THE PROVISION OF THE PARK AND RIDE BUS SERVICE IN WINCHESTER

Description

Winchester City Council (“The Council”) invited suitable organisations to tender for the Park and Ride (P&R) Service in Winchester. The current eight-year contract expired April 2024. The council has declared a Climate Emergency and addressing the climate crisis and reaching carbon neutrality is one of the city council’s overarching priorities. To support, the council sought a service using vehicles which operate on hydrotreated vegetable oil fuel (HVO) contributing significantly to reducing CO2 emissions in Winchester. Lot 1: The provision for a network of Park and Ride (P&R) sites surrounding Winchester was first adopted and developed by both Winchester City Council and Hampshire County Council in the early nineties. The council has declared a Climate Emergency and addressing the climate crisis and reaching carbon neutrality is one of the city council’s overarching priorities. To support, the council sought a service using vehicles which operate on hydrotreated vegetable oil fuel (HVO) contributing significantly to reducing CO2 emissions in Winchester. It is anticipated that the use of HVO fuel is an interim step on its transition to a Zero Emission P&R operation. A new contract commenced April 2024 The service operates Mondays (0625 – 1930) to Saturdays (0700 – 1930), except Bank and Public Holidays. An enhanced timetable of operation is also required to cover the five-week pre-Christmas shopping period. The service has been successful in accommodating large numbers of commuter vehicles, which would otherwise exacerbate peak hour congestion in the city and more recently facilitating the development of Winchester’s shopping and visitor experience to promote a vibrant economy.