Increased frequency for Shrewsbury P&R

Following a successful trial last year, Shropshire Council has doubled the frequency of Shrewsbury’s Park & Ride service. Plans to further improve the service, operated by Arriva Midlands, include a potential new site to serve the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

From this week, buses serving the Meole Brace Park & Ride site will run every ten minutes in peak times – between 7.30am and 10am and from 4pm to 6.30pm – with a 15 minutes frequency between 10am and 4pm. Services to and from the Harlescott Park & Ride will continue to operate every 20 minutes until April, when the additional buses required for the more frequent service will be available.

Services operating out of Shrewsbury’s third site – Oxon – are not included in the roll-out of the more frequent service, as the Council is considering plans to replace it with a new site close to the Hospital.

The Council is aiming for all Park & Ride services to be entirely served by electric buses and has already trialled three vehicles, with a fourth due to be added to the fleet in April.

Steve Davenport, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “As well as changes to the frequency of buses, we’re also considering the use of new technology, possible route changes and, of course, the use of electric buses.”

Seb Slater, executive director of Shrewsbury BID, said: “We strongly welcome the improvements being introduced to Shrewsbury Park & Ride. Doubling frequency will improve access for locals and enhance the experience of visitors to our town and businesses. We will continue to support further investment in Park & Ride as part of the wider movement strategy being developed by the Big Town Plan partnership.”