A while back we reviewed the Yutorito Elevated Busway, let’s now take a look at one that’s more down-to-earth – and is also currently the longest in the world.
Red denotes guided portions of the route
The Cambridgeshire Guided Busway is a bus thoroughfare in the UK in service since 2011. It connects the northern area of Huntingdon into the city of Cambridge then down south to its end point in Trumpington. It’s composed of two sections – the north and south, with buses going off the guideway and using regular roads at various intervals. With a total of 16 guided miles (25 km), it’s currently the longest guided busway in the world.
As with most of these systems, it’s based on existing older rail right-of-ways. It uses the typical “wheel-on-curb” method of centering the bus with small guide wheels deploying from the front wheel well.
Wrightbus Eclipse
Alexander Dennis Enviro 400
Mellor Sigma 12 BEV
Cambridge County selected two contractors to provide bus service; Stagecoach and Whippet. Stagecoach uses two coaches; one is a single-deck Wrightbus Eclipse with a Volvo B7RLE chassis. The other is an Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 double-decker using Scania N230UD underpinnings. The Whippet routes used the Eclipse until last year when they were upgraded to Mellor Sigma 12 BEV coaches.
Busways are designed to be as safe as possible but unfortunately there have been several accidents. Two people were killed when they disregarded signs and tried to cross the guideway, only to be hit by coaches. A cyclist was also killed when they either accidentally or on purpose left the adjacent bike path and rode on the guideway – and was struck. Further, there have been several derailments, with one causing multiple injuries – these were all determined to be “driver error”, mostly speeding.
Irrespective of these mishaps, overall ridership on the system has exceeded expectations and there are plans for further expansion.
interesting, I am assuming a driver is still required as a failsafe?
Raytheon built a system (PRT-2000) in the 1990s that was driverless and electrically powered via a third rail. It had sidings for loading/unloading which allowed multiple vehicles on the same elevated track. A prototype loop system was built in Marlboro Mass. but ultimately the project was abandoned because of costs.
Very interesting system. However, I am surprised that there appears to be no safety device (fence, gate, etc.) between the busway and the lanes for cyclists/pedestrians. At least not continuously.
Is British liability law so lax?
No – we still believe in Darwin.
They still have tramways in some European cities, too. Interesting if one turns into the wrong lane & have to reverse out a bit quick.
😂
Very interesting idea. I like it. it looks very futuristic with the bus on raised road bed.
It’s a road. We still walk everywhere so a bus whizzing past is normal.
A great way to reuse these abandoned rail right of ways. And of course the UK had gobs of these, with its superb rail network back in the day.
Yes, in the US there would most likely be a fence between the bus lanes and the bike path, at least on the higher speed sections.
The setup looks like a lighter duty version of a light rail system. Portland’s MAX runs on the streets downtown and transitions to a separated right of way in the suburbs. The newer lines use crossing gates and line side fences in the suburbs. Perhaps they need something similar to keep idiots of the busway.
Ottawa’s ‘Transitway’, opened in 1983, being a relatively new concept for North America at the time. An exclusive bus highway, that eventually reached 59 kilometres in length, and spanned the city. It was the backbone of the city’s mass transit for decades. Earning an award as North America’s top transit system in 1987. As it worked efficiently, for decades.
More recently, sections of the Transitway, have been replaced by LRT.
As the city grew, downtown sections of the Transitway, were becoming clogged with bus congestion. As the frequency, and number, of bus routes expanded. The city decided to replace the downtown section of the buses-only transit highway, with an underground light rail train network. As well as significant new LRT construction in the suburbs.
The famous Route ’95’, ran from the early 1980’s, until eventual cancellation in 2019. Arriving every few minutes, in both directions, for twenty-four hours a day. Often already packed, with people.
Occasionally, a private car, would appear on the Transitway. ‘Do Not Enter’ signs were well present. But you know drivers. There was a head-on collision between a Chrysler minivan, and a bus years ago. In a stretch, where speed limits reached 80 km/h.
Thanks for the add’l info Daniel – Canada has always been at the forefront of Mass Transit innovation. Nice to see the “Classic” articulated.
Interesting, I see a driver is still present although he/she may not do much. Things are changing, but I just can’t see this in the US, I can just see liability lawyers going crazy. Complicated by here at least where you either can’t sue at all, or can sue for 1M for a hangnail.
I wonder what the savings are if they still have to have a driver present?
The primary goal wasn’t cost reduction Mike, though there may be savings in terms of fuel since the buses can run at constant speed. The goal was to increase speed and efficiency, and in turn, ridership. Guideways allow the buses to run unhindered by intersections and other traffic. Think of them as bus expressways. They’re also fairly inexpensive to build as they use existing old rail right-of-ways no longer used by the railroads.
These roadways have another useful side effect: They keep the area free for the re-establishment of “real” railway lines if their value should be rediscovered some day.