Gorse Stacks buses to run from next week

Passengers will be able to use Chester’s new £13.5m bus interchange at Gorse Stacks from next Tuesday 30 May with park-and-ride buses the first services, followed by all bus operators the following week.

The interchange was constructed to relocate the existing bus station out of the Northgate retail development area. It has 13 stands and will handle around 90 buses an hour on average. The main contractor was Graham Construction.

Graham Pink, director of commissioning places and commercial management, said: “Following the completion of construction work, the site has seen a lot of activity with staff familiarising themselves with the building. Bus operators have also had a chance to trial the new facilities and produce new timetables.”

Passengers will be able to use free wifi, public toilets with changing facilities and an information desk. Deals are being negotiated with a café operator to provide hot drinks and snacks and a newsagent to serve passengers.

ational Express buses will also start using the interchange from 5 June and tickets can still be purchased from the Visitor Information Centre at Town Hall Square.

Operators running services from the bus interchange will be Arriva, Arrowebrook, Avon Buses, Aintree Coachline, DJ Jones, National Express, Stagecoach and Townlynx.

A free shuttle bus service will run from the interchange to the Town Hall with accessible buses running every 15 minutes from 8am to 6pm.

Information on timetables can be found on the council’s website www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/cbi listing all of the routes and city centre stops.

The existing interchange next to Chester Town Hall will close on Sunday 4 June.