Summary
Coventry Park and Ride is a park and ride system, operated under contract to Coventry City Council and Transport for West Midlands, in the English city of Coventry.[1] The scheme was launched in 1999 to relieve traffic congestion and to provide a cheaper alternative to city centre parking.[2] The service was jointly operated by Coventry City Council, Centro and Travel de Courcey,[2][3] with Centro and Coventry City Council jointly responsible for the marketing and setting fares. Buses shuttled passengers between a large free carpark at Austin Drive, Courthouse Green, to and from the city centre.[2]
 | |
| Parent | Coventry City Council and Transport for West Midlands funded |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 |
| Locale | Coventry, England |
| Service type | Park and ride |
| Routes | Park and Ride South (PRS) |
| Destinations | Coventry city centre |
| Stations | War Memorial Park |
| Operator | Travel West Midlands (?–1999) Travel De Courcey (1999–2013) Stagecoach in Warwickshire (2014– ) |
| Website | NWM Coventry Park and Ride |
In June 2012 Travel de Courcey introduced three electric buses to the route, each with a capacity of 40 passengers. This was claimed to be the first use of rapidly rechargeable electric buses in the UK.[4] Also in 2012 the company rebranded the park and ride buses in a burgundy and cream livery, to gain brand recognition of the service.[2]
In June 2013 it was announced the park and ride scheme would cease[3] and the Austin Drive carpark closed. Despite a weekly council subsidy of £1,900 the scheme was still making a loss and carrying only 2.8 passengers per trip, on average.[2] However, in April 2014, the service was awarded to Stagecoach in Warwickshire who agreed to run it profitably without council subsidy.[5]
Buses run every 20 minutes, between Monday and Friday starting at 6:10 am and finishing at 9:25 pm.[5] In early 2021, a West Midlands Cycle Docking Station opened at the stop, which is hoped to increase usage.
References edit
- ^ "Network West Midlands – Coventry Park and Ride". Network West Midlands. Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
- ^ a b c d e Jenny Waddington (21 June 2013). "End of the road for Coventry park and ride bus scheme". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
- ^ a b "Coventry park and ride service closes due to 'heavy losses'". BBC News. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
- ^ "Coventry launches electric bus services". BBC News. 13 June 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
- ^ a b Matthew Bates (3 April 2014). "Stagecoach takes over city park and ride". Coventry Observer. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.