Is this "Train Track" for Buses the Solution for beating congestion? | Leeds Guided Busway

Maxson Goh Films the Leeds Guided Busway system in Leeds, England, United Kingdom. Opened in 1995, this is the city's solution to rush hour traffic. Putting the buses on a "train track" beside the main road!
Thank you to @steady_94 for showing me around the busway and assisting me on making sure I got the captions on point!
Here's his longer and more detailed video on the busway: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJmrZWCfYrp_rtE
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All footage filmed and edited by Maxson Goh aka glitchFan2428
No unauthorised use or duplication of the video is allowed.
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[@glitchFan2428]

Here's another attempt at a solution for beating congestion, with an system of elevated roads instead: kzbin.info/www/bejne/labTg2ahn6xpkJI

[@Ernestsavcenko22]

is this real omg

[@elizabethbitc9579]

If I had a nickel for every time someone accidentally re invented the train, I’d be able to buy my own steam locomotive

[@glitchFan2428]

Next we'll tie them together for a proper railway experience

[@sackie]

That would be called a tram, and I think if they could afford one, they would've installed one instead. Can't fault Leeds for at least trying to improve public transit on a limited budget.

[@Jamesyahyah]

@@sackie Is that after scrapping trams and trolley buses 40 years ago,saying they were not a viable mode of transport

[@sackie]

@Jamesyahyah what Beeching did 40 years ago doesn't represent the consensus now. I agree it was stupid. Now they're slowly making amends

[@matsv201]

This is in no way shape or form a train. Its a bus and a bus way. Bus ways is not as uncommon as people might think. In many different cities there is a bus way that is simply a dedicated lane for busses. In most cases those are there to grant the buss instant access to the buss stop when there are traffic sitting at the light. BRT system is then simply a bus way system with full or semi full insulation. That is where the bus way have right of way even in crossings. Guided BRT system is again simply a way of reducing the infrastructure cost of a system like that, and space requierment. Busses are very harsh on the sub roads surface. Having concrete pads to drive on spreed the load from the wheels reducing the wear on the subsurface infrastructure. Guiding the buss, reduces the amount of concrete needed. This is not about being fancy, its about making a cost efficient system

[@nukkuminen]

The way I see it, guided busways in the UK should be a stop-gap to boost the popularity of public transport but ultimately they should be converted to trams wherever possible, expecially if they are already using the right of way left after the Beeching Axe (e.g. Leigh).

[@rusticcloud3325]

Couldn't agree more

[@andyduhamel1925]

As Europe has in many cities.

[@northwesttrainspotting507]

That white concrete thing in the middle of the road at the start (0:21) is called a ‘trig point’, but their actual name are triangulation pillars. They basically were placed on top of hills and embankments and they mounted a ‘theodolite’ on top of it and were often accompanied by a ‘flush bracket’. Basically a metal bracket with a unique code with ‘OSBM’ written on it. (Ordnance Survey Benchmark). They used them to measure the distance of heights all the around the UK and IOM using trigonometry. So, this one is pretty lucky to survive given that it’s in the middle of a dual carriageway! But I’m glad it’s preserved and not destroyed.

[@stanlake2726]

Thanks for the interesting and informative comment.

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

Unlike Leeds, we have an actual tram network! A big one too! Four lines with a total length of 53.5 km/33 miles. The network has three main lines, and a smaller fourth one. The fourth one was created to connect the Pyongyang Metro station at Kim Il-sung University (Samhung) to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the mausoleum of my father and grandpa. A Pyongyang Metro station was once at the palace’s site (Kwangmyong), but once it became a mausoleum in 1995, it became sacred ground and thus it was closed with a new tram line built. Most of the network uses Tatra trams made in the former Czechoslovakia but unlike the rest of the network, the tram that runs on this Kumsusan line uses a Swiss tram built in the late 40s that was retired from the Zurich network in 1994 where it was purchased by us the next year.

