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County council clears hurdles for car sharing race-goers

Published
Gloucestershire County Council is pulling out all the stops to ensure the smooth and safe running of the highly prestigious Cheltenham Festival, taking place from 11 – 14 March 2025.

The county council and its partners are preparing for the iconic event which attracts around a quarter of a million visitors each year. 

For the first time Arle Court Transport Hub will be running a park and ride bus service every 15 minutes to the racecourse in conjunction with Cheltenham Racecourse and Stagecoach. Conveniently located near the A40 in Cheltenham, Arle Court Transport Hub offers state-of-the-art facilities including a brand-new multi-storey car park with 1,000 spaces*, 100 x 7kW EV chargepoints, an expanded bus terminal providing comfortable indoor and outdoor waiting areas, real-time information screens, a customer service desk and toilets. 

Racecourse shuttle buses will leave Arle Court between 9.15am – 2.30pm each day, then return from the racecourse between 4pm – 7.30pm during the festival. The car park will close at 10pm each evening. Tickets for the park and ride with the racecourse shuttle bus are £15 per car/day and one ticket will cover all car passengers up to five people. The council encourages car-sharing to minimise congestion and urges groups travelling together to have a nominated driver for safe and responsible race day journeys.  

In collaboration with local agencies, Gloucestershire County Council’s Highways teams have been working behind the scenes to accommodate the influx of visitors. The county council will postpone all planned roadworks in the area, including minor repairs and major projects such as the A435 cycleway. In the event of any urgent streetworks that cannot be postponed, the council will coordinate with utility companies to minimise disruption as much as possible. 

Travel advice for festival goers 

Visitors are encouraged to:

Cllr. Stephen Davies, Leader of Gloucestershire County Council said “We’re preparing behind the scenes to help this prestigious event run smoothly. Along with Cheltenham Borough Council, The Jockey Club, Gloucestershire Constabulary, and Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, we’re working to minimise congestion, keep people safe and ensure the event is a great success that provides not only a top-notch welcome to the county, but also keeps things moving for our residents and businesses.” 


Notes

*capacity when the West Car Park is completed in late February.