Leeds’ new, 1,000-space Temple Green Park & Ride (P&R), just off Junction 45 of the M1 opened on Monday (June 19) – with buses operated by First West Yorkshire. Located next to the A63 at the heart of Leeds’ Gateway45 Enterprise Zone, Temple Green P&R will provide commuters with a 15-minute bus link to the city centre, running every 10 to 15 minutes.
Tickets cost from £2.70 per day and up to three children travel free with every fare-paying adult. For the first week, from Monday, June 19 to Saturday, June 24, passengers can try out the service for free.
Temple Green P&R has been developed after the huge success of the Elland Road facility, which opened in 2014. West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) and Leeds City Council have already doubled the capacity of the Elland Road P&R to around 800 spaces, due to its popularity. This week the opening hours were also extended.
Like Elland Road P&R, Temple Green will have indoor heated and staffed passenger facilities which include toilets, a baby changing area and ticket machines. As well as disabled parking spaces, there is also cycle and motorcycle parking and electric vehicle spaces with free charging points.
Cllr Keith Wakefield, Chairman of WYCA’s Transport Committee, said: “Temple Green P&R is the second major West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund scheme to be completed, following on from the opening of the Wakefield Eastern Relief Road in May.
“WYCA established the £1bn Transport Fund projects to support economic growth and the creation of new jobs. Temple Green P&R has been designed to provide links between Leeds city centre and the Gateway45 Enterprise Zone.
Leader of Leeds City Council, Cllr, Judith Blake, said: “P&R and improved bus services are a key element of our transport strategy for the city, taking cars out of the city centre and helping to reduce emissions and improve air quality which is vitally important.
“We are pleased to be working with our partners at WYCA and First West Yorkshire in delivering this new service, and look forward to seeing it being well used in the weeks, months and years to come.”
Will Pearson, Operations Director at First West Yorkshire, said: “We’re pleased to be the official operators for the new Temple Green P&R site. As one of the major bus operators in Leeds, we remain committed to working in partnership with Leeds City Council and the WYCA to provide reliable bus services, encouraging even more people to travel by bus.”