[@glitchFan2428]

Interesting information there

[@whenthatday]

Ok this comment is questionable.

[@yjjcoolcool]

Interesting concept... however I can already see the downside of this guided busway - if a bus breaks down along the guideway, that entire stretch of guideway would be unusable and other buses would have to join in the congested roads. With a demarcated lane like in Singapore, other buses can easily bypass the broken down bus and return to the bus lane. And of course - the other downside is that buses would have to be retrofitted with guide wheels and that adds additional maintenance costs.

[@glitchFan2428]

Both valid points! I have seen in Manchester then entire guided busway section being rendered useless because a car had driven it and got stuck

[@georgeratcliffe7752]

With your first point, yes there would be issues if there was a breakdown (and this wouldn't be surprising with these hybrid buses), however, these sections of bus guideway on Scott Hall Road are not very long so it won't impact too much. And with your second point, I don't think all of the First Leeds buses are fitted with guide wheels, and this has caused issues before, Someone can correct be if I am wrong, but I don't think that the Wright Streetdecks or the Yutong e10s in Leeds have guide wheels, and I know they no longer have their B7TLs so their number of useable vehicles is dwindling! Also, other operators who may run routes along such roads are unable to use the guided bus way (as seen at 6:48 with a Connexions bus not using the guideway) Overall, an interesting but expensive idea with debatable in results

[@hairyairey]

​@@citledtrams and trains can have points to go round a blockage.

[@joshuaritchie3836]

@@hairyairey trains might require special forms to work wrong way along the line.

[@hairyairey]

@@joshuaritchie3836 There's a reason why there are very few guided busways in the world. They are not that great an idea. Cambridgeshire County Council is facing legal action over the deaths of two people, there is a chance that no more will be allowed to be built in the UK.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Like others mentioned, Adelaide has this as well. How did Adelaide get it? The greater Adelaide area experienced significant growth during and after WWII, and thus so did the amount of vehicles registered. By the mid-1970s, transportation had become a problem in the north-east suburbs. This led to a study that concluded that a light-rail would be the best option. However, there was opposition because people thought it would interfere with the well-designed layout of the city proper, and that light-rail vehicles would be too noisy. In search of a replacement for the light rail project, they examined the O-Bahn system in Essen in what was then West Germany by Daimler-Benz. The system was seen as far superior to previous proposals; it used less land, made less noise, was faster and cost less. In addition, its unique feature of a non-transfer service direct from suburban streets to the city center made it more attractive. Adelaide's track is 12 km/7.5 mi long and includes three interchanges at Klemzig, Paradise and Tea Tree Plaza. Interchanges allow buses to enter and exit the busway and to continue on suburban routes, avoiding the need for passengers to transfer to another bus to continue their journey.

[@ianbrown9578]

I'm biased, I live in Adelaide. But its great! Going strong since 1986. 🙂 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O-Bahn_Busway

[@ianbrown9578]

I would also like to point out that there is no excessive vibration. Most of the time its smooth and way quicker than going by road. Many people drive their cars to one of the Interchange Stations, park in the monitored car parks, then bus to the city. Great for people who don't like driving in the city.

[@azi_yt]

leeds really does anything to avoid building a tram

[@algizmo7079]

Actually, tramways require Act of Parliament. Leeds has been denied such since 1970s. What you see here is a fob-off from HMG dating back to about late eighties early 90s.

[@petrichor259]

@@algizmo7079 These kinds of archaic laws should be eliminated. The fuck why parliament wants say in building tram.

[@algizmo7079]

@Pluviophile Our Lords & Masters did not wish for thundering fiery beasts to roam their estates willy nilly. And having obtained their powers, their successors are unlikely to surrender them. Leeds CC is mostly a dependable Labour vote so Labour govs need not give lavish gifts. Tories see no need either. Hence no support from HMG for restoration of tramways in Leeds.

