Swansea Metro

The Swansea Metro is an FTR bus rapid transit system being implemented in Swansea, Wales, UK. Swansea Council plans 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. [ [http://www.swansea.gov.uk/media/pdf/o/8/Swansea_Leader_-_March_2006.pdf "Swansea Leader" March/April 2006] ]

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 [ [http://www.wright-group.co.uk/site/default.asp?CATID=32 The Wright Group: BRT Streetcar] ] . In an attempt to decrease journey times, passengers will pre-pay for tickets at scheduled stops so that the buses are stationary for less than 20 seconds.

The bus will 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: 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. [ [http://www.swanseacrimebeat.org/index.cfm?articleid=21511 City and County of Swansea - Swansea Metro Project Report ] ]

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. [ [http://www.busandcoach.com/newsstory.aspx?id=1436 Bus and Coach News - Swansea 'ftr' delayed to 2009 ] ]

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 [http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=161366&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232790&home=yes&more_nodeId1=161375&contentPK=20167175] .

See also

* List of guided busways and BRT systems in the United Kingdom

References

External links

* [http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=14859 Swansea metro project]