TRANSPORT | Bus Rapid Transit / Cross City Bus Routes

[nerd]

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%...nsultation.pdf

Note at Appendix E a couple of case studies of guided busways.

Interesting to note that Cambridgeshire is running at 40% over expected demand, so that the two operators have had to lay on extra services.

[neil]

Bump


Anymore news on this anyone?

[WatcherZero]

LSM has slipped from 2013 to 2014 opening I believe (partly as they prioritised financing other projects) though contractor has been appointed. Route and road design pretty much decided on the cross city bus routes apart from I think it was Middleton in Rochdale where local opposition to the route has caused a rethink in progress, each council the road passes through will be responsible for delivering the sections in their own areas.

[MartinSFP]

Originally Posted by WatcherZero

LSM has slipped from 2013 to 2014 opening I believe (partly as they prioritised financing other projects) though contractor has been appointed. Route and road design pretty much decided on the cross city bus routes apart from I think it was Middleton in Rochdale where local opposition to the route has caused a rethink in progress, each council the road passes through will be responsible for delivering the sections in their own areas.

In the meantime, it's interesting to see that Stagecoach and First have launched cross-city bus routes without waiting for this package, with the 50 now running Salford Quays - city centre - East Didsbury and the 18 running Langley - city centre - Rusholme.

[AndrooGM]

Originally Posted by MartinSFP

In the meantime, it's interesting to see that Stagecoach and First have launched cross-city bus routes without waiting for this package, with the 50 now running Salford Quays - city centre - East Didsbury and the 18 running Langley - city centre - Rusholme.

Stagecoach's move to Wigan will mean the 32 through Salford leaving first too, as well as other routes it gives potential to. Interesting times for public transport users.

[MartinSFP]

Originally Posted by AndrooGM

Stagecoach's move to Wigan will mean the 32 through Salford leaving first too, as well as other routes it gives potential to. Interesting times for public transport users.

Not to mention Stagecoach acquiring Bluebird (subject to regulatory approval) too!

[Mwmbwls]

http://www.leighreporter.co.uk/news/...sway-1-5363757

What if anything is visible - has construction started? If so do we need a dedicated thread?

[JohnnyLeigh]

No, we should give it the same level of attention public transport users will.

[madferret]

Originally Posted by JohnnyLeigh

No, we should give it the same level of attention public transport users will.

That's right. People didn't want the Cambridge busway. Until it was built.

Do you really think people wanting to travel to Manchester will boycott the busway because they didn't want it?

[JohnnyLeigh]

Did I say that?

The guided busway provides slower journey times to Manchester from Leigh than old 26 route did, do you expect the busway to have a significantly higher patronage from Leigh to Manchester than that did?

I'm sure the route will be a financial success as too much time, effort and treasure has been invested ignoring local wishes and common sense to allow it to 'fail' in an overall sense. I'm sure it will serve inside the M60 well, but from a point to point service Leigh to Manchester no.

edit - I don't really want it to fail in any way, I just treat it with the contempt that GM treats Leigh and people from Leigh with.

[nerd]

But on the original question; No there should not be a separate thread for the Leigh-Salford Busway, as the route overlaps with, and shares infrastructure with, the Cross City bus route from MRI to Ellenbrook.

[Mwmbwls]

Originally Posted by nerd

But on the original question; No there should not be a separate thread for the Leigh-Salford Busway, as the route overlaps with, and shares infrastructure with, the Cross City bus route from MRI to Ellenbrook.

Point taken - now to revert to my first question has construction work started?

[WatcherZero]

Update on the guided bus route, a prefered bidder for construction has been appointed with final bid design and cost expected in the next couple of months, likewise the bus operators initial bids to operate services have been reviewed and contracts for the operation of services with prefered bidders will be performed in a couple of months.

[WatcherZero]

Collection of amended post-consultation maps and feedback from consultations on road improvements at the Wigan end.

http://democracy.wigan.gov.uk/mgAi.a...07#mgDocuments

Particularly illuminating is consultation prompted amendment to the proposals to take into account delivery access for shops and more landscaping shown in before and after images for Tyldsley Square.

http://democracy.wigan.gov.uk/docume...0Tyldesley.pdf

Leigh town centre the consultation response has led to some traffic alterations after complaint from Spinning Gate Shopping Centre and alterations to access to the car park. Atherton town centre some of the road junction improvements have been scaled back as they took too much land from car parks.

