Extra hours for Christmas park and riders

27 November 2023

Extended hours have been introduced at Stourton Park and Ride to help people wanting to purchase gifts in Leeds in the run up to Christmas.

Journeys will run until after 9pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays – and services will be introduced on Sundays until mid-afternoon.

The new hours, in effect from November 24 to December 22, aim to help those needing to purchase Christmas gifts after work and on weekends, as well as boost trade in the city centre during the festive period.

Made in partnership with First Bus and Leeds City Council, the changes see five extra buses running each Thursday and Friday, and a further six on Saturdays.

All return services running from Leeds back to Stourton leave at 9pm or later.

This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transport Committee deputy chair Cllr Peter Carlill said:

“We all know how difficult it can be to squeeze Christmas shopping into our schedules, so this will surely come as a relief to those of us with busy lives.

“We are committed to helping to create a better-connected West Yorkshire, and these extra hours provide the opportunity for users of Stourton Park & Ride to continue beating the queues this Christmas, and gives people another reason to use Stourton Park & Ride.”

Kayleigh Ingham, Commercial Director of First Bus in North & West Yorkshire, said:

“We know that Leeds becomes an even bigger attraction for visitors and local people at this time of year. There’s so much to discover and enjoy in the city and we anticipate increasing demand for our services in the coming weeks.

“We want to help ensure customers are able to travel easily and comfortably over the festive season. Parking is free at the site and, along with partners, we have made this decision to increase frequencies to support everyone who’s planning to come into the city and experience its leisure and entertainment.”

Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for sustainable development and infrastructure, said:

“Whether you’re visiting the Christmas Markets or doing some festive shopping, the Park & Ride provides an alternative to driving into the city centre.

“The extended opening hours will make it easier for people travelling into the city in the evening and on weekends, and it’s a good opportunity for people to try switching to public transport over the busy festive period.

“Our ongoing work to prioritise walking, cycling and public transport in Leeds has helped to deliver more people-first environments for hosting the Christmas Markets this year and it will be great to see the Markets making the most of these spaces for people to enjoy.”

Extra Journeys:

Thursday & Fridays