A controversial guided busway which Cambridgeshire County Council claims to be the longest of its kind in the world, is set to officially open this weekend.
Known as The Busway, the track partially follows the route of the former Cambridge and Huntingdon railway line, and uses two concrete beams with kerbs, which connect with guide wheels on the bus to steer the vehicle.
Two companies will operate Busway services – Stagecoach and Go Whippet – with routes taking in Huntingdon, St Ives, Cambridge city centre and Trumpington (see map below).
Buses feature air conditioning, leather seats, free wifi and onboard power sockets, and passengers can choose from a range of fares options, from individual journeys starting from £3, to multi-operator travelcards similar to London’s Oyster card.
The guided section of the line is believed to be the world’s longest at some 25km, but its construction has not been without controversy. Flooding and drainage issues have delayed the opening of the service by over two years, and construction costs have soared from around £90m to an estimated £150m, with Cambridgeshire County Council involved in a legal battle with constructors BAM Nuttal over who should pay for the excess costs.
For more information visit busway.info.
Report by Mark Caswell
