Buses on a "Train Track"??? | Leigh Guided Busway, England 2021

[@TravellingKuro]

So nice, a dedicated lane for the bus. People taking this bus doesnt need to worry about getting stuck in traffic jam.

[@glitchFan2428]

Indeed!

[@fokuz2025]

I wish they have that in London

[@slurpii4669]

Nothing new about this, ive seen this system in peru and Brazil

[@kaiwi809]

I mean, that’s why there are trains

[@TravellingKuro]

@@kaiwi809 train building & maintainance cost are higher than buses. So in places that had lower populations, building dedicated bus lane like this can save unnecessary cost but at the same time make public transport more efficient.

[@danishrusdi]

Starting from 4:30 I can see the guide wheels bolted to the front steering axle Reminds me about how Mitsubishi Crystal Mover works

[@glitchFan2428]

Yup, makes it easier for the drivers too

[@Dalts1985]

Well, that answers my question from earlier lol ❗️⚠️ It’s basically identical to the ADL O-Bahn Busway

[@4Geopiper]

I only saw 1 bus with a guide wheel. Are all buses equipped? Or can we just not see them

[@raishallen4345]

@PiperGeorge, all buses using those guide ways have to be equipped with guide wheels on the front.

[@flavoursofsound]

Thanks I was wondering how they worked exactly

[@陈劲恺]

The guided busway is an excellent idea for medium-sized cities who want a mass rapid transit while saving on transport infrastructure. It is cheaper than building rails or tramways, while buses are generally cheaper and easier to maintain than trains or trams. I like this interesting concept of public transport. 👍

[@StatisticsRepublic]

Yeah, I also didn’t knew about this kind of Bus Rapid Transit until I saw a video of The one in Adelaide, Australia

[@pokemanpaul8284]

Guided busways are indeed interesting, but what benefits would it provide over building a normal bus lane (a normal road restricted to only buses) instead? It would allow more buses to run as they do not need to be retrofitted with the guide wheels.

[@zhou_kaw]

你可以看看中国福建厦门市的BRT系统 它建造专用的桥梁或者使用专用的道路运营

[@陈劲恺]

@@pokemanpaul8284 I agree. To me, I feel why the guided busway is built is so that other than authorized buses/vehicles, no other vehicle (eg. Private passenger car) can enter the designated busway since they do not have guidewheels. In Singapore, we also have the bus lane scheme, but some uncompliant drivers still use the bus lane for their own convenience during bus lane hours (ie. They drive into the bus lane).

[@pokemanpaul8284]

@@陈劲恺 Ah that's a very good point. Though I personally feel that busways with less than 10 routes passing through are kind of a waste... I like Adelaide's system more because there are quite a few routes that pass through and those routes don't just stick to the busway, unlike this one (correct me if I'm wrong tho)

[@Jamiered18]

My city had a guided busway for about 5 years, that they then upgraded to a tramway, as was always the plan. I think that's one quite good use of a busway - when the full tram network is still many years in the future.

[@Polmaise1]

Edinburgh?

[@Jamiered18]

@@Polmaise1 Yes!

[@MrKevin1a]

Agreed, it utilizes AND preserves the right of way and allows you to level-up if needed. Getting ROW after everything is developed to the level that can sustain tram/streetcar service would be rough. My city has a community of people who maintain the old streetcars and want to run them, but there is nowhere for them to go because we paved over the street running sections and built over or tore out the railway sections. They have a sad little loop by the train shed. I hope some planners see this video and your comment and think about preserving ROW for future rail alignments.

[@neilcrawford8303]

I travelled on it during a holiday visit once. Can't remember if it was part of a journey from the Park and Ride car park into the city, as the P&R was served by regular bus routes, not dedicated P&R bus routes or services. I remember the guided busway wasn't very long, and we did wonder what the point of it was.

