Go North East sets sail to Hartlepool to provide Park & Ride transport for Tall Ships event

Go North East, the region’s largest bus company, has been appointed to operate the park and ride sites at this week’s Tall Ships Races in Hartlepool.

Go North East has won the tender for the showpiece event between July 6-9 when it will provide transport from designated car parks to Hartlepool Marina and waterfront.

There will be around 12 double decker buses in operation for four days of jam-packed entertainment and fun. The high-capacity and accessible buses are modern, and some will provide facilities such as free Wi-Fi and mobile charging points on board.

Go North East will lead the project from a hugely experienced position, having previously worked on the Tall Ships Races when they visited Blyth in 2016 and Sunderland in 2018.

The transport operator has also provided baggage and shuttle buses during the Great North Run, the annual Sunderland Air Show and the Kynren spectacle in Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham.

Dan Graham, commercial development manager for Go North East, said: “It is great to be chosen by Hartlepool Borough Council to be the transport provider for the Tall Ships race event, following a rigorous tender process.

“We are the region's leading operator in providing bespoke event transport, often carrying tens of thousands of customers, in a safe and sustainable way.

“We have a longstanding reputation for delivering a brilliant service at events, which we are immensely proud of, and we have worked closely with Hartlepool Borough Council this year to plan the Tall Ships Park & Ride routes and timetables.

“The Park & Ride service is a fantastic hassle-free way of attending the Hartlepool Tall Ships event. Our congestion-busting double-deck buses are low-floor, accessible, and environmentally friendly."

Around 30 drivers will be involved in delivering the park and ride system for Tall Ships Races Hartlepool and the Go North East vehicles will head down from the company’s Sunderland depot.

Car parks will open from 9am on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and then on Grand Departure Sunday they will be open from 6am.

It will cost a car or van £10 per day at one of the official parking sites. Park and Rides will be in place at five venues across Hartlepool at Grayfields, Coronation Drive, Queens Meadow Business Park and Tata/Liberty Steel.

Thousands are expected to visit Hartlepool during the Tall Ships’ second visit to the town in 13 years when there will be more than 100 activities and performances for people to enjoy.

Kieran Bostock, Hartlepool Borough Council’s assistant director for neighbourhood services, said: “We have taken on board feedback from the Tall Ships’ visit in 2010 by providing a mixture of parking options this time and Go North East will operate at different sites, a lot closer than last time.

“The idea is we can be flexible too. It means we can send extra buses over to certain sites if one is busier than another. We believe we have the right measures in place to ensure an enjoyable event for all.

“The event is going to be fantastic – it is going to really put Hartlepool on the map and is one of the stand out events in the UK this year.

“Go North East were chosen after a rigorous tender process. We are pleased to have an experienced bus operator on board which has vast experience of operating park and ride sites across the North-East.

“We have worked closely with Go North East in the build up to the event to ensure we have the capacity at all the sites to cope with the thousands of visitors we anticipate visiting Hartlepool for the Tall Ships Races.”

If you are planning to visit Tall Ships Races Hartlepool 2023 then you are urged to pre-book parking on the official site at the earliest opportunity.