[@rodsmith3911]

Looks like the same system used in Cambridge, part of which is actually on an abandoned rail line. Much more sensible than letting the busses get snarled up in traffic jams! Might even encourage one or two people to use the bus and leave the car at home.

[@glitchFan2428]

the people have spoken, and the resounding answer is.... NO.

[@carkawalakhatulistiwa]

Is BRT ( Bus rapid transit ) You can also do that on a regular street as long as it's given a different color

[@carkawalakhatulistiwa]

The largest bus rapid transit system in the world is TransJakarta Indonesian

[@creesch]

This seems like overcomplicating the concept of having bus lanes. There is no reason I can think of to have them guided. Bus lanes in themselves are a good and cool concept as they allow buses to bypass choke points making them competitive with cars. But there is no good reason to not have them just be regular lanes where cars are prohibited, that's how they do them over here in the Netherlands and that works just fine.

[@citled]

Judging by the comments below, it is not a no.

[@RandomStage]

The benefit of the guided land is that it can be as narrow as the bus. Otherwise might as well just use a buslane.

[@yellowcupgal5188]

Bruh the thumbnail has almost the same energy as an SG❤BUS B9TL on Service 7

[@glitchFan2428]

Familiar auras

[@chhayakhare4438]

The driver has to be very perfect to drive simultaneously on the path 😮

[@prathamgautam6673]

Buses have guiding wheels

[@AmbientWalking]

Very cool. Thanks! Had so much fun watching this! 👍👍👍

[@FastCarsNoRules220]

I always wonder how buses drive on these without scratching the wheels on the curb. Now I know about the guide wheels.

[@maeglow]

In france we have a lot of reserves lines for buses, separated to the other lines. And it works well, no need to guide the bus

[@grandadgamer8390]

Wow! Never knew this existed 😮 great idea

[@EddieMorsVlogs]

Great concept

[@sgpublictransport34956]

Dude that’s like a free lane for a bus! UK just took buses have priority to another level! Nice vid

[@glitchFan2428]

Thanks!

[@IDriveBuses]

No they didn't, it is a German idea/ design and the UK just copied it like Australia did. However the one in Adelaide (Australia) was the longest in the world with one bus stop and 2 interchanges, it was also the fastest in the world with buses running at 100kmh and in peak hour they were doing this with a bus length between buses. The one in Adelaide used rigid and articulated buses.

[@glitchFan2428]

@@IDriveBuses I do want to try a busway with articulated buses one day 😎

[@FranzTraininand]

@@IDriveBuses it may be a german idea, but god is it awful. The Cambridge guided busway is woeful. Should have been light rail/tram

[@Sarge084]

​@@IDriveBuses Adelaide didn't "copy" the idea, they consulted with Daimler Benz for the proposal. I've ridden the full length of the Adelaide O-Bahn, it's a brilliant concept that should be widely used in cities with rapidly expanding suburbs where it's not feasible to have trackway in the old city centre. In Adelaide case the city was meticulously planned in a grid system that wouldn't be suitable for change to accommodate trackway.

[@2024bambams]

At 00:28 (on the guideway ) the bus drivers like I’m not in rush hour zooom😂❤

[@neilmansfield8329]

This is a great bus system We need this in Melbourne

[@bawigaming4654]

Awesome solution🎉🎉🎉

[@YaoboyProd2K15]

The Volvo DDs (LeedsCity) in this video have a similar paint scheme to SG❤BUS and uses the same O-bahn technology like Adelaide in Australia.

[@andrewsitu3472]

Looks like SBST route 7.

[@glitchFan2428]

Yes, I've a video coming up tomorrow that showcases the livery and briefly talking about the history behind it

[@matthewwagner47]

Great idea

[@philipmurphy2]

Great video.

