Park and Ride - FAQs

Bus Route

Why does the route use Romsey Road, not St Cross Road?

There are a number of key destinations along the Romsey Road, including the Hospital, University and Police Headquarters. The service has had to meet the needs of those potential users.

Why is the route linked, running between the two sites, rather than run two separate services from each car park?

Firstly - a linked service enables users to park at either car park and use any bus to access all destinations, as all buses serve all stops. Secondly a linked service is more cost effective in terms of tendering for the bus contract.

Tickets and Pricing

What are the ticket prices? (New prices from 19/4/2010)

The standard Daily fee is £3 per day

A Smart Card allows a 10% discount (£2.70 per day)

An annual season ticket is £552 - which works out at £2.40 per day

An off-peak ticket (available after 10.30am Mon-Fri) costs just £2 per day

What does the ticket include and how is it used?

The ticket is issued in two parts. One part is left on display in the car to cover all day parking in the car park; the other is shown to the driver on the Park & Ride bus to allow return travel for the driver and up to 5 passengers.

Why have some of the fares gone up?

The recent price rise is the first in over two years. The daily fee is now £3; this is half the price of the cheapest all day parking in the town centre. The new off-peak ticket (available after 10.30am Mon-Fri) costs just £2 per day; this is less than the cost of two hours parking in the town centre.

Is the Park & Ride much cheaper than City Centre car parks?

Yes, the cheapest all day parking in the City Centre is £6.

What is a season ticket?

A Season Ticket will enable its holder to park within the Park & Ride car parks without the need for daily payment at any car park ticket machine and at a discounted cost. Please note that purchase of a Season Ticket does not guarantee any space within a car park.

How do I get a season ticket?

Season Tickets that offer discounted parking can be purchased from Parking aServices at City Offices, Colebrook Street, Winchester.

Can large employers get further discounts for bulk purchasing of tickets?

Yes - contact the Winchester City Council parking office for further information. Email parking@winchester.gov.uk or call 01962 848 346

What is a Smart Card?

Smart Cards offer a 10% discount on the daily fee. It is a top up card that is inserted into the payment machine in the car park to retrieve the tickets.

How do I get a Smart Card?

Smart Cards that offer discounted parking can be purchased online or from Parking Services at City Offices, Colebrook Street, Winchester.

How do I top up my Smart Card?

The card may be 'topped-up' with credit at anytime by bringing it to the Parking Services counter.

Can I use my Park & Ride season ticket / Smart Card at any car park?

Yes

I have an old Smart card, I still use occasionally, will it still work?

Yes

Can I use my Smart Card to buy an off peak (after 10:30am) ticket?

Yes, a smart card can be used to buy an off peak ticket, but the price will be £2 as the ticket is already discounted.

Can I use my Smart Card on a Saturday?

Yes, a daily ticket would be discounted by 10% so will cost £2.70.

I use the athletics track on the Saturday, and use the 3 hour £1.50 ticket at the East Winchester car parks (Barfield and St Catherine's), is this still available?

Yes, a 3 hour Saturday ticket at East Winchester is £1.50.

Can I use my Smart Card for the 3 hour Saturday ticket at East Winchester?

Yes your smart card can be used. However, the £1.50 ticket is only offered to Smart Card holders after 1pm. Before 1pm, a daily charge of £2.70 is used.

Park & Ride Operation

When does the Park & Ride operate?

The service operates from 0700 to 2130 Monday to Saturdays, allowing for later and longer stays in town. No buses run on Sundays or Bank Holidays

How often do the buses run?

Every 10 minutes during the peak times (07.30 to 09.30 and 16.00 to 18.00). Every 15 minutes at off peak times and all day Saturday.

Don't the buses run every five minutes at the moment? Why is the Peak Frequency of the buses being reduced?

Currently the there are additional buses running which are contracted by Hampshire County Council to increase the Peak frequency to cope with the additional users from their own park and ride car park. When the new car park and service operates, the County Council will cease the operation of their car park. In addition we are anticipating that some users will switch from the current car parks to the new one.

How is the Peak Frequency of the buses being changed?

The current WCC bus contract allows for 8 buses per hour from the East (St Catherine's & Barfield) car parks. The new contract allows for 6 buses per hour from both the South and East (St Catherine's & Barfield) car parks, this has massively increased the bus contract cost.

Currently there are additional buses running which are funded by Hampshire County Council to increase the Peak frequency to one bus every five minutes (to allow for the additional users from their own park and ride car park).

When the new park and ride service comes into operation, the County Council will initially provide funding for additional peak hour buses from the East (St Catherine's & Barfield) car parks which will increase the morning service to 10 buses per hour.

Over the next few months we will monitor patronage levels and consider if we can tailor the service accordingly

How I do know which car park the bus is heading for?

The bus will show which car park it is heading for on its electronic message display on the front of the bus.

What if I get on a bus going the wrong direction?

1) Ask your driver for information.

2) Get off at the next stop, cross the road and find a flag or bus stop heading the right direction.

3) Alternatively, stay on the bus which will eventually loop around the City and back to all car parks, though this may take some time!

How can I identify the Park & Ride buses?

The Park & Ride buses are a distinctive two-tone green livery with Park & Ride markings on the front, back and sides.

Bus Stops

How do I identify the Park & Ride bus stops?

The majority of Park & Ride bus stops are green, apart from new stops in The Broadway which will be black. All Park & Ride stops will have a green Park & Ride bus stop flag. Each flag will let you know where you are and which car park the bus is destined for.

Where do buses stop along Romsey Road?

Buses along Romsey Road stop outside the Hospital, for those wishing to access the Hospital, University, Prison and Police Headquarters.

Where on The Broadway, do I catch the Bus to return to East Winchester (St Catherine's & Barfield Park & Ride)?

Buses returning to St Catherine's or Barfield will pick up passengers outside St John's House on the northern side of The Broadway.

Where, in The Broadway, do I catch a bus to the Railway Station, Romsey Road and South Winchester Park & Ride?

Buses returning to South Winchester Park & Ride, City Road, Railway Station and Romsey Road will pick up passengers outside Abbey House on the southern side of The Broadway.