Swansea Metro
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The Swansea Metro is an FTR type bus rapid transit system being implemented in Swansea, South Wales. Swansea council plan to introduce a hybrid articulated bus service on a dedicated route through the city in an attempt to relieve traffic congestion and provide alternative transport to cars. The Welsh Assembly Government has provided £2.2m in funding to help launch the scheme.[1]
The local bus operator First Cymru will pay for the fleet, at a cost of £300,000 per vehicle. The buses, to be built by Northern Ireland-based Wrightbus, will each have 37 seats[2]. In an attempt to decrease journey times, passengers will pre-pay for tickets at scheduled stops so that it the buses are stationary for less than 20 seconds.
The bus would run along a clearly defined route from Morriston Hospital via Morriston, Swansea railway station, Kingsway, Swansea bus station, Civic Centre and Swansea University to Singleton Hospital. The scheme will provide a direct bus service between Morriston Hospital, Swansea University and Singleton Hospital where currently passengers have to change at Swansea bus station.
There will be alterations to a number of roads to provide a dedicated bus lane. Orchard Street and The Kingsway have been converted to a one way streets for cars with a separate two way bus route. West Way has been altered to accommodate a dedicated two way bus lane and new access roads have been developed near the Civic Centre. Further road developments include a dedicated bus lane along Oystermouth Road and a dedicated bus bypass road, past the Hafod area.[3]
Phase 1 of the road development scheme, for Orchard Street and Kingsway, is complete. A service between Morriston Hospital and Civic Centre is expected to commence in 2009.[4]
Criticisms of the scheme include claims that it will increase accidents because of the length of the buses, with opponents of the scheme pointing to the number of accidents which have happened in London as a result of the introduction of bendy buses[5].
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Swansea Leader March/April 2006
- ^ The Wright Group: BRT Streetcar
- ^ City and County of Swansea - Swansea Metro Project Report
- ^ Bus and Coach News - Swansea 'ftr' delayed to 2009
- ^ http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=161366&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232790&home=yes&more_nodeId1=161375&contentPK=20167175
[edit] External links
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