[@tonyford4170]

There has been one in Cambridgeshire for many years, running into Cambridge from St. Ives

[@andypratt7348]

we've got buses here in Adelaide Australia that have got the same wheels

[@ace_fighter8850]

luton and dunstable have one aswell its rlly good tbf, most of the track section if 50 mph

[@neiltonks4627]

This is just a really expensive way to build a bus lane, and is fine until one breaks down and others can’t just drive around it!

[@thebarak]

Same as a railway. Why all the complaining?

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

Very nicely put together video and very entertaining as well. Thanks for posting this.

[@glitchFan2428]

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it!

[@whyyoulidl]

​@@glitchFan2428 Me too. Thx glitch and commenters, much appreciated 👍🏿

[@noahb.2020]

It's kind of like what Montreal and Paris (also that college in west virginia and LHR) have but it's only one car and the power is onboard.

[@ama6487]

Normal bus are already inefficient compared to rail, adding those guided wheels are gonna reduce the efficiency more. Might as well make trams instead...

[@seprishere]

I actually wrote in to oppose the Cambridgeshire one because I thought the trains should be back.

[@stefanrogers9091]

Yeah guided busses have been pretty bad for the city. They just combine the worst aspects of BRTs with light rail.

[@sooty1410]

They have the same system in and around Cambridge serving the Park & Ride Parks. So quick and easy.

[@Ahmetgurrr]

This already exists in turkey its called “Metrobüs” It doesnt uses train tracks but it has its own road that no other car can enter

[@glitchFan2428]

Something like this I presume kzbin.info/www/bejne/labTg2ahn6xpkJI

[@Rheilffordd]

I am from Adelaide, Australia, and we have the O-Bahn guided busway here. I imagine you’ve seen videos of this similar concept as well,

[@glitchFan2428]

Indeed I have

[@andykoener]

In germany they used that system in Essen around 1975 with bendy busses

[@wilsistermans1118]

AS a way to bypass regular traffic jams it is OK. For longer stretches a lightrail system is much more comfortable and has a better capacity too.

[@Driftbus.Productions.official]

Epic camera angles

[@glitchFan2428]

Thank you!

[@MervynPartin]

I notice, after several viewings of the video, that obeying traffic lights is optional. I have travelled on the Cambridge Busway, where the ride is a lot smoother than this, but it has still turned out to be a very expensive system, plagued with construction faults. It would have been cheaper to reinstate the train service over the abandoned line in the North of the city. As for Leeds, the city has my sympathy because the government action/inaction/dithering/incompetence etc. led to schemes for a tramway being dropped- this busway is a poor substitute, especially so seeing the junctions.

[@glitchFan2428]

Would have been interesting to see a tramway system in Leeds!

[@ISAch.]

The tires seem to wear easily, but are they changed too frequently? I thought, but there is a small tire that follows the guide.

[@Dan23_7]

I was delivering around Leeds today and saw them bus tracks

[@GlenBGaming]

alot of bus stops along the guideway route not in the guideway are built with special kerbs to enable the guideway fitted buses to pull up close.

[@glitchFan2428]

That could be an advantage over regular bus stops I suppose

[@stew4267]

Adelaide in Australia has this for buses for 20 years we call it the o Bhan

[@grahambrownlow4228]

They have been in Adelaide Australia for years now called the obahn

[@roboko6618]

It's definitely an improvement over regular old bus in terms of speed. But I wouldn't want to be on it too long because of all the rattling.

[@TheRandCrews]

Guess that’s why trams still roam supreme with smooth ride

[@southaussiegarbo2054]

This setup is as smooth as a regular road

[@heronimousbrapson863]

Busses rattle on regular roadways as well.

[@creesch]

This seems like overcomplicating the concept of having bus lanes. There is no reason I can think of to have them guided. Bus lanes in themselves are a good and cool concept as they allow buses to bypass choke points making them competitive with cars. But there is no good reason to not have them just be regular lanes where cars are prohibited, that's how they do them over here in the Netherlands and that works just fine.