[@davidellis279]

The question has to be asked,why not just put tram’s on the route ??? The rest of Manchester has trams which run on electricity which is desirable if we’re going electric,before anybody corrects me some of these buses do have the ability to run electric but they still need a Diesel engine to change there batteries,this is another bright idea of that Toss Pot of a Mayor Andy Burnham who just loves spending other peoples money like the usual Liebour Council we have who have spent millions on a crazy scheme to turn waste into energy which doesn’t work and never has,they’ve now scrapped this process because of costs in maintenance and manpower to operate it,they had already spent about 12 million updating the waste plants and then scrapped them to replace it with this costlier scheme that doesn’t work either,what a bunch of WANKERS and they have the neck to stand there patting themselves on the back telling residents what a great job there doing,people would be doing handstands if all this became public knowledge of how their council tax was being wasted by these incompetent Clowns and that’s just on waste disposal, God knows what else they are wasting money on,they now haul most of their waste out to an incinerator in Runcorn who burn it to create electricity for the grid,they could have done this themselves at the waste plants they already have if they hadn’t has spent that Mega amount of Money on those plants that didn’t work and wouldn’t have to haul it about 30miles to Runcorn every day,that certainly a green way of doing things,in their defence they use rail to take it there using a diesel locomotive,their incompetence knows no bounds,their reckless with other peoples money, I know I’ve worked there.

[@ethandolph4688]

Advantages of this over light rail trains: 1) can travel straight to all bus stop destinations making passenger transfers unnecessary, while still enabling high speed 2) can be built on slopes unsuitable for a train opening up more route options 3) existing buses can be fitted with a cheap set of guide wheels so a vehicle that can use the new "tracks" already exists, cutting cost 4) shorter waiting times in small/ medium cities, say 3 buses every 10 min compared to one 3 car light rail every 30 min Only one downside really, albeit a significant downside, lower energy efficiency by at least 2 fold and slower speed

[@Bertie_Ahern]

What a lovely journey to take. So many trees and vibrant greens!

[@glitchFan2428]

The view is indeed stunning to behold!

[@BusDriverLife]

This is cool! I think I would enjoy operating a route like this. Being able to avoid traffic would definitely help with the schedule!

[@glitchFan2428]

Well, the Busway accounts for merely a small section of the full route, therefore there would still be a lot of "normal" driving to be done. I do agree that in a more controlled environment like a busway it is definitely easier

[@iSCOTSM4N]

Would also bring the stress levels down. I myself am a bus driver as well and there's nothing more annoying that being stuck most days in traffic and you end up chasing your tail

[@anthonyheaton5798]

I've travelled between Leigh & Manchester on this. The Vantage buses are so comfortable with tons of leg room.

[@glitchFan2428]

I agree! Lovely place to sit

[@陈劲恺]

7:08 - 10:00 I'm in love with the scenery along the Leigh guided busway! Filled with greenery, nature and blue skies with the occasional classic brick houses. ❤️

[@Cooke125]

Those aren’t classic brick houses mate, every single house in England is built out of brick even to this day modern houses are built out of brick

[@陈劲恺]

@@Cooke125 Thanks for informing. I like how they built the houses in brick, looks timeless to me.

[@cleyland1996]

@@陈劲恺Behind all those trees are lots of heroin users, In those houses, are lots of heroin dealers Leigh is not scenic 😂

[@acde9355]

Also seen in Adelaide's O-Bahn. Similar solutions are also being used in Japan.

[@hughphil]

Wow! Look closer to the front wheels to see small horizontal guide wheels that keep the bus inside the cement tracks.

[@glitchFan2428]

Yup, that's the "secret"

[@noodles8893]

Didn't notice tat. I though bus driver have very sturdy hand 🤣

[@henrycoats2202]

I was wondering how they managed with destroying the tires.

[@hughphil]

@@henrycoats2202 You mean without destroying the tires.

[@yeknommonkey]

That little guide wheel seems very tiny. Do they ever break? Does the bus mount the curb and things go wrong quickly? 😳

[@ukar69]

There’s one in Cambridge that utilises old railway lines. They also have cycle paths running alongside

[@glitchFan2428]

Sounds relaxing 😊

[@drscopeify]

Looks great, a modern take on the one in Germany/Australia system.

[@glitchFan2428]

Indeed!

[@Hitman-ds1ei]

Was that a typo Australia?

