Payment changes on Park & Ride put passengers in control

Chester’s Park & Ride buses will change from ticket machine to driver payment from Tuesday 8th August 2023.

Passengers will be able to choose whether to pay the driver by contactless, card or cash when they board the bus and ticketing machines will no longer be in use at the sites.

The Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport, Councillor Karen Shore said:

“The Park & Ride service is one of our best assets with our helpful and friendly drivers. I’m sure passengers will appreciate the change to quick and easy driver payment rather than ticket machines. 

“It will be easier for passengers to just choose their payment method when they board the bus, without having to get a ticket from a machine before travel.  Getting into the City quickly and easily.

“The benefits of using the Park and Ride include free Wi-Fi and USB charging, air conditioning, free parking for passengers and free travel for up to three accompanying children, we hope more motorists driving into Chester will be persuaded that using the service is a cheap, quick, smart, clean and green way to travel.”

Nine buses are used to run frequent services direct into the heart of the city from three Park & Ride sites at Boughton Heath, Upton (Zoo) and Wrexham Road. The vehicles are powered by ‘Euro 6’ low emission engines and are owned and operated by Stagecoach, on behalf of Cheshire West and Chester Council.

The payment machines will remain at the sites at the moment but will be withdrawn as a payment option.  Their technology was old and occasionally failed, causing inconvenience and delay for passengers.

More information on the Park & Ride can be found here: 

Council’s website.