The move means single bus fares will be capped at £2 until the end of June 2023.
It could be good news for passengers of the Harrogate Bus Company and Connexions Buses, which are among more than 130 transport firms taking part in the current £2 fare cap supported by government funding.
It was introduced at the start of January and was due to finish at the end of March. But the Department for Transport announced today it was providing £75 million to extend the scheme until the end of June.
It added that details of the bus operators which are continuing the £2 fare cap scheme would be confirmed in “due course”.
The Stray Ferret has contacted Harrogate Bus Company and Connexions to confirm whether it will be continuing the scheme.
The £2 cap has reduced the cost of a 29-mile journey from Ripon to Leeds on the 36 bus by 73 per cent from £7.50 to £2, while the cost of a ticket from Harrogate to Bradford on the Flyer A2 has fallen by 63 per cent from £5.40 to £2.
Ministers hope the initiative will reinvigorate bus services amid fears many routes will be cut when funding runs out.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:
“I want to make bus travel affordable for all, that’s why we’re continuing to cap fares at £2 and protecting local routes, ensuring we have a modern and efficient network that’s accessible for everyone.
“Getting more people onto reliable and affordable buses will strengthen communities and help grow the economy – connecting people to jobs, driving pensioners to see friends and family, and helping people attend medical appointments or access education.”
Read more:
- Bilton bus services to merge under new route changes
- Public control of North Yorkshire bus network ‘not realistic’, says transport chief
- North Yorkshire bus routes may avoid financial ‘cliff edge’, says transport boss
Meanwhile, the government also announced a further £80 million in bus recovery grants.
The grants are designed to help to support commercial bus operators in England due to the ongoing impacts of coronavirus and drop in passenger numbers.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said:
£2 cap on Harrogate district bus fares starts today“Travelling by bus remains the most popular option for commuters and families across the country, but the sector is still trying to recover after the end of the pandemic.
“We’re providing £155 million to help passengers save money on fares, get more people on the bus and protect vital bus routes – helping with the cost of living and enabling people to get where they need to in an affordable and convenient way.”
Bus fares charged by the Harrogate Bus Company and Connexions Buses will be capped at £2 for three months starting from today.
The two companies are among more than 130 transport firms taking part in the government-funded Help for Household scheme.
The scheme, supported by £60m of taxpayer money, will cap single bus fares on more than 4,600 routes.
Ministers hope the initiative will reinvigorate bus services amid fears many routes will be cut when funding runs out.
For buses run by Transdev, the French-owned parent company of the Harrogate Bus Company, it means a 29-mile journey from Ripon to Leeds on the 36 bus will be reduced by 73 per cent from £7.50 to £2, while the cost of a ticket from Harrogate to Bradford on the Flyer A2 will be reduced by 63 per cent from £5.40 to £2.
The maximum single fare for any Transdev one-way bus journey has been cut to just £2 – including the 84-mile journey from Leeds to Whitby.
The £2 single fare is available anytime, anywhere and on any day from bus drivers using cash or contactless payment.
All Transdev single fares which are already lower than £2, and all other day and longer-term tickets will remain at their current prices.
Read more:
- Harrogate district single bus fares to be capped at £2
- Harrogate electric buses to be free on Sundays
Transdev chief executive Alex Hornby said:
“We are delighted to be able to offer this amazing promotion to our customers throughout Yorkshire and into Lancashire and Greater Manchester, thanks to our continued partnership with industry partners and UK government.
Buses Minister Richard Holden MP said:
“Brits love buses. They’re the most popular form of public transport in England, making up half of all journeys. So, we’re investing £60 million to cap single bus fares at £2 to help families, students and commuters and help get people back on the bus.”
Harrogate district single bus fares to be capped at £2
Bus tickets in the Harrogate district are set to be capped at £2 for three months as part of a government scheme.
The Get Around initiative is funded by the Department for Transport and will run from January 1 to March 31 next year.
