First Bus and City of York Council have announced an expansion of operating hours for the city’s park-and-ride network, with earlier departures and later evening returns from all six sites.
Beginning 20 July, weekday and Saturday services will commence at 0530hrs (Sunday operations will start at 0730hrs) and will run until 2230hrs daily. Five of the six park-and-ride routes will serve York railway station directly, with the first arrival by 0545, while the sixth route, Grimston Bar, connects directly to the city centre.
The changes have been funded through the city’s £17.3 million Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). They aim to support shift workers, early rail passengers and the city’s expanding evening economy while discouraging car use. It marks the first time York’s entire park-and-ride system will operate on a uniform timetable, and the announcement coincides with a planned increase in bus frequency across the network during the school holidays and peak tourism season; from 20 July to 7 September, additional services will run on all routes Monday-Friday, and on routes seven and eight on Saturdays.
Other plans under the BSIP include fare reductions, new infrastructure and better reliability.
“Residents, commuters and visitors have asked us to run the park-and-ride earlier in the morning and later into the evening, and we’re delighted to confirm these extended hours will start from 20 July,” says Cllr Kate Ravilious, Executive Member for Transport at City of York Council. “This expansion is part of our commitment to giving people more travel options and making York a cleaner, more affordable and more sustainable city.
“The six park-and-ride sites cover every corner of York and with up to three children traveling free with a paying adult, they offer an excellent alternative to driving. They also make an invaluable contribution to reducing congestion across our city. We’ve also recently unveiled plans to open up two sites for overnight parking and will be announcing the next steps on these shortly.”
Comments Andy Cullen, Managing Director of First Bus North and West Yorkshire: “This will help commuters and shift workers with connections to train services at the very start and end of the day. The extension of services into the late evening will also be a real boost for visitors to York’s leisure and entertainment venues, as well as supporting the hospitality sector. It reflects our continued commitment to work in partnership with City of York Council to build the park-and-ride network for the benefit of local people and visitors to help grow the city’s economy.”
Adds Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood: “I’m delighted that Mayor of York and North Yorkshire David Skaith is already delivering major improvements with our £12 million investment and moving ahead with plans to bring buses under local control. From cheaper fares to extended park and ride hours, these changes are kickstarting a bus revolution that drives economic growth and ensures people have proper access to jobs and opportunities, as we deliver the Plan for Change.”
