JH Coaches Secures Durham Park & Ride Contract and Invests in Five New Vehicles

JH Coaches, part of The Coach Travel Group, has secured a contract with Durham County Council to operate the city’s Park & Ride network from Sunday 1 November 2026.

The agreement covers an initial two-year period, with the option to extend for a further two years. It marks another significant step in JH Coaches’ expansion into scheduled passenger transport, following the introduction of its Sunderland Connect 700 and 701 services in July 2026.

To support the contract, JH Coaches is introducing five brand-new Volvo Evora buses, creating a dedicated fleet for the network. Twelve drivers will be allocated to the rota, with additional recruitment and induction taking place ahead of the launch.

Supporting journeys across Durham

Durham Park & Ride provides an alternative to driving into the historic city centre, supporting commuters, students, residents and visitors while helping reduce congestion.

The network connects three sites: Belmont, Sniperley and Howlands. Its two principal routes link these locations with the city centre, providing access to key destinations including university facilities and University Hospital of North Durham.

Services operate seven days a week, with a reduced Sunday service connecting Belmont and Sniperley on the PR1 route.

Building on recent growth

The contract strengthens JH Coaches’ growing presence in local bus services, alongside its established private coach hire, school transport, excursions and UK and European touring activities.

The launch follows Sunderland Connect earlier this year, demonstrating continued investment in the vehicles and people needed to deliver public transport across the North East.

John Shipley, Managing Director of JH Coaches, said:

“Securing the Durham Park & Ride contract is an exciting milestone for JH Coaches. Following the launch of Sunderland Connect in July, it represents another important step in developing our scheduled passenger services alongside our established coaching operations.

Investing in five brand-new vehicles and expanding our driving team reflects our commitment to this contract. We look forward to working with Durham County Council and welcoming passengers on board from November.”

Demonstrating the breadth of The Coach Travel Group

For The Coach Travel Group, the agreement highlights the range of services delivered by its member operators, from coaching and touring to local authority contracts and scheduled public transport.

JH Coaches’ continued growth reflects the experience and capabilities within The Coach Travel Group, with its operators supporting everything from private group travel to the delivery of essential public transport services.