Canterbury Park and Ride
Canterbury Park and Ride | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| General information | |
| Location | Canterbury Canterbury |
| Operated by | Stagecoach South East (with funding from Canterbury City Council) |
| Connections | Canterbury East railway station, Canterbury Bus Station |
| Other information | |
| Website | https://www.canterbury.gov.uk/parking-and-roads/park-and-ride |
Canterbury Park and Ride is a park and ride system operated by Stagecoach South East in the English historic cathedral city of Canterbury. It was designed to reduce pollution in the city centre.
History[edit]
The Park and Ride scheme was launched in 1991.[1] Initially, it was operated by the East Kent Road Car Company using three single-deck vehicles. The company was subsequently taken over by the Stagecoach Group in 1993.[2] The service was then managed by Stagecoach until 2008 when it was transferred to the council-owned operator Kent Top Travel.[3] In the summer of 2013, after the expiration of the five-year contract with Kent Top Travel, the service returned to Stagecoach operation. Stagecoach proposed improvements to the Park & Ride scheme, including free Wi-Fi, extended operating hours, and the use of a new fleet of environmentally friendly buses.[4]
Operation[edit]
Wincheap, Sturry Road and New Dover Road Park & Ride routes operate every 10 minutes while the Hospital Shuttle operates every 1 0 minutes.
The initial Stagecoach operation consisted of ALX200 and ALX400 buses in a silver and purple livery.[5] Under Kent Top Travel ownership, a fleet of Volvo B9TL/Optare Olympus and Volvo B7RLE/Optare Esteem buses in a Lime and Silver "Love your city" branded livery.[6] The current Stagecoach fleet consists of Enviro 300, Dennis Enviro 400 and Optare Solo SR buses in a branded white livery.[7]
Routes[edit]
The scheme currently has 4 routes with 3 running to Canterbury Bus Station in the city centre.[8] Potential for further sites at Thanington, Cockering Farm and Harbledown were studied by the city council in 2009, but none were proceeded with.[9]
Sturry Road Park & Ride[edit]
This route runs from Sturry Road Park & Ride terminus along the A28/Sturry Road to Canterbury Bus Station, passing the Magistrates Court, City Wall and ASDA.[10]
Wincheap Park & Ride[edit]
This route runs from Wincheap Park & Ride terminus through the Wincheap Industrial Estate, past Pin Hill bus stop and the connection to the Chatham Main Line at Canterbury East, before ending at Canterbury Bus Station.[10]
New Dover Road Park & Ride[edit]
This route runs from New Dover Road Park & Ride terminus along Old Dover Road to Canterbury Bus Station, passing Canterbury Health Centre and returns via Old Dover Road and Canterbury College.[10]
References[edit]
- ^ Free wi-fi on new Park and Ride buses in Canterbury Hawkindge Gazette, 28 September 2013
- ^ Brown, Stewart J (September 1993): "Buses in Britain". Capital Transport, p.180
- ^ Kent Top Travel takes on Canterbury park-and-ride Archived 21 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Bus and Coach magazine, 24 October 2008
- ^ Kentish Gazette, http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentish_gazette/news/Stagecoach-wins-contract-to-run-1595/
- ^ "Stagecoach East Kent 17402 ALX 400 bodied Dennis Trident Y 103 GHC". Flickr. 26 October 2006. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
- ^ "PO58 KPT Canterbury Park and Ride at the Whitefriars Centre". Flickr. 1 June 2009. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
- ^ "Canterbury Park and Ride 10064 - SN63 NCD". Flickr. 3 October 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
- ^ Canterbury City Council Park & Ride page, https://www.canterbury.gov.uk/parking-travel-roads/parking/park-and-ride/
- ^ Joy as Canterbury park and ride plan scrapped Archived 28 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Kent & Sussex Courier, 13 January 2009
- ^ a b c "Park and Ride - Canterbury City Council". Canterbury City Council. Retrieved 21 January 2016.