[@deanl4575]

@@Hitman-ds1ei There’s a similar one in Adelaide, Australia as well

[@Brettski_1234]

I used to live in Adelaide, South Australia which has the longest guided busway and it's what got me interested in buses

[@glitchFan2428]

Must have been fun seeing the buses going up and down on a daily basis! 😁

[@Brettski_1234]

@@glitchFan2428 sure was, I lived a 5 minute walk from one end of the busway, was mostly Mercedes O305 single decker and articulated buses back then

[@glitchFan2428]

Wow that must have made a great noise too :)

[@Brettski_1234]

@@glitchFan2428 yes they sounded amazing and could go 100kmh easily, which the current buses can't up hill, a few are in preservation now

[@krishnacharyyabaruah8974]

What a nice way to ensure travel time with added safety ... Superb ... This is the future trend ... What an excellent idea !!!

[@glitchFan2428]

Indeed!

[@terrybyrd3738]

It's a shame that America will likely never invest in such infrastructure.

[@paulwinterbourne1865]

Apart from Cambridge to St Ives, where they built a Guided Busway on the old railway line instead of reopening the Railway, because it was cheaper !

[@sg5574r]

What A Unique Way Of Driving!

[@StatisticsRepublic]

This really looks similar to the one in Adelaide

[@Dalts1985]

Was abt to say they same... I can’t tell if it has the same guide wheels fitted like the ADL O-Bahn Busway does however ...

[@Aijawa]

Ikr

[@mobiletransportvideo]

Looks like this one doesn’t have a lip on the track compared to the adelaide one

[@Mrfort]

We had one on the outskirts of Birmingham city The 65 route Slade road only lasted a few months!

[@fredscratchet1355]

These were tried in Birmingham about 40 years ago and later abandoned. The buses were converted back for normal use.

[@SiRhodesDriverTraining]

It’s built on an old railway track but a lot of the gradients are different now as the railway went over and under the roads and the busway is at road level. The land width of the old railway allows for the multi purpose path at the side as there were quite a few sidings / pit access tracks so it wasn’t just double track all the way. If there is a breakdown / incident, the following buses are alerted and go on the road diversion. TfGM who run it split the busway into a 3 section identification code to signify which section is closed.

[@glitchFan2428]

Thanks for the very insightful comment! I had no idea it was built on an old railway track at all. Good explanation about the busway being sectioned for diversions, although I was wondering if a bus were to breakdown, how would the recovery vehicle access it? Surely it would have to be on the tracks itself in order to tow the stranded bus out?

[@SiRhodesDriverTraining]

@@glitchFan2428 yeah, the recovery would reverse from the nearest road access point. Same for the gritters in Winter, they follow the full route. I used to cycle the route pre Busway and some of the railway bridges where still there. That was only 8-9 years ago. Leigh was or is the largest town population wise without a Train Station and this was a good compromise to get a fast route to Manchester, albeit going on road from Ellenbrook to Manchester. The old railway path, that ran into Leigh, actually continues from Ellenbrook to Monton & has just had all the paths resurfaced to a very good standard so it’s possible to cycle / walk from Leigh to Monton via the Busway path then the continuation when the Busway goes on road.

[@glitchFan2428]

@@SiRhodesDriverTraining I see! Thanks for the detailed recount 👍🏻👍🏻

[@EarlJohn61]

@@glitchFan2428 I know nothing about this busway, but the operators of the one in Adelaide have a double cab tow truck with guide wheels. If a bus breaks down on the track they just drive normally, to the nearest access point and the drive on the track to the bus. Once they are hooked up, the driver goes to the other cab & drives normally straight back to where they came from (towing the bus either forwards, or backwards) and then on to the repair depot. And since the track is split into 4 parts, there's not a lot of disruption to the service as the buses just use the normal roads to bypass the blockage.

[@Lakeside_Rail_Productions]

As a railroad fan, i approve of this

[@YaoboyProd2K15]

Similar concept like O-bahn, seen in Essen, Germany and Adelaide, Australia.

[@teio748]

Also I see Volvo b8l and b9tl weg

[@amberkhan7162]

Great system. Unlike trams and trains, the buses can leave the system and drive on normal roads serving passengers and almost door to door. Buses can easily divert during busway maintenance, which would be less often and far cheaper than railway maintenance. Great idea for disused railway conversion.

[@glitchFan2428]

Not to mention it looks really cool too!

[@sarribel]

Absolutely love these Vantage units by Wright Bus.

