Coventry Park & Ride gets nostalgic re-launch

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Pictured with the new-look Park & Ride North buses are, left to right, Managing Director Mike de Courcey, Project Manager Ben Hobday, Bus Services Manager Mick Rossiter and General Manager Bob Wildman
Pictured with the new-look Park & Ride North buses are, left to right, Managing Director Mike de Courcey, Project Manager Ben Hobday, Bus Services Manager Mick Rossiter and General Manager Bob Wildman

Travel de Courcey returns the Park & Ride to its familiar burgundy and cream

Some of Coventry’s most famous automotive names are returning to the streets of the city after the re-launch of its Park & Ride North bus service.

Local bus and coach operator Travel de Courcey has put the once familiar livery of burgundy and cream, used in the 1950s and 1960s, onto new MCV Evolutionbodied MAN buses. As a further tribute to Coventry’s automotive history, Travel De Courcey is naming the new buses after famous cars associated with the city, as it takes over the route.

The new-look single-deckers for Park & Ride North, which transport passengers from Courthouse Green into the city centre, are both named after the renowned Sunbeam models, the Rapier and Stilletto.

Ben Hobday, Project Manager for Travel de Courcey, said: “We felt it was important to give Park & Ride North its own identity to help people recognise the long running service.

“Whilst we haven’t made any changes to the timetable or route, we hope passengers notice the buses more and benefit from an improved service both in terms of comfort and reliability.”

Travel de Courcey now operates both Park & Ride services in Coventry, Park & Ride North and Park & Ride South.

Park & Ride North is based at Austin Drive, where there are over 160 free car parking spaces. The service operates with two 40-seater lowfloor and wheelchair-accessible vehicles running at regular intervals throughout the day, except on Sundays.

Park & Ride South operates from the War Memorial Park, Kenilworth Road, where there are just over 400 spaces for free parking.

Mike de Courcey, Managing Director of Travel de Courcey, said: “We are absolutely delighted to now be operating both of Coventry’s Park & Ride services and believe it is due to our high standards on Park & Ride South.

“We are looking forward to re-launching Park & Ride South servies in the near future using electric Optare Versas, the very first green buses of their kind in the UK.

“The large fast-charging electric vehicles will have zero emissions along with the latest on-board features for the benefit of passengers and the environment.”