York has biggest electric P&R, says First and Council
First Bus and City of York Council have announced that York now boasts the UK’s biggest all-electric Park and Ride bus network.
The achievement comes with the introduction of a double-decker zero emission bus on the Rawcliffe Bar Service 2 circular, west of the city centre, which replaces an articulated diesel vehicle.
Kate Ravilious (centre) with Tom Donnelly and driver Charlie at one of the six Park and Ride stations on the York network
It means the York Park and Ride, operated in partnership by First Bus and City of York Council, is now fully served by an electric fleet comprising of 33 buses, also the largest of its kind in the country, and provides more than 5,000 car parking spaces.
“Our fleet carried close to four million customers in 2023 and we firmly believe that awareness of this accolade in zero emission travel and its environmental benefits for York can encourage more people to use the network” – Tom Donnelly, Operations Manager of First Bus in York
Tom Donnelly, Operations Manager of First Bus in York, said: “We’re proud of this achievement in bringing greener transport to every part of the Park and Ride network. Our fleet carried close to four million customers in 2023 and we firmly believe that awareness of this accolade in zero emission travel and its environmental benefits for York can encourage more people to use the network and leave cars on the outskirts of the city.”
“…there’s never been a better time to get the bus in York!” – Cllr Kate Ravilious, Joint Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency at City of York Council
Cllr Kate Ravilious, Joint Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency at City of York Council, said: “York’s Park & Ride offers one of the best, and now one of the biggest all electric, frequent, low-floor, wheelchair accessible services in the country.
“Together with our discount where up to three under-16s accompanied by a fare-paying adult will travel for free, and anyone aged from five to 18 will pay no more than £1 for a single fare when travelling unaccompanied by an adult, there’s never been a better time to get the bus in York!”
The York Park and Ride fleet of First Bus comprises 21 electric Switch Mobility Metrodecker double-deckers and 12 mid-sized Switch Mobility Versa single-deckers, which have been reintroduced over recent months following a repower programme to replace a fully electric drivetrain.
The distance travelled by the Metrodecker fleet in 2023 totalled more than 553,000 kilometres which is estimated to have saved over 560 tonnes tonnes of carbon.