York park and ride

York park and ride is a transport network serving York, the cathedral city in North Yorkshire, England. It combines peripheral car parks with dedicated or designated bus links into the city centre, allowing visitors and commuters to leave cars outside the historic core. The network is operated as a partnership: the City of York Council owns and manages the park-and-ride infrastructure and contracts the bus operation, while First York has operated the services under contract since the late 1990s. The network began with the opening of a permanent site at Askham Bar in June 1990. A second site at Grimston Bar, close to the A64, followed in 1994. Further expansion created a substantial network covering the main approaches to York. The York Designer Outlet site opened in 1998, Rawcliffe Bar began operation in 2000, and Monks Cross opened in 2004. A relocated and enlarged Askham Bar facility opened in 2014 as part of a £22 million project, while Poppleton Bar also opened in 2014. The six sites are Askham Bar, Grimston Bar, Monks Cross, Poppleton Bar, Rawcliffe Bar and York Designer Outlet. With approximately 4,970 car spaces across the six sites, York park and ride is described as the largest park-and-ride network in the United Kingdom. Its role is both practical and environmental: it supports access to York's centre, reduces the need for private cars to enter constrained historic streets, and provides links to major retail and employment destinations. Monks Cross services were extended to the nearby Vangarde Shopping Park in 2014, broadening the network's function beyond city-centre access. The service has also been a testing ground for lower-emission bus technology. Electric Optare Versa single-deck vehicles were introduced for services associated with the newer sites, and a fleet of 21 electric Optare MetroDecker double-deck buses entered service in July 2020 following an order placed in 2019. The network has previously used a wide variety of conventional and articulated buses, including vehicles built by Scania, Wrightbus, Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, Duple and Plaxton. As described in the reference material, current operations use electric Optare MetroDecker double-deck and Optare Versa single-deck buses in a dedicated dark-blue-and-gold livery. The operating contract has passed through several stages. Before the late-1990s First York period, the service was operated by Stephensons of Easingwold and then by Rider York, a Yorkshire Rider subsidiary. In 1995 Rider York won a five-year contract and received a large batch of Wright Axcess-Ultralow-bodied Scania buses in dedicated branding. When the council's contract was put out to tender in 2016, no bid met the stated criteria, so First York received a temporary extension. First York was subsequently awarded a further seven-year contract in January 2018. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the network. Poppleton Bar closed in March 2020 and the site was used by Public Health England as a temporary mass-testing centre from April 2020. After that use ended in summer 2022, reopening was delayed by a bus-driver shortage and funding delays. The site reopened on 1 April 2023 as part of York's Bus Service Improvement Plan, supported by a £17.36 million Department for Transport grant. Services generally operate frequently, with intervals of up to every ten minutes during Monday-to-Saturday daytime periods, and use a flat fare structure between the sites and York city centre.

York's permanent park-and-ride system began in June 1990, when the first site opened at Askham Bar. A second facility opened at Grimston Bar in 1994 near the A64. In June 1995, the operating contract moved from Stephensons of Easingwold to Rider York, then a subsidiary of Yorkshire Rider. Rider York introduced 20 Wright Axcess-Ultralow-bodied Scania L113CRL buses, mainly in a dedicated blue livery, with additional Scania deliveries following in 1996 and 1997. The network expanded as York's retail and transport geography developed. A park-and-ride service began at the York Designer Outlet shortly after the outlet opened in November 1998. Rawcliffe Bar, a 900-space site near the A19, started operation in February 2000. Monks Cross opened in July 2004, and its services were extended to the nearby Vangarde Shopping Park in 2014. The same period saw major investment in infrastructure and vehicle technology. Askham Bar was expanded and relocated to a new 1,100-space site in June 2014 as part of a £22 million project. Poppleton Bar also opened in June 2014, initially served by fully electric Optare Versa buses. The fleet changed substantially during the 2000s. In July 2008, 17 Wright Eclipse Urban-bodied Volvo B7RLE single-deck buses entered service. The following year, 25 articulated Mercedes-Benz Citaro buses were delivered. These vehicles replaced earlier Wright Eclipse Metro-bodied Volvo B7Ls and articulated Wright Eclipse Fusion-bodied Volvo B7LAs that had been introduced around the turn of the decade. The network's vehicle history also includes buses from Duple and Plaxton. First York has operated the bus services under contract to the City of York Council since the late 1990s. In June 2016, the council invited bids for a new contract, but none satisfied its criteria. First York therefore received a 12-month extension intended to run until January 2018 while a new tender process was prepared. In January 2018, First York was awarded another seven-year operating contract. Electrification became a defining feature of the network. After an order made in May 2019, 21 fully electric Optare MetroDecker double-deck buses entered service in July 2020. Together with the electric Versas used on some routes, the vehicles supported the network's role as a lower-emission alternative to car travel into York. The pandemic produced a major interruption. Poppleton Bar closed in March 2020, and from April the site was used by Public Health England as a temporary mass-testing centre. Testing activity ended in summer 2022, but reopening was postponed because of a bus-driver shortage and delays in securing funding. The facility eventually reopened on 1 April 2023 through York's Bus Service Improvement Plan, backed by a £17.36 million Department for Transport grant. The completed network comprises six sites: Askham Bar, Grimston Bar, Monks Cross, Poppleton Bar, Rawcliffe Bar and York Designer Outlet. The sites together provide about 4,970 car spaces. Buses can run as frequently as every ten minutes during Monday-to-Saturday daytime periods. The network uses a flat fare for travel between the park-and-ride sites and the city centre, alongside season-ticket products usable on First York services. As of the supplied reference material, operations are based at First York's James Street depot and use electric Optare MetroDecker double-deck and Optare Versa single-deck buses in dark blue and gold branding.

