Essex County Council has appointed local bus operator Stephensons to run the Colchester Park & Ride service from 26 September, with new buses set to arrive later this year.
The Colchester Park & Ride service (704) is preparing for an exciting new phase as Stephensons takes over operations on behalf of Essex County Council.
The change aims to enhance the customer experience, with minor timetable improvements being introduced to better meet passenger demand and improve service reliability between the Park & Ride site and Colchester city centre.
The appointment underlines Essex County Council's ongoing commitment to providing a reliable, convenient and high-quality transport option for residents, commuters and visitors travelling into the city.
New Buses Coming Later This Year
Passengers can also look forward to significant investment in the service, with a dedicated fleet of new buses expected to enter operation from December.
Until the new vehicles arrive, services will continue to run using buses from the Stephensons fleet. These vehicles will feature clear Park & Ride branding to ensure customers can easily identify the correct service.
Supporting Travel for Essex residents
Councillor Mark Webster, Essex County Council's Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure, welcomed the change.
"We're pleased to be working with Stephensons as they take on the operation of Colchester Park & Ride. This change marks the start of an exciting new phase for the service, with improvements to timetables and the introduction of brand-new buses later this year.
"Park & Ride plays an important role in helping people travel into Colchester conveniently while reducing traffic congestion in the city centre. These changes will help ensure the service continues to offer a reliable and attractive alternative to driving."
Stephensons Invests in the Future of the Service
Dean Robbie, Managing Director of Stephensons, said the company is looking forward to building on the success of the existing operation.
"We are delighted to be appointed to operate the Colchester Park & Ride service and to welcome the familiar team of friendly drivers. As an Essex-based company, owned by our employees, we are looking forward to building on the success of the current operations.
"We will be investing almost £1 million into brand-new, British-built buses, which are due to enter service towards the end of the year. Park & Ride is the easy way to avoid the congestion, hassle and parking charges of central Colchester. Park up, hop on board, and let us whisk you into the city."
More Information Coming Soon
Further details on the updated timetable and service arrangements will be published ahead of the service transfer on 26 September.
