Big groups battle for hospital park-&-ride

Plymouth Citybus 712 (AU13 FBL), a Caetano-bodied MAN 18.270 EcoCity gas bus, operating route PR3.
CHRISTOPHER CARTER

Stagecoach South West cut fares to coincide with Go-Ahead Group-owned Plymouth Citybus acquiring Target Travel’s park-&- ride route from 8 October (Buses October).

Citybus began its new route PR3 (George Junction- Derriford Hospital), distributing timetables and free teas and coffees at the park-&-ride site on 8 October. It continued the single-vehicle 20min weekday frequency using an MAN Eco City gas bus and kept fares at £1 single, £1.40 return and £6 weekly.

The Stagecoach fares promotion on its longer route 100/101 (George Junction- Derriford Hospital-City Centre) reduced its £1.20 single and £2 return to match the Citybus fares and launched a new £5 weekly ticket. The Stagecoach service runs commercially every 15min Monday to Saturday with all journeys deviating via the hospital since September last year.

Target Travel began its hospital park-&-ride in 2009 when 310 additional parking spaces were created at the George Junction site and parking at the hospital was restricted.

Stagecoach took over all eight of Target Travel’s Plymouth City Council route contracts as planned on 29 October (Buses September), renumbering route 7D to 17 and 223 to 32.