It will see single tickets on services capped for 130 bus companies across England.
Both Harrogate Bus Company and Connexions Buses will be taking part in the scheme.
https://twitter.com/harrogatebus/status/1604777134941167620
Buses Minister Richard Holden said:
“Brits love buses. They’re the most popular form of public transport in England, making up half of all journeys. So we’re investing £60 million to cap single bus fares at £2 to help families, students and commuters and help get people back on the bus.
“The scheme will also take two million car journeys off the road and it’s fantastic to see so many bus operators signing up.”
The scheme forms part of the government’s Help for Households campaign, which provides help with the cost of living increase.
Ministers said the move will help the bus industry continue to recover from the covid pandemic.
North Yorkshire bus services face ‘grave situation’
It comes as concern has been raised over the future of bus services in the Harrogate district.
Last month, Cllr Keane Duncan, executive member for highways and transportation at North Yorkshire County Council, said the county’s bus network was “facing a really grave situation”.
Read More:
- ‘Use it or lose it’ warning as bus passenger numbers fall across Harrogate district
- YorBus: On-demand service’s running costs are twice as much as regular buses
Cllr Duncan said bus services in the county were facing unprecedented pressure due to higher costs and passenger numbers.
He added:
“The message across the county is use it or lose it. We need people to support these services.”
Liberal Democrat councillor for Pateley Bridge, Andrew Murday, said residents of his division faced having just two services a day to Harrogate.
He said:
Harrogate bus firm prepares to mark 20 years this weekend“We just have to do something about bus services, and encourage more people onto buses. We need to know how we are going to go about discouraging people from driving and encouraging people on to buses, so bus services can thrive.”
A day of free bus rides and a gathering of old vehicles will be held this weekend to mark the 20th anniversary of a local business.
Connexions buses was founded in 2002 by Craig and Julie Temple, who still run the company today.
To celebrate the occasion, Connexions is hosting a running day at Wetherby Racecourse on Sunday, with modern and vintage buses on show. The oldest will be from 1948, with a number from the following decades and one brand-new bus.
Mr Temple said:
“It’s the first time we’ve done anything like this, but as it’s our 20th anniversary I thought we would make a bit of an effort.”
Read more:
- Bus services ‘facing potential cliff-edge’
- Hot Seat: Farewell to the Harrogate district’s transport chief
Having run the business for two decades, Mr Temple said the last few years have been among the most challenging.
As the company began its recovery from the covid pandemic, while an industry shortage of drivers has put extra pressure on.
“Covid has a lot to answer for. It made people realise they could live on less money or they didn’t want to work as much and preferred their time at home with family.
“People have had nearly a year off driving and it’s appalling how rude and aggressive a lot of people are on the roads now. We see it every day.
“When drivers have left us, it’s not for a driving job somewhere else, it’s to do something totally different.”
Rising costs and expectations
Meanwhile, technology has been revolutionised in the last 20 years, while Mr Temple said customer expectations have also risen significantly.
In the last few months, fuel prices have added to the challenges facing the company. Mr Temple said:
“Fuel prices have massively affected us. We’re a relatively small operation – we have a fleet of 40 vehicles.
“We are paying nearly £12,000 a week more than nine months ago.
“It’s incredibly hard because the customers are the only place it can come from. We’re a good alternative to having to pay more for the car fuel, but us having to put our prices up isn’t helping.
“We get what’s called the Bus Service Operators Grant, a subsidy on the fuel, but it’s 10 or 15 years since it was changed, despite the fuel price having increased. It isn’t helping us very much.”
Setting aside the challenges they face, Sunday will be a day of celebration Craig and his team – including his 19-year-old son, who has joined the family firm as a driver.
Free shuttle buses will run every half hour from Harrogate railway station to Wetherby and the racecourse, then on to York.
The gates will be open from 10am to 4pm and anyone is welcome to attend free.