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The Durham Road User Charge Zone is one way in which Durham County Council has tried to meet the challenge of sustainable access to the World Heritage Site in Durham City. The Durham Road User Charge Zone is a congestion charge zone, similar to one that operates in central London, but on a much smaller scale.
The Durham Road User Charge Zone normally operates 6 days per week - from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday. However, it does not operate on bank holidays.
The Road User Charge Zone uses an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system. The ANPR camera identifies vehicles whose drivers need to pay the £2 charge as they leave the congestion charge zone.
Durham Cathedral Bus is operated on behalf of Durham County Council, and is a ‘hop-on, hop-off” service that links Durham City’s bus station, railway station, Market Place and World Heritage Site. The service operates at 20-minute intervals, from Monday to Saturday. Like the Durham Road User Charge Zone, it does not operate on bank holidays.
There are three routes, each with battery-powered electric (EV, electric vehicle) buses that are emission-free because their engines produce no exhaust fumes. Compared to a conventional diesel-powered bus, each Durham Cathedral bus saves 15 tonnes of CO2 emissions every year.
The buses have are easy to use for wheelchair users and people with buggies for small children because they have step-free entrances. In 2012 the flat-rate fare was 50p (25p for children 13 years and under) for travel to and from the WHS. Concessionary fares, for senior citizens for instance applied, and people who had already bought Durham City Park and Ride bus tickets or Explorer North East travel tickets could also use the Cathedral Bus free.
EVIDENCE LOG 3 - Advantages of the Durham Cathedral busThink about the advantages of the Durham Cathedral bus. for tourists and for the environment of visiting the Northumberland Coast by bus. Use the Evidence Log to identify two advantages for tourists and two advantages for the environment.