Swansea Metro
Encyclopedia
ftrmetro Swansea is a bus rapid transit
route being implemented in Swansea
, Wales
. The route will be served by FTR articulated bus
es 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. and 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. Stops will be placed every 500m and passengers will pay for tickets on-board from a conductor rather than from the driver.
The bus will run along a route from Morriston Hospital
to Singleton Hospital
, via Morriston
, Swansea railway station
, Kingsway
, Swansea bus station, Civic Centre and Swansea University
. The off-peak journey time between Morriston Hospital and Mumbles
could be reduced from 75 minutes to around 55 minutes with the bus route in place.
Alterations are being made 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 lane. West Way has been altered to accommodate a two-way bus lane and new access roads have been developed near the Civic Centre. Further road developments include a bus lane along Oystermouth Road and a bus bypass road past the Hafod
area.
Phase 1 of the road development scheme, for Orchard Street and Kingsway, is complete. A service between Morriston Hospital and Singleton started on bus route 4, using a single ftr vehicle, on 1 June 2009 with official launch of service expected in September 2009.
Critics of the scheme attacked the disruption caused by roadworks to accommodate the vehicles and the impact of changes to the road network.
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
route being implemented in Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The route will be served by FTR articulated bus
Articulated bus
An articulated bus is an articulated vehicle used in public transportation. It is usually a single-deck design, and comprises two rigid sections linked by a pivoting joint...
es in an attempt to relieve traffic congestion
Traffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...
and provide alternative transport to cars.
The Welsh Assembly Government
Welsh Assembly Government
The Welsh Government is the devolved government of Wales. It is accountable to the National Assembly for Wales, the legislature which represents the interests of the people of Wales and makes laws for Wales...
has provided £2.2m in funding to help launch the scheme. and the local bus operator First Cymru
First Cymru
First Cymru Buses Ltd. is a provider of public transport bus services in South Wales. First Cymru was formed from a number of privatised former bus companies, including South Wales Transport. Its headquarters are in Penlan, Swansea...
will pay for the fleet, at a cost of £300,000 per vehicle. The buses, to be built by Northern Ireland-based Wrightbus
Wrightbus
Wrightbus is an independent coachbuilder and pioneer of the low-floor bus. Based in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, it was established in 1946 by Robert Wright and currently run by his son William Wright.-History:...
, will each have 37 seats. Stops will be placed every 500m and passengers will pay for tickets on-board from a conductor rather than from the driver.
The bus will run along a route from Morriston Hospital
Morriston Hospital
Morriston Hospital is a 750 bed hospital located in Cwmrhydyceirw near Morriston in Swansea, Wales. Morriston is the largest hospital in the city and county of Swansea and is operated by Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board. Alongside its role as a district general hospital, Morriston...
to Singleton Hospital
Singleton Hospital
Singleton Hospital is a 550 bed hospital located in Sketty Lane, Swansea, Wales, operated by Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board. The main building was completed in 1958. The hospital adjoins Singleton Park and the main campus of the Swansea University where there is a nursing school and...
, via Morriston
Morriston
Morriston is a community in the City and County of Swansea, Wales and falls within the Morriston ward. Morriston is sometimes referred to as a distinct town , however Morriston never had a town charter, and is now part of the continuous urban area around Swansea, the centre of which lies three...
, Swansea railway station
Swansea railway station
Swansea railway station is a railway station that serves Swansea, Wales. The station is one of four in the City and County of Swansea and is the fourth busiest in Wales after Cardiff Central, Cardiff Queen Street and Newport.-History:...
, Kingsway
Swansea city centre
Swansea city centre in Swansea, Wales, contains the main shopping, leisure and nightlife district in Swansea. The city centre covers much of the Castle ward including the area around Oxford Street, Castle Square, and the Quadrant Shopping Centre; Alexandra Road, High Street, Wind Street and the...
, Swansea bus station, Civic Centre and Swansea University
Swansea University
Swansea University is a university located in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. Swansea University was chartered as University College of Swansea in 1920, as the fourth college of the University of Wales. In 1996, it changed its name to the University of Wales Swansea following structural changes...
. The off-peak journey time between Morriston Hospital and Mumbles
Mumbles
Mumbles or The Mumbles is an area and community in Swansea, Wales which takes its name from the adjacent headland stretching into Swansea Bay...
could be reduced from 75 minutes to around 55 minutes with the bus route in place.
Alterations are being made 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 lane. West Way has been altered to accommodate a two-way bus lane and new access roads have been developed near the Civic Centre. Further road developments include a bus lane along Oystermouth Road and a bus bypass road past the Hafod
Hafod
Hafod is a district of the city of Swansea, Wales and lies just outside the city centre in the north of the city. It falls within the Landore ward....
area.
Phase 1 of the road development scheme, for Orchard Street and Kingsway, is complete. A service between Morriston Hospital and Singleton started on bus route 4, using a single ftr vehicle, on 1 June 2009 with official launch of service expected in September 2009.
Critics of the scheme attacked the disruption caused by roadworks to accommodate the vehicles and the impact of changes to the road network.
See also
- List of guided busways and BRT systems in the United Kingdom
- Transport in WalesTransport in WalesThis article is about means of transport within Wales. The geography of Wales has been a key influence on the development of its transport system, with the main settlements lying on the coasts of North and South Wales, while Mid Wales is lightly populated...