Park and Ride - FAQs

Changes from Monday 30th April 2012

I have heard that the P&R is changing, How?

A number of small changes will come into operation from Monday 30th April 2012.

The service will start earlier, with buses at 0625 & 06.40 from East Winchester and 06.30 and 06.45 from South Winchester - These buses will offer users the chance to Park and Ride and Rail as they connect well with early trains to London Waterloo.

The buses will continue to run every 10 minutes during peak times and every 15 minutes off peak. The timing of some evening peak services have been altered slightly to allow better integration with rail services.

The Monday to Friday evening service will stop at little earlier at 20.45 (rather than 21.30 at present) and the frequency of buses in the evening will be reduced after 18.30 to every 30 minutes.

On Saturdays the evening services will finish earlier with the last buses at around 18.30 back to the car parks.

Why are changes being made?

We have looked at the demand for the evening bus services and concluded that there is not sufficient demand to justify the previous high level of evening provision. This has allowed the some costs to be reduced slightly and therefore fares have not had to increase to cover the increased costs of other parts of the service.

Also we have improved the service in terms of better provision and time for early morning and rail travellers.

Bus Route

How does the Bus Route work?

The Bus Route is a linked service running from the South Winchester P&R car park to the East Winchester P&R (Barfield and St. Catherine's car parks). This enables users to park at either car park and use any bus to access all destinations, as all buses serve all stops.

Tickets and Pricing

What are the ticket prices?

What does the ticket include and how is it used?

Have some of the fares recently gone up?

Have some of the fares recently gone up?

What are the ticket prices?
The standard Daily fee is £3 per day with cash in coins

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 £2.50 per day with cash in coins

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 6 passengers.

Have some of the fares recently gone up?
The price of the daily fee has remained unchanged for three years now £3; this is half the price of the cheapest all day parking in the town centre. The off-peak ticket (available after 10.30am Mon-Fri) has recently increased - but it still costs just £2.50 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 Services 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.

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 Parking Services counter in the City Offices, Colebrook Street, Winchester.

Can I use my Park & Ride season ticket / Smart Card at any car park?
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 £2.50 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 Saturdays, 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?
From 30th April 2012 the P&R service will operate from 0630 to 2045 Monday to Fridays and from 0700 to 1830 Saturdays. No buses run on Sundays or Public Holidays

How often do the buses run?
Every 10 minutes during the peak times and every 15 minutes at off peak times and all day Saturday. After 18.30 in the evenings* the frequency is reduced to every 30 minutes (*from 30th April 2012)

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 - They are most helpful and should be able to direct you to the nearest appropriate stop.
2. 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 the stops in The Broadway which are black. All Park & Ride stops have a two-tone green Park & Ride bus stop flag. Each flag will let you know where you are and which car park the bus is destined for.

Which stop is most convenient for the Law Courts?
Use either of the Westgate stops.

Which stop is most convenient for the Prison?
Use either of the Hospital stops.

Which stop is most convenient for the University?
Use either of the Hospital stops.

Which stop is most convenient for the County Council?
Use either of the Westgate stops.

Which stop is most convenient for the City Council?
Use either of the Broadway stops.

Which stop is most convenient for the Cathedral and shopping area?
Use either of the Broadway stops.

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, in the Broadway, do I catch the Bus to get to East Winchester P&R (St Catherine's & Barfield car parks)?
Buses heading to East Winchester P&R (St Catherine's or Barfield car parks) pick up passengers outside St. John's House on the north side of The Broadway.

Where, in The Broadway, do I catch a bus to the South Winchester P&R?
Buses heading to South Winchester P&R, City Road, Railway Station and Romsey Road pick up passengers near the Guildhall on the south side of The Broadway.

Do Disabled Badge Holders have to pay to use the P&R service?
Disabled Parking Badge holders may park at any of the Park and Ride car parks for free, however, they must pay for their bus travel to use the bus service. Disabled Parking Badge holders who also hold a National Bus Pass may use the Park and Ride bus free of charge after 09:30 Monday to Friday and all day on Saturday.
Anyone who has the National Bus Pass and wishes to use the car park should pay the appropriate parking fee (which includes the bus ride). However, if only wishing to use the bus service while not parking, they may use their bus pass to travel on the Park and Ride buses after 09:30 Monday to Friday and all day Saturday.

Car Parks

Do the park and ride car parks have motor home bays or any designated bays?
St Catherine's Park and Ride has 2 disabled bays and 10 motor home bays. South Winchester Park and Ride has 20 parent and child bays and 29 disabled bays, which are located nearest to the amenity building. South Winchester Park and Ride also has motor home bays located near the amenity building on the central bus access road.