[@glitchFan2428]

From a passenger perspective, I agree! The seats are so comfortable

[@tonymaries1652]

I had to look twice to confirm the operator is First Bus. First Bus is the dominant operator in the area where I live but the buses are filthy and decrepit, millions of miles on the clock, completely clapped out and so uncomfortable to ride in that I swear they have square wheels.

[@trueriver1950]

@@tonymaries1652 correct. I think that is one reason they introduced the "Vantage" tradename, just to distance these buses from local perspective on First Bus. Didn't a great teacher predict that the First shall be Last? Must have had First Bus in mind...

[@COSSIE1970]

Glad you showed at the end how it’s stopped from hitting the curb it must b a small wheel on a lever ,as the tyres would be rubbing on the curb .

[@陈劲恺]

Something that should indeed be implemented in developing countries!

[@PrograError]

they do have one... it's called BRT... also that's cheaper than this...

[@enthusiastisch1922]

They have this in Tanzania, I think.

[@Dalts1985]

Indeed, much cheaper then light rail

[@qjtvaddict]

@@Dalts1985 but lacks the capacity

[@rusydididigamingandvlog2290]

Singapore should do that too put track bus beside expessway to help without getting traffic jam and fastest way

[@darbut1321]

We've had a guided busway in my city of Adelaide Australia for decades and has been a blessing for the thousands of people who use it every single day. Its great to see this one, different to ours. Much nicer running directly on the ground, looks beautiful

[@glitchFan2428]

I will definitely make it a point to visit the one in Adelaide in the future :)

[@michaelayliffe7238]

With a 670m tunnel which stops the buses from holding up general traffic and speading up the transfer from city to suburbs.

[@whymeeveryone]

Yet and at first, it was going to be tram through fare then the Liberal won power in government and the change it to Busway yet when it started building it Labour won government and were to late to stop it. It was a great idea and what more the buses can go one roads where trams can't

[@lubatu]

А если сломается транспорт на таком участке ? Как эвакуацию сломанного автобуса производят ?

[@johnruda3940]

так же как и обычно , задом заезжает техничка буксирует с линии

[@CitytransportInfoplus]

This type of busway is used in several other places in the UK, both as cross-country lines (as here) and as short sections designed to get buses past traffic congestion hot spots along a private right of way that other road users will not violate. Germany had two cities which used kerb guided buses (O-Bahn), Mannheim and Essen which had several kerb guided bus routes and included running through city centre light rail tunnels (as overhead wire trolleybuses) sharing their right of way with trams / streetcars ... including interacting with colour light signals. This was funded as a Federal government demonstration. Alas German reunification saw Federal funds being withdrawn and issues related to experimental types of shared rail + road guideways were solved by ending the use of buses underground. Nowadays all but one section of O-Bahn have been closed. It is thought likely that the route to the suburb called Kray will be converted back to a light railway, which it was before. Mannheims OBahn also shared with trams but when the buses were replaced the guideway was converted to a tarmacked roadway.

[@glitchFan2428]

Thank you for the information! It's a shame that most of them in Germany are gone now

[@Dosedmonkey]

Basically a way to stop taxis using bus lanes haha

[@MCV-Evora]

A brilliant place to Bus Spot!

[@glitchFan2428]

indeed it is!

[@tonyshield5368]

To show the seamless transitions views of getting onto the busway and into Leigh may have been good. Also travelling along the East Lancs Road and throught Manchester. Good to see this and I liked the ride-along shots.

[@glitchFan2428]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it, I will probably include the transition bit in a future ride video

[@henrycoats2202]

I really like the pathways along the tracks.

[@chrismccartney8668]

Seems to also a cycle way foot path alongside ??

[@BENZENE6K]

This is proper nice. Why can't it be implemented in more places at G Manchester?

[@glitchFan2428]

I like how it looks aesthetically as well, although some might argue the cons outweigh the pros. I'm not really one to judge, I just enjoy the unique experience whenever I am passing through

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

Very entertaining and fun to watch. Thanks for posting this.

[@glitchFan2428]

You're welcome and glad you enjoyed it

[@memyself1566]

Is it a bus? Is it a train? Is it a tram? Yes, it is all of those!

[@glitchFan2428]

It's everything in one 🤔🤔

[@Thomas1980]

Wow!!! Excellent Bus Video!!!