• 2023

  Poppleton Bar reopens

  [1]York park and rideen.wikipedia.org

  The Poppleton Bar site reopened on 1 April after pandemic-related closure and subsequent delays.

• 2020

  Electric MetroDeckers enter service

  [1]York park and rideen.wikipedia.org

  Twenty-one fully electric Optare MetroDecker double-deck buses entered the network.

• 2018

  First York awarded a further operating contract

  [1]York park and rideen.wikipedia.org

  First York received a further seven-year contract to operate the network.

• 2014

  Askham Bar expansion and Poppleton Bar opening

  [1]York park and rideen.wikipedia.org

  Askham Bar moved to a larger 1,100-space facility, while a new site opened at Poppleton Bar.

• 2004

  Monks Cross opens

  [1]York park and rideen.wikipedia.org

  The Monks Cross park-and-ride site began operation.

• 2000

  Rawcliffe Bar opens

  [1]York park and rideen.wikipedia.org

  A 900-space facility opened at Rawcliffe Bar near the A19.

• 1998

  York Designer Outlet service begins

  [1]York park and rideen.wikipedia.org

  A park-and-ride service commenced shortly after the York Designer Outlet opened.

• 1995

  Rider York takes over the operating contract

  [1]York park and rideen.wikipedia.org

  Rider York replaced Stephensons of Easingwold and introduced a large fleet of branded Scania buses.

• 1994

  Grimston Bar site opens

  [1]York park and rideen.wikipedia.org

  A second site opened at Grimston Bar near the A64.

• 1990

  First permanent site opens at Askham Bar

  [1]York park and rideen.wikipedia.org

  York's first permanent park-and-ride site began operation at Askham Bar in June.

A large, integrated urban-access network positioned as a convenient alternative to driving into York city centre, with an emphasis on frequent service, broad geographic coverage and progressively electrified bus operations.

• Public transport network · 1990

  York park-and-ride network

  The core offering is a six-site network connecting peripheral car parks with York city centre. The sites are Askham Bar, Grimston Bar, Monks Cross, Poppleton Bar, Rawcliffe Bar and York Designer Outlet. Services operate frequently and use a flat-fare structure for journeys between the sites and central York.

• Bus fleet · 2014

  Electric bus services

  York park and ride has used fully electric Optare Versa single-deck buses and Optare MetroDecker double-deck buses. The electric fleet supports the network's lower-emission positioning and is used on services linking the outlying sites with York.

• Fare product

  Park-and-ride season tickets

  Season-ticket products are available alongside single and return fares. The season tickets are valid for use across First York services, providing a recurring travel option for regular users of the network.

• 2023

  Poppleton Bar reopens under the Bus Service Improvement PlanStrategy

  Background

  Reopening was delayed after the mass-testing centre closed because of a bus-driver shortage and delayed funding.

  Action taken

  Poppleton Bar reopened on 1 April 2023 as part of York's Bus Service Improvement Plan.

  Aftermath

  The reopening restored the six-site network described in the reference material.

  Department for Transport grant. £17.36 million (2023)

  Source

• 2020

  Poppleton Bar repurposed during the pandemicStrategy

  Background

  The COVID-19 pandemic reduced normal park-and-ride activity.

  Action taken

  Poppleton Bar closed in March 2020 and was used by Public Health England as a temporary mass-testing centre from April.

  Aftermath

  The site remained unavailable for park-and-ride use until its reopening in April 2023.

  Source

• 2019

  Order placed for electric double-deck busesProduct launch

  Background

  The network continued its transition toward electric bus operation.

  Action taken

  An order was placed for 21 fully electric Optare MetroDecker double-deck vehicles.

  Aftermath

  The buses entered service in July 2020.

  Source

• 2016

  Council begins a new tender processStrategy

  Background

  The City of York Council put the park-and-ride operating contract out to tender in June 2016.

  Action taken

  Because no bid met the council's criteria, First York received a 12-month extension while a fresh tender process was planned.

  Aftermath

  First York was later awarded a further seven-year contract in January 2018.

  Source

• 2023

  Poppleton Bar site reopens after pandemic closure[1]York park and rideen.wikipedia.org

  Other · Regulation

  Poppleton Bar reopened on 1 April 2023 after its pandemic-era use as a mass-testing centre and subsequent delays linked to staffing and funding.

• 2020

  Electric double-deck buses enter York park-and-ride service[1]York park and rideen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Product generation

  Twenty-one fully electric Optare MetroDecker double-deck buses entered service after an order placed in 2019, extending the network's use of electric vehicles.

• 2018

  First York receives further York park-and-ride operating contract[1]York park and rideen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change · Other

  First York was awarded a further seven-year contract to operate York's park-and-ride network after an earlier tender process did not produce a qualifying bid.

1. 1York park and rideen.wikipedia.org