The park and ride service in Taunton, which has been operated by First’s Buses of Somerset since 2021, is to move to a new provider after First gave notice of its intention to cease operating the route. Buses of Somerset has been operating services from both the Gateway and Silk Mills park and ride sites in the town since July 2021, when it was awarded a five-year contract by Somerset County Council. However, the operator has stated that that it is no longer viable for it to run the service, despite reported recent increases in passenger numbers.
The council said that a new operator has been appointed, though has not named the company, citing commercial sensitivity. The new operator says that it will also work with the town’s Musgrove Park Hospital to improve the service to better suit the needs of the hospital’s staff.
The service currently operates every 15 minutes Monday to Friday between 0635 and 1930hrs and every 20 minutes between 0815 and 1830hrs on Saturdays.
To encourage use of public transport, Somerset council has used money from its £11.9m BSIP funding to cap park & ride fares at £1 single and £2 return until 31 March 2025, prompting an increase in use.
Councillor Dave Woan, associate portfolio holder for business partnerships, said: “As a regular user of the park and ride, I’m pleased to hear it’s being maintained. Most of the time when I use it from the Gateway site, it is two-thirds full – that’s in the early morning. I haven’t driven into the centre of Taunton since 2018.”
The new operator will take over operation of the service on 12 February for an initial period of three years.