Free shuttle bus service
13 August 2009
Chester Zoo’s free shuttle bus service, nicknamed Tiger, was operated on a trial basis for the peak school holiday period. The service is currently suspended except for the weekend of 12th and 13th September. We will update our website when we re-introduce the free shuttle.
Families are delighted with the environmentally friendly way of getting to the UK’s premier zoo.
The service was laid on for the first time for the six weeks school summer holiday period to encourage people to use public transport rather than their cars. In its first few days of operation it carried nearly 300 passengers to the zoo and back
The idea is that visitors from outside Chester area can take the train to the city and then hop onto the 16-seater free shuttle which stops at the bottom of City Road, outside Chester railway station. It will take them on the three mile journey to the zoo’s pedestrian entrance on Caughall Road, Upton. The bus drivers report a favourable response from travellers of all ages, with passengers coming from all over the country, including over the Welsh border in Prestatyn, North Wales – and as far away as London. The drivers say it’s a ‘happy bus’ on board which passengers are very chatty and excited to be going on such a great day out.
The service runs regularly throughout the day and, for anyone unsure when the next shuttle will arrive, a phone number is on show at the bus stop for passengers to call to check how long it will be. The bus has been nicknamed ‘Tiger’ because it has a colourful animal print design on the exterior. It can be used by anyone who has a valid rail ticket for that day. The service has the backing of rail companies Virgin Trains, Arriva, Northern Trains and Merseyrail.
“It’s an easy, hassle-free way of getting to the zoo and enjoying a great day out without having to bring the car. It’s early days but the indications of passenger numbers so far are very encouraging,” says Martin Clancy, Chester Zoo’s Head of Marketing. As well as being a fun way to travel, the bus service is boosting the zoo’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. Martin added: “Chester Zoo receives hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, so the more of them who leave their cars at home and use this service, the more they will save on energy consumption. It’s a real ‘eco-bus’ of which we’re very proud.”
The service is for the school holiday period only, but if a success it could become permanent. It runs between 9.45am (starting at Chester Railway station) and last bus from the zoo is 6.15pm until Sunday 6th September. The bus will also run over the weekend of the 12th & 13th September.
Please note the Chester Zoo shuttle bus is equipped to take passengers in wheelchairs however this has to be booked in advance, please notify us 24 hours before your arrival on 07794 864106