[@southaussiegarbo2054]

@@creesch they make them guided with open pit so cars that enter get stuck and gotta pay out. If its regular lanes them ppl just drive in them anyway

[@fredscratchet1355]

They had this system in Birmingham about 30 years ago and abandoned it.

[@vincentmckenna1755]

We have one in leigh to salford nor enough buses

[@brianjohnson5063]

Have a 2 lane bus way in Luton Bedfordshire to dunstable along the former branch line

[@fgwHST43009]

There's a guided bus route in Bristol but buses don't go very fast along it

[@phatmeow7764]

i had a dream! do this but with articulated double deckers like the legendary Neoplan Jumbocruiser!

[@glitchFan2428]

That would be awesome

[@chuckmaurice3646]

That is a vary good idea, Bus lane only.

[@saranbhatia8809]

Way forward 👍

[@glitchFan2428]

Thanks for watching

[@MrTrajet1]

They have had this system in Crawley for many decades

[@michaeljohndennis2231]

We have similar with the V1 & V2 in here in Manchester, just not in my local area

[@glitchFan2428]

That's right, I've filmed that one too 😀

[@yesetyowidodosp4500]

The best and low price solution! 👍

[@redscorpion9411]

I think the silver line in Boston does something similar.

[@justaguycalledjosh]

We have one of these in west manchester too! helps make trips into the city centre much quicker. Even though a route via the main roads was about 20 miles shorter for me, it was still so much quicker to take a detour to the busway.

[@glitchFan2428]

That holds a special place in my heart as it's the first guided busway system that I filmed 😀😀

[@Jac296]

The v2 I believe

[@glitchFan2428]

V1 and V2

[@norfolkhall]

I know someone who lives in Leigh. He calls it the misguided busway. He says on the whole its not much faster than the normal service bus into Manchester.

[@Jac296]

@@glitchFan2428 I used to live at the starter of the guided bus route

[@jocounelis]

Boy am I so jealous of this place

[@paranoidgenius9164]

So that's what those lanes are for! I've seen them before, but never seen a double decker on them, it always appeared empty, & i thought they were only used by police!

[@glitchFan2428]

Glad that I solved a mystery for you!

[@alexcurtismonk8235]

It is a good idea for something like that every where

[@glitchFan2428]

Thanks for watching

[@copacabana164]

In Germany,Essen to Mülheim/Ruhr ,we have this kind of separate bus lane on the A40 sind 1970,its called „lane leaded“.Bus driver has nothing to do with the steering wheel,by small rolls the bus is leaded at each side.

[@Canleaf08]

It is a project route. Whilst the other test track was torn down in the 2010s, the A40 still remains in usage. The Ruhrbahn Essen ordered 15 new citaros for that route, equipped with guide wheels.

[@nickbannister775]

Initially they were implemented as an alternative as a request to the then government for money to rebuild a tram system was refused. However, the government then reduced the amount asked for so Leeds Council built the bus lanes with the intention of putting tracks down when money was available. The money never appeared so Leeds have since altered their town centre etc, to be bus friendly.

[@mlmielke]

In the end, it's about capacity and money available.

[@jordanmntungwa3311]

In South Africa you would find motorists and taxis on that bus lane

[@MichaelBeeny]

Looks and sounds like a very rough ride.

[@charliehorsenm3446]

Doesn't get stuck in traffic, and doesn't go where I need to go, and doesn't come anywhere near where I live. But great for densely populated cities - particularly the "metro areas" that are usually made up of dozens to scores of "smaller" cities that have effectively become one huge, densely populated city.

[@ilhamn1177]

Hey, Aussie got one of those!

[@desolateones]

They have tracks for busses in Australia which work very well reduces congestion at peak times...

[@trueindian887]

Australian population is 1 crore,1/3rd of Delhi,not a big traffic

[@Canleaf08]

You have to see the Essen Spurbus between the A40 and the answer there is yes.