[BlackFriars]

Originally Posted by WatcherZero

Collection of amended post-consultation maps and feedback from consultations on road improvements at the Wigan end.

http://democracy.wigan.gov.uk/mgAi.a...07#mgDocuments

Particularly illuminating is consultation prompted amendment to the proposals to take into account delivery access for shops and more landscaping shown in before and after images for Tyldsley Square.

http://democracy.wigan.gov.uk/docume...0Tyldesley.pdf

Leigh town centre the consultation response has led to some traffic alterations after complaint from Spinning Gate Shopping Centre and alterations to access to the car park. Atherton town centre some of the road junction improvements have been scaled back as they took too much land from car parks.

I believe Atherton folk have finally gor together a huge petition and presented it to rid themselves of Wigan council xontrol and it band of dodgy overpaid councillors that have screwed the town into the ground over the years, it being of little interest to Wigan with it being miles away from the place.

[heatonparkincakes]

Originally Posted by BlackFriars

I believe Atherton folk have finally gor together a huge petition and presented it to rid themselves of Wigan council xontrol and it band of dodgy overpaid councillors that have screwed the town into the ground over the years, it being of little interest to Wigan with it being miles away from the place.

In a recession, as it costs millions to achieve, under a neo con government, with Porkie Pickles in charge, mid point in parliamentary cycle, as AGMA's ten councils; never mind Pies MBC, will oppose it, that it would need a possible royal commission.

No chance of it happening soon.

[Mwmbwls]

Originally Posted by Mwmbwls

Point taken - now to revert to my first question has construction work started?

I am now in a position to answer my own question. Work started on the 7th December 2012.

"The Tyldesley Loop line was opened by the London & North West Railway
Company on 1st September 1864, to provide a link between Eccles (located on the famous 1830 Stephenson line between Manchester and Liverpool), and Wigan (located on the main West Coast line which ran from London to Glasgow).
In 1870 an additional branch line (the Roe Green Loopline) was opened to Bolton, via Walkden Low Level. The station was initially opened at Walkden with Low Level being added 2.6.1924. A key function of the lines was to support the surrounding collieries in conjunction with the Bridgewater canal, the largest of which was at Mosley Common, one of the biggest pits in the UK at its prime.
The Tyldesley Loopline extended from Eccles, through Monton and Worsley to Roe Green, where it turned westwards through Ellenbrook. At Roe Green, the Roe Green Loopline diverted northwards through Walkden to Bolton. The Tyldesley Loopline was finally closed under the 'Beeching Axe' on 5th May 1969, when under the control of British Rail. The Roe Green branch line closed in October 1969".

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/w/walkden_low_level/

Part of the closed routes have be reclaimed by Salford as part of a recreational network – the route via Ellenbrook being part of National Cycle Network 55.
TfGM is now building a guided busway from Ellenbrook south west of Walkden to Leigh using the old formation. Buses will operate a cross city service from the Oxford Road University and Hospitals complexes in Manchester via the city centre and Salford before joining the busway from the East Lances Road just west of Irlams o’th’ Height. Over the forty years the rail line was closed nature reclaimed the cuttings and embankments. Residents got used to using the route for walking dogs and sheletering their gardens. The first step in building the busway has been to clear the route of trees.
This has not gone down well with the neighbours.

http://www.wigantoday.net/community/...sway-1-5501741

My Flickr set (below) will follow the progress of the construction of the busway and starts with a preliminary ramble from Walkden to Hough Lane. The route from Walkden to Ellenbrook is not part of the busway but I include pictures of it to give some sense of the natural growth that has occurred whilst the railway was shut.

I began at Walkden Lower Level station’s former site – walking south towards Roe Green Junction where the line to Eccles via Monton Green from Bolton Great Moor Street and Wigan and Leigh join - where I did a U turn.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mwmbwls...th/8642816886/

TfGM have published an idiot’s guide and two useful maps
http://www.tfgm.com/buspriority/Docu...-Easy-Read.pdf

http://www.tfgm.com/buspriority/Docu...scheme-map.pdf

http://www.tfgm.com/buspriority/Documents/Tyldesley.PDF

[iheartthenew]

Excellent post and photos Mwmbwls!

[neil]

Great post MWM, very interested in the busway as it will run near my home. Keep up the good work thank you

[ScouseinManc]

Great post Mwmbwls. Very informative & a cracking set of pics. Looking Forward to seeing it developing. A huge shame the line couldn't revert back to its original use, but I suppose this is the next best thing