Park & Ride bus services where ENCTS passes ARE valid

[175mph]

Having read this discussion and seeing mention of park & ride services potentially being considered a 'special amenity' service, it got me thinking how many park & ride services do in fact permit the use of ENCTS passes just like on any other bus services in the respective area.

In York, when I've used the P&R service from McArthur Glenn Designer Outlet to the city centre, people who got on with passes such as the elderly for example still had to pay a fare, albeit a reduced fare.

In Hull however, when I've used their P&R service from Priory Park, near to a junction with Sainsbury's and the A63, I've seen people get on and use ENCTS passes as they normally would any other bus service in Hull. As it is a normal stopping service between Priory Park and the city centre, it soon becomes full with passengers, many on a certain part of the route elderly passengers with their passes get on.

I don't mind this personally, but I would have thought that Stagecoach (who run the service) plus Hull City Council would have been keen to see this service excluded from the ENCTS scheme entirely or do what's done in York as I mentioned earlier, offer a reduced fare for pass holders?

Can anyone here think of any other P&R services where ENCTS passes are accepted?

 

[freetoview33]

Bristol & Bath Park & Rides accept ENCTS passes

 

[NorthOxonian]

On Oxford's park and ride buses, ENCTS passes are accepted. These do run limited stop (except in the evenings), but still stop at a few of the busier bus stops on their respective corridors. Perhaps more importantly though, they provide some of the only cross-city connections (on the 300 and 400), or a fairly important part of the service towards Kidlington and Woodstock (on the 500). Even if they weren't valid, one of the Park and Rides actually gets lots of regular buses calling in them (the X3 at Redbridge), and nearly all lie on reasonably busy corridors so there are lots of regular buses stopping nearby.

I wonder if part of the distinction will come from whether the parking is included in the cost of the ticket, which it is in some cases. That would also be important legally - parking would be considered as a "special amenity" as mentioned in the legislation.

 

[Ianno87]

Cambridge

 

[njlawley]

All of Salisbury's P&R services access ENCTS passes, they also form part of the main city network.

I assume much of it will depend on which whether users pay on bus (like Salisbury) or from a payment machine (e.g. Portsmouth).

 

[richw]

Plymouth’s park and rides on the west and north are now serviced by normal stopping service buses rather than their own services so presumably valid. I wonder how many other park and rides don’t have their own vehicles

 

[NorthOxonian]

Plymouth’s park and rides on the west and north are now serviced by normal stopping service buses rather than their own services so presumably valid. I wonder how many other park and rides don’t have their own vehicles

Bicester Park and Ride (but that is essentially a lonely car park on the edge of town, and is designed for travel to Oxford rather than travel into the town centre).

 

[Typhoon]

Canterbury

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Plymouth’s park and rides on the west and north are now serviced by normal stopping service buses rather than their own services so presumably valid. I wonder how many other park and rides don’t have their own vehicles

Two of Bristol's have dedicated services whilst two are served by Metrobus routes but all have ENCTS validity

 

[richard13]

Devon CC lists a number of additional concessions like the 23:00 end is extended to 04:30 and rural journeys before 09:30 in some cases, but also lists 2 groups of excluded routes:

Services operated primarily for the purposes of tourism:
54 Plymouth – Bovis (Devon stops) (summer service)
271 Newton Abbot – Widecombe (summer service)
300 Lynmouth - Minehead (summer service)
SP&R Salcombe Park & Ride (summer service)

Services which are non-stop, such that there are no intermediate stopping places for use by the general public. Signs displayed on-bus and the service description convey the impression that the service is available to a particular category of person and is not advertised to the general public:
PR3 Exeter RD&E Hospital Park & Ride (Digby & Sowton) -- Staff service
PR6 Exeter County Hall Park & Ride -- Staff service
77 Exeter Rugby Service
78 Exeter Rugby Service
C Exeter Rugby Service
Various Dedicated School Services

The other P&R services operate as standard bus routes and so the ENCTS is valid.

However there are some different ones. I have come across different fares from the P&R car park stop than from the normal route stops and so the ENCTS validity might be different. Dartmouth P&R uses a private hire bus - you buy a 2 part parking ticket and exchange the bus part with the driver for a set of return bus tickets also available on the town bus in the evenings. In Oxford you pay for both parking and the bus.

 

[cool110]

Lancaster (dedicated) and both of Preston's (Walton-le-Dale - dedicated, Portway - normal route 89).

 

[Martin1988]

What about the Madjeski Park and Ride in Reading?

 

[freetoview33]

Two of Bristol's have dedicated services whilst two are served by Metrobus routes but all have ENCTS validity

Well Lyde Green is also served by normal services

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Well Lyde Green is also served by normal services

That was the fourth one. In fact, there's more buses than parking spaces!!!

To be fair, Brislington is pretty well served by vehicles passing it on the X39, 349 etc.

 

[richard13]

Taunton - part valid

There is one route limited stop across town with a P&R site out of town at each end.

ENCTS passes and other passes are not valid to/from the P&R sites.
At all intermediate stops normal fares and passes are valid.
This is mainly because the route now is also the shuttle service from the town centre to the hospital.

 

[Tetchytyke]

In York, when I've used the P&R service from McArthur Glenn Designer Outlet to the city centre, people who got on with passes such as the elderly for example still had to pay a fare, albeit a reduced fare.

York is more complicated than that. If you board at the Park and Ride car park stop, ENCTS pass holders have to pay. If you board at any other stop, normal fares and rules on ENCTS apply. To further complicate it, if you have travelled from the city centre to the Outlet or Tesco on a zero-fare ENCTS ticket then, if you've kept your ticket, it is free to travel back.

Source: https://www.itravelyork.info/park-and-ride/fares-and-passes/

A convoluted way of makimg ENCTS holders pay for parking, basically.

 

[Eyersey468]

Does the P&R at Cowes on the Isle of Wight still operate? It was one that was done on the cheap as it was normal service buses calling in.

 

[alex397]

Canterbury

Indeed, they are valid here. ENCTS pass holders still have to pay for parking, but travel without a car is free. This is particularly useful on the Wincheap service. Compared to other parts of Canterbury, the Wincheap area has an infrequent 'normal' bus service (the 1/1A/1X), so the P&R is useful, especially with a large retail park right by the P&R site. The P&R doesnt actually stop along the main Wincheap road though, but is useful for those living by the P&R and those wanting the retail park.

 

[Jona26]

Horsham Park & Ride is free for ENTCS subject to the standard time restrictions. Served by normal service buses rather than dedicated P&R services.

 

[njlawley]

Does the P&R at Cowes on the Isle of Wight still operate? It was one that was done on the cheap as it was normal service buses calling in.

Still operates, and is served by Southern Vectis route 1.

 

[Eyersey468]

Still operates, and is served by Southern Vectis route 1.

Thanks, I wasn't sure if it did as its 14 years since I moved off the island

 

[Adtrainsam]

The Essex Park and Ride service (Chelmsford and Colchester) are currently free for ENTCS but controversially from April this year, Essex County Council are charging them £1.50 for the day if they have their pass, and until September, 2 pass holders travelling together go for £2!

 

[Busaholic]

The Essex Park and Ride service (Chelmsford and Colchester) are currently free for ENTCS but controversially from April this year, Essex County Council are charging them £1.50 for the day if they have their pass, and until September, 2 pass holders travelling together go for £2!

Cornwall Council used to allow passes on the Truro Park and Ride, then changed it to special rate of £1 for passholders, now I believe it's £2 for anyone.