[@glitchFan2428]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@timbtamgomez9110]

In American cities, buses are the worst, they block roads, sometimes have bad drivers, cause delays, and generally are not good on high traffic roads. This eliminates so much headache! Less accidents with cars and pedestrians means that the city gets sued less. Faster buses and a more consistent schedule. No blocking traffic or cars making the public who do not use buses more receptive to using or supporting buses. Also the cheapest form of mass transit! My city had the option of installing a light rail system or completely improving the bus system. They chose the expensive light rail that is worthless!

[@glitchFan2428]

This system sure has its advantages. Hopefully your city can reap the benefits eventually

[@dathyr1]

Cool. Learn something new everyday. Thanks for the video

[@glitchFan2428]

You're welcome

[@leonskum.5682]

It's an amazing thing. Afternoon drinks in Manchester has never been so easy.

[@glitchFan2428]

Direct connection there and back 😁

[@COSSIE1970]

They also have had this for years in st Ives to Cambridge .

[@amvbusspotting845]

Thats really cool, Imagine having one of these behind your house were you can bus spot all day and when you want to go get a bus you say, Alright, imma head down to the busway.

[@terrybyrd3738]

...and a lot quieter than trains running beside your house!

[@adyf397]

We had a similar thing in Bradford for years. A single bus lane down the centre of one of the main dual carriageway into the city. The only problem was that, with several routes using it, when one bus stopped to pick up passengers the rest had to wait behind it. The buses ended up being congested while the regular traffic flowed beautifully because the buses were out of the way 🤣

[@glitchFan2428]

Oh the irony!

[@zonic26]

Here in Australia in the city of Adelaide we have a busway like that which is called the O-Bahn

[@glitchFan2428]

Would like to visit that someday!

[@dulcinealee3933]

Can you imagine having this system in Sydney? I can't! - Sydney can't even get their light rail or Metro system right!

[@glitchFan2428]

There's one similar system in Adelaide though, much longer than this one I believe

[@dulcinealee3933]

@@glitchFan2428 yes I know

[@Abdul.M.]

Amazing Video love how buses going through Track speed like train sound 😎💯

[@glitchFan2428]

Thank you!

[@Abdul.M.]

@@glitchFan2428 no problem mate

[@dianefoulger8136]

it’s a special track for the buses. when you go on one on the busway when you get on you will see a black thing popping out that connects to the busway track.

[@steelitrew2576]

This is actually true as they have guide wheels and there was once a bendy bus version of this. This was built to ease congestion

[@glitchFan2428]

It's quite surreal to see in person!

[@steelitrew2576]

@@glitchFan2428 If Singapore has it they can build a busway from Changi to the Central XD

[@AridChannelOfficialSG]

@@steelitrew2576 maybe complement the 36

[@cityjetproductions]

Adelaide and Essen still have guided bendy buses.

[@a_eastcoast.pacer1]

Yes, I've been on the V1, Except only the day I went, the busway was closed! 😥

[@glitchFan2428]

What a pity, perhaps you can visit again soon!

[@SMBR-jy8kf]

LTA should consider buying this as it seemed quite fun to ride

[@bunkerboy02]

This is awesome and despite living in England I didn’t even know these things existed!

[@glitchFan2428]

I believe there are more such systems in places such and Leeds and Sheffield, not too sure though. But it's definitely quite interesting to see

[@neilcrawford8303]

Edinburgh had a short guided busway from 2004. It was closed in 2009 as the route became part of the new tram system. Cambridge has a system that follows some of a previously closed and lifted railway line. It's 25km / 16 miles long and is the longest guided busway in the world.

[@MattCharlie88]

I live near this. Whilst the route is good, the guided part isn’t the whole route. The most heavily congested but of the route is back on normal roads, so not as amazing as it first looks. Also at peak times these buses are packed out. They need to increase capacity.

[@glitchFan2428]

Yes, the bit between Salford and Manchester has always been very congested from observation

[@YHTheGamer]

I seen something like this as well in Adelaide, Australia. Is the use of this being fast and smooth? It looks cool

[@andrewsitu3472]

You mean the O-Bahn? They're using KUBs there. If only this model were our official BCM vehicle in SG too.