[@resketless]

Nice way to skip traffic jam in bus journey to get your destination faster than normal way to wait for traffic light to continue your journey

[@glitchFan2428]

Yeah, you can really see it's effective during peak times

[@NightSkyTakeru]

I really hope SG does this it really helps alot mu goodness

[@3asonchan]

sg no space

[@psgistheworstclubineurope]

How about you think first where in the hell does Singapore have railway tracks?

[@davidgolding3457]

West Midlands Travel trialed this system many years ago, after a few years they scrapped the idea.

[@rjds1800]

Sypte did this in Doncaster in the 80s.

[@jms019]

In Cambridge they're now going to spend more money to re-jig the southern section where people already on their way to/from the hospital get killed by these things. The section has been closed in one direction for some years now. The exact amount spent on legal wrangling with BAM Nuttall over the cracking northern section is not known but could be hundreds of millions. Anything that points out how successful it has been omits that they canned several bus routes forcing people onto the misguided busway instead and that helicoptering passengers would have been cheaper. The city centre is still clogged with buses and news from a few days ago says they're going to have speed limiters so any chance of being remotely as fast as the trains that used to run on the northern section, a Beeching victim, are gone.

[@ProHyperXD]

For a sec I thought that weg2 is sg one 😅

[@glitchFan2428]

I don't blame you 😁

[@LTADriver978]

Same here, until I saw the title. Misleading colours?

[@steviewonder7495]

Edinburgh has had bus and taxi greenway lanes for decades, drivers are fined £60 if caught on a greenway lane camera or by police. The greenway are closed to cars between 7am and 9.30 am and 4pm - 6.30pm during peak traffic times. But are open on Sundays.

[@JaapFilius]

Well, it looks like a wonderful compromise. But it also looks to be a bumpy ride on this video. To me an electric lowfloor tramsystem is the better solution. I know: Leeds had a tram in the past, but it is never too late to review decisions from the past and make a new start: Nottingham, Birmingham, Croydon, Manchester and Sheffield are examples of such a reviewing. The oldfashioned trams has disappeared in the 50th / 60th in favor of buses and cars (which was seen as THE solution at the time), and now a modern system with lowfloor trams is in use. Succesfully...

[@rusticcloud3325]

We need TransJakarta BRT to be build like this, as bus lanes are often "utilised" by non-buses too.

[@glitchFan2428]

I suppose that's the main argument for those in favour of such systems, that usual roads are prone to misuse. Maybe a bollard or two might help

[@philno]

how many sets of tires are they going through in a year.... look at that side wall scrubbing

[@dontsqueezethecheese]

The irony though of virtually the entire video was that the traffic was freely flowing.

[@glitchFan2428]

Indeed, as I had missed the rush hour on the other segments 🤣🤣

[@dakrontu]

At 2:37, no sign of slowing down while approaching a red light, seeming to assume that the lights would change, which they did. What if they had not?

[@glitchFan2428]

I'm not sure about this particular system, but some other guided busway systems have a sensor that automatically changes the lights to green when the bus approaches it if there's no obstruction

[@Masood1810]

If there is separation, a conventional road would also work for places with lower budget. Plus it can allow the bus to go faster. Eventually the solution is to switch to trams.

[@ridhobaihaqi144]

Better than my coutry!!

[@briane5706]

Dunstable has one as well.

[@douglasstocks9698]

Used to have one of these in Edinburgh. It was converted to the tram line

[@32446]

Nice video and I like to see my favourite B9TL 37664

[@glitchFan2428]

Cheers mate, glad you enjoyed it! Ah I suppose the only difference in bodywork between b9 and b5 is the Gemini 1 or 2?

[@32446]

@@glitchFan2428 Yea true

[@toptohyekoms]

it just needs to reinforce more rubber on the glass to lessen noise

[@auttest8067]

公交车绕弯时，司机不用转动方向盘吗？摩擦引起的轮胎磨损会严重吗？

[@BarettWallace]

And in Germany they are closing more and more train track systems which are built decades ago...

