LEICESTER’S three Park and Ride services are to be run by local company and current bus provider Roberts Travel Group, after it made a successful bid to the city and county councils to take on the full operation of the service.
Roberts will take over the services, which operate from Birstall, Enderby and Meynell’s Gorse, from August 24 this year. The company will take on the revenue risk for the service and have control over the timetables and fares. The city and county councils will continue to fund the park and ride operation, but will reduce their subsidy by half, from £422,000 a year to £211,000.
Under the three-year contract to operate, buses must continue to run at least every 15 minutes from Monday to Saturday, from 7am to 7pm.
Roberts plans to introduce more stops along all three routes, introducing popular locations like Freemans Common, Redhill Circle and Braunstone Leisure Centre.
Fares will increase for the first time in five years, but will remain lower than other commercial bus operators and city centre parking charges. A day return ticket will cost £4.85 and a group day ticket for up to five people will cost £6. Concessionary fares will be reduced from £1 to become free.
Cllr Geoff Whittle, Leicester’s asst city mayor for environment and transport said: “After a thorough procurement process I’m pleased that Roberts Travel Group will be taking over the running of these important services.
“Like all councils we are having to make some very difficult decisions around funding, and this contractual arrangement means we can reduce our subsidy to the park and ride service, while ensuring it continues to operate.
“I know that the service from Enderby which stops at the Leicester Royal Infirmary is particularly well used by both staff and patients, with no other bus service on offer on that route
“Roberts will be introducing more stops along all of the routes, and there are plans to better link in with our Hop! Service and the Hospital Hopper in the future, which will bring strong benefits to city residents.”
The new timetables and fare changes will be introduced from 26 August this year.
Alex Niemczyk, Managing Director of Roberts Travel Group said: “We are proud to have been awarded the contract to operate Leicester’s Park and Ride services.
“As a local operator with a long-standing commitment to the community, we’re excited to take full responsibility for delivering a reliable, affordable, modern Park and Ride service from Birstall, Enderby and Meynell’s Gorse.
“We look forward to welcoming passengers aboard and delivering a Park and Ride service Leicester can be proud of.”
More detail is available on Roberts’ website