[@glitchFan2428]

It's quite smooth yes

[@herseem]

It might look smooth, but in Luton the sections of track are not properly flat, they're slightly U-shaped. That means when you're going about 40-50 miles per hour you get bumped up and down a lot on most buses.

[@csjames69]

O Bahn system used in Adelaide Australia since the mid 1970's is a guided busway system just like this one.

[@glitchFan2428]

I definitely want to visit that one!

[@GCch6874]

I had been under the impression the government had scuppered them. It's a lot cheaper than tram to build, (I could imagine continuous 3d concrete printing) use an on demand trolleybus system as in Esslingen/Germany. Using digital electronic multi unit management you can add/detach buses into a train on the go (added buses are controlled by first unit, till the point of detachment, when the individual driver takes back over).

[@milliedragon4418]

What's interesting to me is how much quieter it is, people tend to think it's the vehicle itself, but it's probably the roadway too.

[@kristinajendesen7111]

First used in 1984 in Birmingham, only a short section though & only lasted 3 years.

[@glitchFan2428]

I see! Thanks for that little bit of information

[@kristinajendesen7111]

@@glitchFan2428 Greater Manchester obviously does it better. Very impressed when I saw your video especially as an ex bus driver and train driver (retired). I still don't like the ones that have used old railway track beds like the Cambridge one, but that's just a nostalgic thing after 31 years on the railway.

[@Ramsi-Berlin]

Very interested System ❣️ Love from Berlin 🇩🇪 And Happy new year 😘

[@glitchFan2428]

Hello from 🇬🇧! Happy new year 🎉

[@Ramsi-Berlin]

@@glitchFan2428 Thanks 😊

[@timkis64]

what a great idea.train tracks generally take the shortest possible routes between point A & point B.so they could save alot of unnecessary miles & related fuel costs.plus the commuters would be free of traffic jams, as well as seeing some previously unnoticed scenery.

[@glitchFan2428]

It's nice to see though but I wonder what happens in the event of a break down or accident.

[@TheEarthHistorysConfusing]

we have one similar in Australia in South Australia, Still in use too.

[@glitchFan2428]

I've heard of it, wish to visit soon!

[@Crimsonedge1]

They've had one of these in Bradford, West Yorkshire for almost 20 odd years.

[@glitchFan2428]

That's quite close, perhaps I could visit sometime

[@notjulesatall]

I get the idea behind dedicated lanes. But guided tracks for buses? Is there any evidence that it improves security or anything else at all?

[@glitchFan2428]

Not that I know of to be honest

[@herseem]

It dramatically improves the speed from Luton to Dunstable, which can be a very slow journey on normal roads at some times of day.

[@mistofoles]

I just missed the last sodding V-bus from Tyldsely to Manchester last night and the next one wasn't due for 5 hours - Good job I had somewhere to stay !

[@glitchFan2428]

Damn, glad you're alright though. Certainly sucks missing the last bus

[@mistofoles]

@@glitchFan2428 Yeah, thanks :)

[@douglasthompson296]

Well it was a monster of a job building the 'roads' with horrendous traffic jams etc on the East Lancs Road. Now of course its working out just as intended. The thing is the stop platforms are at bus floor height so mobility issues are minimal too (just like on the Metro tram). I don't know if bus breakdowns are a hazard or not? Cheers.

[@glitchFan2428]

Haha I really wonder what happens in a breakdown, how do they tow the bus out

[@ken8786]

BRT(Bus Rapid Transit)?

[@glitchFan2428]

Yes

[@SHS854EVER]

I know it’s very highly unlikely but this would be perfect for the MBTA here in Boston to replace the Mattapan high speed line in a few years

[@feryhalim2096]

this kind would be perfect when combine with electric line

[@KI-wl3fh]

Do you mean trolleybus? Yes, it is more ecologically.

[@stasrieznik8408]

@@KI-wl3fh sure We use it in Ukraine and not only a lot In Ukraine, Dnipro there hybrid one which go on electric line and on battery when there is no line

[@shunjike7]

I just want to comment that, Vantage color scheme are beautiful ❤️

[@glitchFan2428]

Lovely Purple 😁😁😁

[@SMRT-Transit]

I like it when it was going to be a bendy bus

[@Listenerandlearner870]

Where is Leigh ? There is one in Cambridgeshire, England between the outskirts of Cambridge and St Ives.

