FTR (bus)

Infobox Bus transit
name = FTR

logo_size = 100

---

image_size =
image_caption = An FTR bus in York on route 4
company_slogan = The future of travel
parent = FirstGroup plc
founded = 2006
headquarters = Aberdeen, Scotland
service_area = York, Leeds, Swansea and Luton
service_type = Bus rapid transit
fuel_type = Diesel
operator = FirstGroup plc
website = [http://www.goftr.com www.goftr.com]

FTR is an example of bus rapid transit, currently being proposed or being used in England in York and Leeds in West Yorkshire and Luton in Bedfordshire and in Swansea in Wales. FTR has been introduced by First Group, using Wright StreetCar articulated buses in conjunction with infrastructure upgrades by local authorities. The vehicles are branded as "the future of travel", the operator stating that "ftr" is SMS shorthand for "future". [cite web|url=http://www.goftr.com/leeds/faqs.php|title=FTR - the future of travel |accessdate=2007-06-03]

Elements

FTR is a collection of many innovations being introduced simultaneously: the vehicle type, its configuration, the fare collection arrangements, the changes to infrastructure and an integrated data handling system for voice radio, vehicle location, real time passenger information, on-board displays, vehicle diagnostics, and ticket machine data.

Vehicles

Each 'StreetCar' vehicle costs over £300,000, and has a separate driver ('pilot') compartment at the front, resembling to some extent similar designs in continental Europe. Otherwise the vehicle itself is a modified conventional bus, with styling similar to contemporary trams and greater distances between axles in order to maximise the low-floor area for easily-accessible seating.

Ticketing system

The main fundamental difference to conventional bus services is the method of fare collection, involvings payment of cash fares to a self-service ticket machine rather than to the driver, who is not intended to have any contact with passengers. This feature was promoted as helping to reduce journey times, although achieving this would depend on a large-scale transfer to prepaid tickets, available for example through a network of PayPoint retailers.

This feature has been now deemed as a failure and self-service machines are no longer in operation. A "customer service host" (conductor) on each bus is responsible for ticket issuing.

Current Operations & Future Trials

York

The first instance of FTR in the United Kingdom was the conversion of route 4 in York, which is operated by First York. The service began on 8 May 2006, after the city council had made significant and expensive alterations to the road layout to accommodate the new vehicles.

Route 4, between Acomb and the University of York, was revised on the introduction of the new 42-seat vehicles to operate every 10 minutes in both directions (six per hour), replacing eight conventional 41-seater buses each hour.

Experience elsewhere in the UK has led to self-service ticket machines being located at roadside bus stops (London) or conductors being carried (Sheffield Supertram) in order to minimise the time spent stationary. In the former instance inspectors carry out the necessary random on-board ticket checks to prevent fare evasion, in a similar way to the current situation in York.

Leeds

Following the cancellation of the Leeds Supertram project, the local Passenger Transport Executive Metro suggested various bus rapid transit options as a replacement, one of which was an FTR service.

The FTR system was chosen, and the service began in early 2007. It runs on route 4 between Pudsey and Whinmoor, via City Square. Many observers consider that the extent to which "FTR" is successful in Leeds will determine whether large-scale adoption of the concept throughout other British urban areas is likely. Leeds council have recently announced it is studying a tram-train to traverse the city centre streets and the local rail network. Whether this will be instead of the Quality Bus is uncertain. FirstGroup is presently the only large UK transport company promoting such vehicles, with major operators such as Stagecoach and Lothian Buses preferring to avoid the additional outlay involved in procuring the Streetcar-type bus and instead purchase a larger number of conventional single and double deckers for fleet renewal and upgrading.

Swansea

It has been announced that Swansea will have a similar operation from about April 2009 that will link Morriston, the City Centre and the university/Singleton Hospital, billed as the Swansea Metro. Extensive streetworks are being carried out in the cty centre.

Luton Airport

Four FTR buses are currently working for First Capital Connect, providing a frequent link between the airport and Luton Airport Parkway railway station. The use of bigger buses reflects growth in the number of people using the airport rail link, which has more than doubled since the Parkway station opened in 1999. It now carries almost 10 million people a year. FTR buses branded as train2plane run every 10 minutes, 19 hours a day, and connect with all trains during the night.

Developments

The launch of the FTR generated almost saturation coverage in the local media.Thomas, R. (2006), 'The future of public transport' meets hostile response in York, "Local Transport Today", no.444, 1 June 2006.] On 10 May The Press devoted four full pages to it, including its front page and a double page spread of 12 readers' letters, almost all of them hostile. The next day the paper published a defence of the vehicles' teething problems by First York's commercial director, accompanied by another five hostile letters. Another full-page article appeared on 12 May. On 17 May councillor Ann Reid was quoted as saying "The majority [of complaints] seem to have come from those who don't live on the route or certainly don't even catch the bus" neither does2nd ref] . On 15 May the issue reached the national press.Clark, A. (2006), [http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1774881,00.html The rise of the purple people-eaters] , "The Guardian", 15 May 2006.] Some transport planners believe that the complaints are an expression of general middle class hostility towards public transport,Emmerson, G. (2006), Is the 'ftr' really the future of public transport?, "Local Transport Today", no.445, 15 June 2006.] .

Despite initial criticisms the York trial has now attracted good and increasing customer service ratings. The Leeds service was converted to ftr gradually and there was much less vocal criticism.

Industry sources believe that FTR projects may be being used by the government as a cheap alternative to light rail.guardian2]

See also

*First Cymru
*First Leeds
*First York
*Wright StreetCar

References

External links

* [http://www.goftr.com/ FTR Official Website]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/4739844.stm BBC coverage of the trial in York]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/4696283.stm BBC coverage of the Swansea announcement]
* [http://www.firstgroup.com/ftr/faq/index.php A more detailed FAQ on the actual buses]
* [http://www.nouse.co.uk/2006/05/26/ftr-buses-meet-fierce-criticism/ Article in student newspaper Nouse - 'FTR buses meet fierce criticism']
* [http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk Latest FTR and bus rapid transit news on Transport Briefing]
* [http://www.sprint-there.co.uk A proposed route in Coventry and Warwickshire branded as "Sprint"]
* [http://www.busandcoach.com/newsStory.aspx?id=1788 Article on Luton Train2PLane]