Bus firm takes on the running of park and ride

3:13pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

Comments (7)   Have your say »

CHANGES to the park and ride bus system in Swindon will secure the long-term future of the service, according to Thamesdown Transport.

The bus company, together with Swindon Council, is taking over the service and a new timetable and bus fares are due to take effect on Tuesday, May 27.

Thamesdown Transport will take commercial responsibility for running the bus service, with the council providing financial support for journeys at quieter times.

The two park and ride car parks at The Copse in North Swindon and Wroughton will continue to offer free parking.

A 901 bus service from The Copse, which has been renamed as Groundwell Park and Ride, will now run only as far as the town centre, with buses every 15 minutes.

The return bus fare will become £2.70 and a new five return journey ticket will cost £10.50.

Paul Jenkins, Thamesdown's managing director, said "Both the council and ourselves feel that this is the best way forward to provide a park and ride service for Swindon.

"This is a very positive move and one that will secure the long-term future of park and ride in Swindon.

"It's a very popular service and we really want to promote it during the off-peak times of the day.

"We want to encourage motorists to use this important facility. Using park and ride would be cheaper than driving in and parking in town."

Thamesdown's Dayrider and Travelpass tickets, which provide unlimited bus travel in Swindon, will also be available on the service. At the Wroughton Park and Ride, there will no longer be a separate bus service and instead a revised service 11 will run via the site every 15 minutes.

The bus fare to the town centre will cost £1 each way.

Dayrider and Travelpass tickets also become available on this service. Despite all these changes some commuters remain unimpressed by the new service.

Hayley Ash, 24, from Redhouse, says she is considering driving to work in Old Town rather than getting the bus.

"The changes mean I will have to get two buses to work from The Copse," she said.

"There isn't a direct bus to Old Town as there was previously.

"I would have to get one to and from the town centre.

"The bus fare has also gone up by 50p.They haven't really informed many people about the changes. A lot of people use the park and ride and it seems to have been kept hush hush."

For more information about the park and ride changes call 01793 428400, also visit the website by logging onto www.thamesdown-transport.co.uk.