[@glitchFan2428]

It's in Greater Manchester, towards the west

[@nickbardell4533]

The Cambridgeshire Guided Busway links St Ives to Cambridge - the route was opened in 2011 and the buses travel at 55 miles per hour (89 km/h) - at 16 miles / 25 km I believe this is the longest guided busway in the world. The complete route is longer as the buses also use normal roads as well on some sections.

[@RJH1971]

This was originally planned in Dublin in the 1970s on the old Harcourt Street line, since reopened as a tramway in the 00s. Would be ideal for conversion to electric trolleybuses!

[@herseem]

As a bus driver in Luton where we have our own guided busway between Luton - Dunstable - Houghton Regis, there have been more serious accidents on the busway per mile travelled than on normal roads. By 'serious accidents', I mean with passengers experiencing 'life-changing injuries'. The main cause seems to be driver complacency.

[@glitchFan2428]

Oh no, I hope that certain changes can be made for a safer journey

[@nicklowe536]

I worked for the company that laid the concrete track. It was a giant slip form with no joints. At the time I worked on the scheme we had built the worlds longest. Monolithic slab

[@glitchFan2428]

Sounds pretty interesting! An engineering feat

[@philwoodward5069]

Not sure in what way guided busways are supposed to be better than dedicated bus roads such as, for instance, the ones in Dartford used by the Fast Track buses? The guided busways are definitely much more expensive, but other than increasing wear and tear on the bus tyres and preventing emergency vehicles from using the road, it's hard to see the additional benefit?

[@glitchFan2428]

I believe this was repurposed from a railway, although I would agree that building one from scratch doesn't seem to carry much benefits

[@jakelydon3970]

Luton’s had a busway for years now too

[@SolOSombra]

Wow that’s great. We need this method of transportation here in Puerto Rico 🇵🇷. We are a Caribbean Island 100 x 35 miles and we have excess of cars 🚗

[@glitchFan2428]

Would be interesting to see this implemented there!

[@SMDBrosI]

Track: Diviners, IZECOLD & Tim Beeren - This Time (ft. CRVN & Molly Ann) [NCS10 Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds. Watch: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5avqp5qmc2aaaM Free Download / Stream: ncs.io/ThisTime [Karaoke Instrumental]

[@johnathanrowley2707]

Great idea, but what happens when a bus breaks down as how does the one behind get around

[@glitchFan2428]

Very good question.. I'm guessing there is a diversion route, but if the bus already entered behind then hmmm

[@herseem]

There are entry and exit points along the route, so if there is a blockage at one point following buses can be diverted around it back on to normal roads for that section. However, there have been occasions when a bus breaks down and before there is an opportunity to divert following buses, a whole load of them pile up behind the broken down bus. They can sit there for hours before the track is cleared.

[@herseem]

@Bradley Duffy You can't reverse because of the way the bus is kept in the middle of the track from the front. If you reverse the bus will go into the side of the track and damage the bus. It's like trying to push a castor wheel backwards - you can't keep it going in a straight line. It's a one-way mechanism.

[@maroon9273]

They need a switch system like rail lines.

[@archiewells1197]

Metro bus in Crawley have the same thing in the middle of the road

[@Teddybaer2812]

In Germany we say to this "Spurbus". And we have one lane too. The Lane in Germany is in The City Essen.

[@glitchFan2428]

That's nice!

[@aconsciousnaut5323]

It will be great if they electrify these tracks too, where the bus can also run on electricity and draws the power directly from overhanging wires like electric trains.

[@glitchFan2428]

That would require a lot more infrastructure though but interesting

[@BassandoForte]

Better still - Overhead wires and use trolly buses... 👍

[@uyeahuyeah]

Do you mean trolley bus?

[@koene2276]

You've just described a tram

[@davidbatthews3811]

I think it is unlikely we will see the return of trolley buses here in 🇬🇧 as we now have the technology of battery powered buses. Indeed I have seen them on the streets of Manchester which is obviously not too far from Leigh.

[@leejordan9174]

Would love to give that one a bash. I currently drive the Luton-Dunstable busway.