[@WolfmanWoody]

This is a similar idea to one of the factories I worked at. We had stacker trucks driving down aisles where the driver didn't have to steer. It was done with infrared sensors on the front, but then the trucks were prone to yawing. The answer was to fit sensors on the rear as well and the little computer could then give a comfortable ride, driver free.

[@nuffaildaniaelle977]

malaysia lta has proposed for 12 BRT lines in KL but... Only one line was built and others nothing

[@mihaipuscasu7357]

Sounds like a cement mixer. Assuming it feels like you're in one as well.

[@glitchFan2428]

Yeah the rattling was quite bad

[@andrewoverland2884]

Wouldn’t it be cheaper just to have the ‘track’ as a normal separate bus lane?

[@williamhuang8309]

It's a busway but now the driver doesn't have to steer. I still prefer rail though, you can't move 1000+ people on a single bus!

[@glitchFan2428]

Fair point there

[@pegamationproductions6062]

Interesting concept, but I don't think Singapore is gonna test out this concept anytime soon. Mainly because is space constraints in Singapore preventing a at-grade railway or tram line being built. What do you think was one of the reasons Singapore shut down the old KTM Tanjong Pagar/Woodlands railway back in 2011? And to add to that, all new MRT lines being built today are all underground to save on space.

[@glitchFan2428]

Ahhh yeah the KTM railway being shutdown is a shame

[@qjtvaddict]

Bingo that’s the point

[@lzh4950]

That was instead because KTM was run by neighbouring Malaysia (with its immigration facilities @ Tg Pagar railway station), so S'pore felt its sovereignty was being undermined. Actually if Downtown Line between Bt Panjang & Beauty World/King Albert Pk was built a few years later, maybe it could've saved on tunnelling costs by being built on the former KTM permanent way/Rail Corridor. Newer MRT lines are also more likely to be underground as they serve more peripheral areas of our suburbs i.e. further away frm town centres, & @ a longer time after those areas 1st began development, so by the time those lines were built there was less room for them on the ground level

[@dokteranestesiu]

We in Indonesia had done this for several years. We called it busway and it doesn't solve any congestion whatsoever

[@sjv9147s]

British technology in the 21st century 🎉🎉🎉. Simply brilliant!

[@Earth098]

Functionally, Is this any different from the separated bus lane with physical barriers to prevent entering other vehicles?

[@glitchFan2428]

Suppose the only differences are that the busway can be slightly narrower which saves a tiny bit of space and eliminates the kerb gap at bus stops

[@heronimousbrapson863]

This reminds me of a similar system I learned about in Adelaide, Australia.

[@jackbarrie6007]

Adelaide have had this longer than I can remember 🎉🎉

[@sng1867]

Cheaper than light rail, and I think Adelaide, Australia has something similar as well.

[@joshuaritchie3836]

In some cases light rail is cheaper.

[@TheMetrobusEnthusiast]

Nice 👍. A few other examples are some in Crawley (since early 2000s), a long one in Cambridge, and one between Leeds and Dunstable.

[@wetcardie66]

think that might possibly b luton and dunstable

[@chrisrand5185]

We have a guided busway in Cambridge, it was horrendously expensive and ran years overdue. It also grinds to a halt if a bus beaks down and blocks it. What is the advantage over a non-guided busway with barriers or bollards at the entry points to restrict access to other traffic other than the ability of the driver to be able to say "look, no hands" on the guided sections.

[@glitchFan2428]

About the no hands thing, even that doesn't seem to be possible according to a driver. Was told he still has to hold the wheel to prevent it from vibrating horribly

[@ado543]

In the case of the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway, most of it runs along an old railway line, which makes the width limited. Especially as they needed to fit in a maintenance track alongside as well, the guideway system allows the buses to pass much closer to each other, which means the busway can be narrower than a normal bus only road. The council is planning to build another busway, but that will be a normal bus only road.