A Vision Network Comment On New University Hospital Of Wales Park And Ride Scheme

A new park and ride bus service to the University Hospital of Wales is set to be launched on Monday, May 14, in a bid to ease parking problems at the site. AVision Network heard that the new service, which will be run in partnership with Cardiff council, the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and Newport Transport. It aims to provide staff, patients and visitors with an affordable and convenient way of getting to and from the hospital. It is hoped the service will also help ease traffic congestion at the hospital’s Heath Park site by providing buses that are flexible, regular and low-cost.

“This should prove to be a really helpful service,” said a spokesperson from A Vision Network, a Cardiff-based sales and marketing company, “There has always been problems with parking in the area, and this will really alleviate that.”

Scott Pearson, managing director of Newport Transport, said: “Everyone involved has recognised the need and importance of a park and ride service to the hospital to help offer more public transport opportunities to users and staff, as well as easing congestion and pressure on parking spaces.”

The service will run from the Pentwyn Park and Ride East site, off junction 30 of the M48, where a special area has been designated for parking and using the bus. The service timetable takes into account staff’s shift patterns with the first bus leaving Pentwyn at 6.30am. The service will operate every 20 minutes with a journey time from the park and ride site to the hospital of just seven minutes. The last bus will leave the hospital at 8.17pm. Users will be charged £1 to park their car and £1 per person for a return ticket to use the bus.

Our source at A Vision Network said, “It’s not only going to help the parking problems, but these services in general are really good for the environment. You see so many people driving to work with one person in one car, and the benefits to the environment, and to peoples wallets, of switching to public transport are very noticeable.”

Concessionary pass holders will be able to use the bus for free and only have to pay to park their car. The service will feature brand new buses with low-level flooring, CCTV and complimentary newspapers.