The Cambridgeshire Guided Busway

[Brenda goats]

The old railway trackbead is pretty much intact between st Ives and huntingdon. The Busway could continue where
there could be a stop in the middle for houghton and hemingford

[Rational Plan]

Originally Posted by Mwmbwls

And so iot came to pass - the Bus Company was converted to the guided-way of righteousness

http://www.businessweekly.co.uk/trav...extended-north

quote
Cambridge guided bus to be extended north?

Stagecoach, which operates the guided busway from Cambridge to St Ives – linking to Huntingdon – is considering extending the rapid transit system further north.
With the Cambridge Cluster reaching choking point for prime property, more companies are relocating to the north of the county, bringing hundreds more workers living in Cambridge into the travel equation.
To meet demand for the exodus north, the bus company is considering a direct service to Huntingdon and an extension onto Peterborough, which has become a haven for companies in the south of the UK seeking a congestion-free zone.
Stagecoach Cambridgeshire managing director, Andy Campbell, said the company was seeing more passengers heading away from Cambridge.
He said: “The busway was always going to encourage customers to travel to Cambridge. However, we are pleasantly surprised by the number of customers travelling to St Ives.
“We have seen a 100 per cent increase in customers using the services and are considering a direct service from Huntingdon and an extension to Peterborough.
“We also believe that St Ives would benefit further if buses used Market Hill and a bus stop was provided in Station Road, so we could provide an increased level of service to St Ives.”
unquote

Perhaps it is my nasty cynical nature but I can't see Stagecoach actually investing in the extension to Peterborough. As a company they are past masters at filling their boots with every public subsidy that can be found. If they can secure rail like exclusive rights of way at the price to them of a new piece of road (i.e. bourne by the public purse) I suspect they will.

But there is a nice modern A1 motorway north of Huntingdon, It can't bas a bad as the A14. I imagine they are talking of an express bus along the motorway. If the loadings are correct then well first see express service to Huntingdon and if that works, experimental extensions to Peterborough.

[Brenda goats]

express to Huntingdon, that's a joke with the traffic btwn St Ives and there.
It would only work with more guideway between st Ives and huntingdon.

[Mwmbwls]

By now any operating teething troubles should have emerged and/or been ironed out - could a local source tell us how this project is now working? Thanks.

[Brenda goats]

There are faster buses missing out huntingdon estates in the mornings and evenings

ROUTE A
http://www.youtube.com/user/NODDINGC...20/vnpewuRupgE
ROUTE B
http://www.youtube.com/user/NODDINGC...21/XsUIZ58DVrc

[Mwmbwls]

Originally Posted by Brenda goats

There are faster buses missing out huntingdon estates in the mornings and evenings

ROUTE A
http://www.youtube.com/user/NODDINGC...20/vnpewuRupgE
ROUTE B
http://www.youtube.com/user/NODDINGC...21/XsUIZ58DVrc

Thanks for that - are loadings increasing?

[Brenda goats]

It's well busy, especially route B

[Tubeman]

Originally Posted by Bart_LCY

Since there is no Luton-Dunstable Busway thread yet, I will post some pictures here. All taken by me on 8th of May.

Mods feel free to move / create new thread.

Done

[Brenda goats]

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/News...0517081908.htm

[MK Tom]

Pretty clear that one of the two vehicles jumped a light (unless it was a failure of the lights). Either way it doesn't weigh into the pros and cons of the busway, it's just your average traffic light junction smash.

[WatcherZero]

Yes, didnt actually happen on the busway but the normal road crossing.

[SF-02]

I used the busway recently. I was aware of all the problems and how divisive it is, but wanted to give it a fair go.

It was poor. Some observations -

The real time information did not work. Showed a bus in 5 minutes. Got down to the time and nothing arrived. Then it disappeared and showed 17 minutes to the next one. Someone walked up, saw the long wait, and left. Then that jumped to 12, then 2 minutes later a bus arrived. I use trains a lot and know problems can occur on real time there, but its very rare and can't recall problems or inaccurate as bad as this seemed to be.

The ride was poor. It was miles off train levels of comfort (wrong to expect something similar I suppose) and not even as good as buses on tarmac. I made 4 trips over the time in Cambridge and 3 were particularly juddery and jerky. Could have been a rogue bus or two I suppose.

I had busplus so didn't worry about cost, but looking at the fares and timings it seemed pretty poor and I wouldn't pay that much if I lived there.

Another thing is that no buses from the busway serve the main Cambridge rail station after 8 or 8.30pm. Luckily I got there before but I would have been annoyed arriving later.

It was worse than most bus services I use. Far worse than trains. It does have a great segregated cycle lane alongside and if I lived in Cambridge I would use that, as loads of people there seem to do.

[Leeds No.1]

Originally Posted by SF-02

The ride was poor. It was miles off train levels of comfort (wrong to expect something similar I suppose) and not even as good as buses on tarmac. I made 4 trips over the time in Cambridge and 3 were particularly juddery and jerky. Could have been a rogue bus or two I suppose.

You'd think the surface would make a lot of difference, but actually the comfort levels are often more down to the engine. If it's a standard bus on the busway, it'll still rattle the same as a normal bus.

Ever used an electric bus? If not, you'll be surprised how smooth they are. They just... move. No noise, rattling or shaking whatsoever. You'll experience the same on hybrid buses until the engine kicks in too.

[LNGCats]

If comparing to rail travel the lack of steel wheel on steel track will make a huge difference.

[SF-02]

Originally Posted by Leeds No.1

You'd think the surface would make a lot of difference, but actually the comfort levels are often more down to the engine. If it's a standard bus on the busway, it'll still rattle the same as a normal bus.

I didn't expect concrete to be much different to tarmac, if at all, so the vibration when moving was a bit of surprise, but I thought it must be the engine as when waiting at priority lights at Orchard Park (which weren't giving priority ) the vibration was very noticable making me think it was the engine rather than concrete, though I didn't know if that could enhance the vibrations? Not that it matters really - its a massive difference in ride to trains and if the notion is correct that many people wont engage in modal shifts from car to bus when they do for trains then this wont change that. But it may get people on their bikes as that is a great resource alongside.

But then the ridership numbers seem good so who knows? Maybe sticking anything there would attract people due to need?