Nottingham City Transport’s new Queens Drive Park & Ride Service, Navy 49, was officially launched today by Nottingham City Council Leader, Cllr David Mellen; Portfolio Holder for Transport Cllr Adele Williams and Nottingham South MP & Chair of the Transport Select Committee, Lilian Greenwood.
(Photoshoot 0619-053) Nottingham City Transport new operation of the Queens Drive Park & Ride site.
Pictured LtoR. Adele Williams, Portfolio Holder. Mark Garlick, Public Transport Team. Lilian Greenwood, Nottingham South MP.Dave Astil, NCT and David Mellen, City Council Leader.
One of the five brand new low emission bio-gas buses for the route were on display, which provide a clean and green way for people to travel in to the City Centre and are part of a £1.6m investment by NCT in the service.
As well as being fitted with low emission engines, customers on board will be able to use free Wi-Fi and USB chargers on their journey, which are new features to Park & Ride customers in Nottingham.
Nottingham City Transport is operating the Queens Drive Park and Ride service on a purely commercial basis, which has reduced costs for Nottingham City Council, who have had to make changes to their tendered Link bus network due to budgetary pressures.
Councillor Adele Williams, Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Transport said: “More bio-gas buses will be a welcome sight on our streets, with the Navy Line 49 taking over at Queens Drive Park & Ride. The popularity of the Park & Ride service shows that our long-term investment in the site has paid off – creating a valued service that can be operated on a commercial basis.
“With NCT taking over the route this will not only benefit passengers – who will travel on the new buses and receive NCTs high level of customer service – but will also save the council money at a time when significant budget savings are required, and improve air quality on the 49 route.”
Park & Ride service 49 operates every 15 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes, with more convenient City Centre stops introduced as with buses return to the “City Loop” and new stops are added on Fletcher Gate (for Lace Market), George Street (for Victoria Centre), Elite and Angel Row (for Old Market Square), as well as existing stops at Broadmarsh.
David Astill, NCT Commercial and Operations Director said, “NCT has a long and successful record of operating Park & Ride buses. Indeed, we commenced Nottingham’s first dedicated Park & Ride service as long ago as 1972. We are delighted to once again be providing a Park & Ride service for the city of Nottingham and look forward to welcoming people on board our low emission bio-gas buses”
Lilian Greenwood, Nottingham South MP and Chair of the Transport Select Committee added, “If we are serious about tackling congestion, carbon emissions and air pollution in Nottingham City Centre, we need cleaner, greener public transport and more people getting out of their cars and on to it. Nottingham City Transport’s new bio-gas buses are good for passengers and good for our city.”
The price per car, which covers up to 5 people, has remained at £4, but regular travellers will be able to take advantage of lower prices with NCT’s Easyrider tickets which are reintroduced from the Park & Ride Site.
A monthly Easyrider costs £58 – which works out at £2.90 per day for a daily commuter – and is a saving of £24 per month compared to the current £82 monthly price available.
Queens Drive Park & Ride Site can be found at NG2 1AP and details about the new Park & Ride service are available at www.nctx.co.uk/p&r