Jonathan Welch reports from the launch of Transdev’s new route 36 buses for its Harrogate Bus Company subsidiary
It doesn’t seem all that long ago that I attended the launch of Transdev’s latest WitchWay double-deckers, though that was back in late January 2021, and the event was dampened by thoroughly miserable and wet winter weather. There were no such worries this time around though, as Transdev’s Harrogate Bus Company launched the latest high-spec double-deckers to enter its fleet in the shape of new Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV electrics for its route 36 between Leeds and Ripon via the famous North Yorkshire spa town.
The launch event was held outside Harrogate’s Yorkshire Hotel, and as well as the unveiling of the first vehicle, featured entertainment, refreshments, family fun events, and thankfully, warm sunshine and blue skies.
Transdev described the event as a ‘movie star’ launch, and the festivities certainly attracted the attention of passers-by.
Also on display was a Mercedes-Benz eCitaro demonstrator, giving a flavour of what is to come for local services around Harrogate, where 20 of the type will join existing Volvo 7900 electrics on local services. Transdev naturally took advantage of the interest to promote the route, with timetables and publicity, but also used it to push its recruitment drive, advertising its driving roles across the region. Hidden under a black cloth outside the hotel until its reveal, the new Enviro400EV represented the first of 19 of the battery-electric buses for the operator’s route 36, which has long been one of its most high-profile routes across the north of England and featured high-specification buses. The operator follows Stagecoach Oxford as the second customer for Alexander Dennis’ new model, and will be the first to employ such buses on an intensive interurban service involving long stretches of interurban running at higher speeds.
Overhead charging
[…]By subscribing you will benefit from:
- Operator & Supplier Profiles
- Face-to-Face Interviews
- Lastest News
- Test Drives and Reviews
- Legal Updates
- Route Focus
- Industry Insider Opinions
- Passenger Perspective
- Vehicle Launches
- and much more!