[@glitchFan2428]

Wow that's cool! Hope you have a great day at work 👍🏻

[@DavidSmith-xf7fu]

If they really must have guided buses, why not hybrid buses (that already exist ) using trolly bus type overhead electricity on the track and batteries (charged while on track) in town..?? By the way..Trams are still better.. if one breaks down another can be coupled to move it being just one reason. 😏

[@torquetrain8963]

Please bring this to the most car centric state Idaho. We need ANY alternatives to the car in the 3rd largest city in the Northwest USA, Boise and the treasure valley.

[@glitchFan2428]

Drop your local council a suggestion maybe?

[@qjtvaddict]

???

[@torquetrain8963]

@@qjtvaddict ???

[@keithramsay3340]

Edinburgh had them a few years ago they didn't last long before the discontinued them

[@hgboone3]

BUS.. IN ACTUALITY THE GLOSSARY DEFINITION OF A TRAIN.. is the cars behind the driving engine. So this has to be a bus because it does not have a long line of rolling stock attached to the back of it... Engines locomotives power heads. Is a term separate from the train. Though there are many countries engines are generally dispatched to the train. Or segments of the train. When engineers do their train count they exclude the engines itself. But even this maybe a vintage aspect due to trains being not only in front in the middle and in the rear.

[@cheekymonkeyD1]

I love the guided bus way 😃

[@glitchFan2428]

It's definitely different

[@gordonmcmillan5556]

Cambridge has the longest guided busway in the world. Unfortunately the beams have had to be repaired after they started cracking, with a long (and expensive) legal case still ongoing. Accidents where the busway crosses road. Worst of all there’s been a string of accidents caused by buses jumping the guide tracks, along with two fatal accidents to pedestrians on the same short stretch.

[@herseem]

Interesting. I don't think we've had any fatal accidents on the Luton one yet, but we have had an excessive share of 'life-changing injury' accidents.

[@Niroshmm]

Excellent idea saves time, money, very safe no competition.

[@glitchFan2428]

And looks cool too

[@counterfit5]

Perfect spot for some overhead wires and trolley poles

[@EwanMarshall]

Or electrical pickups in the guideway, either are possible.

[@herseem]

yes, but not for the rest of the journeys the buses do at each end, on the Luton and Dunstable one anyway.

[@splendidjapan600]

Wow, amazing🚌

[@glitchFan2428]

It's definitely a sight to behold!

[@markwright3161]

5:11 One driver enjoying the hands free driving experience. :)

[@glitchFan2428]

One happy driver!

[@herseem]

In reality you usually need to hold on to the steering wheel to act as damping to stop the bus shaking from side to side. It only looks smooth from the outside in the same way that you can't see the turbulence passengers are experiencing in a plane.

[@alessandrovisconi1079]

There's something like that somewhere in Australia as well

[@glitchFan2428]

In Adelaide I believe

[@Rah2005]

Can someone explain why this isolated path is better than conventional driving? Not asking to diminish, but generally curious how this busway solves transit issues as this video was filmed in a less dense area.

[@herseem]

If you were used to going on buses between Luton and Dunstable, you'd understand. The route by road can be very slow.

[@Rah2005]

@@herseem ah ok. So there are neighboring roads that are congested and this busway reduces travel times?

[@ace-paidinfull5240]

My favourite bus type to drive aswell😍😍😍😍😍 looks so good in purple

[@glitchFan2428]

I heard from others too that the B5LH is quite pleasant to drive

[@ace-paidinfull5240]

@@glitchFan2428 that is the correct version for the purple one right? But yh man, im obsessed with it, ive driven most bus types in London, but by far i just love those! Company im at right now, dont have any so im a bit bugged about that but its cool

[@michaelproctor4102]

How does it actually work are they steel wheels on a metal track ?....

[@OliverTurnerMSc]

4:30 - that shot gives a good view of how it works

[@no-damn-alias]

Just got rid of the Pacers and now that. Combining the disadvantages of light rail and a bus for more money.

[@streetman6661]

what is the benefit of a guided busway over a dedicated bus lane? busway has grass?

[@glitchFan2428]

I was wondering the same too

[@maroon9273]

Less road space

[@robfriedrich2822]

In Germany they had a subway with track guided busses

[@glitchFan2428]

Would like to visit someday