Submitted by Biky Wan on Wed, 29/06/2016 - 15:04
Universal - the new bus service replacing the Uni4 will be operating from 23 July 2016. It will be the first time a frequent service connects West Cambridge with Cambridge Railway Station. There are other improvements including more frequent journeys and a service on Saturdays. It will be a facility for all members of the public, subsidised by the University of Cambridge.
Jess Cunningham, Travel Plan Manager for the University of Cambridge said: “The Universal service includes simpler fares, a stop at the railway station and use of The Busway. This will make a much more reliable, accessible service which the University in partnership with the bus operator will be monitoring. Connecting the places that people want and need to get to is a vitally important part of our travel planning, not just for University staff but also the wider Cambridge community.”
The service will continue to provide connections between Addenbrooke’s and the city centre, West Cambridge and Madingley Road Park and Ride. A series of improvements will be made to the service over a period of time. These include:
- From 23 July 2016, the bus route will go via Cambridge Railway Station as well as the city centre
- The service will operate approximately every 15-minutes between 07:00 and 19:30 on Mondays to Fridays. A 20-minute service will operate between Madingley Road Park & Ride and Cambridge Railway Station on Saturdays
- By the end of 2016, the bus will travel from Cambridge Railway Station to Cambridge Biomedical Campus via the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway, using brand new high-specification buses
- From early 2017, the bus will enter the North West Cambridge Development and its local centre called Eddington
Heather Topel, Acting Project Director for the West and North West Cambridge Developments said: “With ambitions for a long-lasting and sustainable place on the new development, creating connectivity to local destinations and to strategic employment and public transport hubs is important. The eagerly awaited connection from this part of Cambridge to the Railway Station is a benefit for the local community and the service will be running in advance of the arrival the residents of the North West Cambridge Development.”
The service will be operated by Whippet Coaches who will be offering a flat £2 fare for all journeys across the route and University card holder will pay £1 for a single journey. Other low fares will be available, as Matthew Wooll, Commercial Manager for Whippet Coaches explains.
“Universal will run completely within our City and Bar Hill zone, so a week’s unlimited travel will be just £10. A Day Rover ticket will also be available for £3. We have plans to introduce mobile phone ticketing and this will enable customers to purchase other great-value tickets.”
More information about the Universal bus and its timetable is available online. You can also follow the new service on Twitter @busuniversal or find out more at www.busuniversal.com