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Runcorn Busway

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Runcorn Busway
An elevated section of the Busway at Runcorn Shopping City in 2008
An elevated section of the Busway at Runcorn Shopping City in 2008
Overview
OwnerHalton Borough Council
Area servedRuncorn
Transit typeBus rapid transit
Operation
Began operationOctober 1971
Technical
System length22 km (14 mi)

The Runcorn Busway is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Runcorn, England. Opened in 1971, it was the first BRT system in the world.[1]

History

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First conceived in the Runcorn New Town Masterplan in 1966, it opened for services in October 1971 and all 22 kilometres (14 mi) were operational by 1980.[1] It was the first BRT system in the world.[2] Arthur Ling, Runcorn Development Corporation's Master Planner, said that he had invented the concept while sketching on the back of an envelope.[3] The town was designed around the transport system, with most residents no more than five minutes walking distance, or 500 yards (460 m), from the Busway.[4]

The central station is at Runcorn Shopping City where buses arrive on dedicated raised busways to two enclosed stations.[5]

Technical details

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The Busway has a design speed of 40 miles per hour (64 km/h) and a maximum gradient of 4 percent (or 6 percent for distances under 200 m).[6] Bus stops are at intervals of approximately 400 metres (1,300 ft).[6]

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The Busway station for Runcorn East railway station
Elevated section of the Busway at Runcorn Shopping City
A Busway junction with a general traffic road
An Arriva bus in east Runcorn

References

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  1. ^ a b "Runcorn New Town - 7.3 Transport". rudi.net. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  2. ^ Lesley, Lewis (1983). "Runcorn - A Rapid Transit New Town?". Built Environment. 9 (3/4): 234. JSTOR 23286723.
  3. ^ Crabtree, Gordon (6 August 1971). "Runcorn Busway creates worldwide interest". Commercial Motor. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  4. ^ Ling, Arthur (1967). Runcorn New Town Master Plan (PDF). Runcorn Development Corporation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 June 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  5. ^ Couch, Chris; Fowles, Steven (2006). "Britain: Runcorn — A Tale of Two Centres". Built Environment. 32 (1): 88–102. doi:10.2148/benv.32.1.88. JSTOR 23289488.
  6. ^ a b "RUNCORN, UNITED KINGDOM - BRIEF: RUNCORN BUSWAY" (PDF). Retrieved 21 August 2024.
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