Bristol connections: Metro, Bus Rapid Transit, PTE, ITA and local councils - discussion

[whole diary]

[swrural]

Latest link on this in the BEP.

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Plans-Bristol-Metro-rail-closer/story-17957766-detail/story.html

Unfortunate use of stock art photo but the symbolism of two tracks becoming four will appeal to FTN!!   

[Chris from Nailsea]

Further news items this week: from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Bristol transport expert panel appointed

Bristol mayor George Ferguson has appointed a panel of transport experts to advise him on matters such as bus routes and metro services. Mr Ferguson has recently said he wants to change the route of a planned rapid bus service in the city.

The panel will include John Grimshaw a founder of Sustrans, campaigner Pip Sheard, light rail businessman Trevor Smallwood and consultant Roger Key. The group will not be paid for monthly meetings with the mayor. A fifth person, who has not been named, will also join the panel.

Several members of the panel have previously supported the idea of trams coming back to Bristol's streets but Mr Ferguson said it was unlikely to happen now. Mr Ferguson said using railways around the city was something he was investigating. "Trams are expensive so they may play their part but they're not going to be the central solution," he said. "What is going to be the central solution is the Bristol Metro. Everything is based on making a bigger Bristol Metro that uses the existing rail infrastructure and improves on that."

Also from the BBC:

Bristol mayor George Ferguson approves metro funding

Bristol mayor George Ferguson has approved ^1.8m of council funding for a business case towards creating a city metro rail system. The project would use existing infrastructure and see stations at Horfield and Ashley Down reopened.

The funding still needs full council approval. The cash to build the ^94m scheme would come from the government.

Mr Ferguson said: "This is a huge leap forward for the greater Bristol region."

The system would be delivered in two phases. The first, costing ^35m, would establish half-hourly train services for the Severn Beach line, local stations between Bristol Temple Meads, Bath Spa and Weston-super-Mare and reopen the Portishead line to passenger services. This could be completed by 2017/18.

The second phase, costing ^34m, would aim to introduce half-hourly train services to Yate and hourly services on a reopened Henbury line, with additional stations at Horfield and Ashley Down.

There is also a ^25m proposal to add stations at Saltford, Ashton Gate and Corsham in Wiltshire. Funding bids would be submitted to central government for each phase.

At a meeting of the city council's cabinet on Thursday, Mr Ferguson gave his approval for funding to develop a business case for the project. The money will be set aside with ^559,000 from the council's revenue and ^1.24m from its capital budgets up until 2016/17. If rubber-stamped, the decision will enable more funding to be released by central government in 2015.

Mr Ferguson said: "This is something around which the transport lobby seems to be agreed. It's making use of current infrastructure and adding to it in places. Over the next 10 or 15 years it enables us to make a more integrated approach to our transport and will hopefully lead to an integrated transport authority in the long term."

On Thursday, the government announced that the greater Bristol area, including Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset, could receive more than ^80m to spend on transport schemes. It comes as Transport Minister Norman Baker outlined plans to devolve decision-making on major local transport schemes to local transport bodies from 2015.

[Bristolboy]

Further news items this week: from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Bristol transport expert panel appointed

Bristol mayor George Ferguson has appointed a panel of transport experts to advise him on matters such as bus routes and metro services. Mr Ferguson has recently said he wants to change the route of a planned rapid bus service in the city.

The panel will include John Grimshaw a founder of Sustrans, campaigner Pip Sheard, light rail businessman Trevor Smallwood and consultant Roger Key. The group will not be paid for monthly meetings with the mayor. A fifth person, who has not been named, will also join the panel.

Several members of the panel have previously supported the idea of trams coming back to Bristol's streets but Mr Ferguson said it was unlikely to happen now. Mr Ferguson said using railways around the city was something he was investigating. "Trams are expensive so they may play their part but they're not going to be the central solution," he said. "What is going to be the central solution is the Bristol Metro. Everything is based on making a bigger Bristol Metro that uses the existing rail infrastructure and improves on that."

Also from the BBC:

Bristol mayor George Ferguson approves metro funding

Bristol mayor George Ferguson has approved ^1.8m of council funding for a business case towards creating a city metro rail system. The project would use existing infrastructure and see stations at Horfield and Ashley Down reopened.

The funding still needs full council approval. The cash to build the ^94m scheme would come from the government.

Mr Ferguson said: "This is a huge leap forward for the greater Bristol region."

The system would be delivered in two phases. The first, costing ^35m, would establish half-hourly train services for the Severn Beach line, local stations between Bristol Temple Meads, Bath Spa and Weston-super-Mare and reopen the Portishead line to passenger services. This could be completed by 2017/18.

The second phase, costing ^34m, would aim to introduce half-hourly train services to Yate and hourly services on a reopened Henbury line, with additional stations at Horfield and Ashley Down.

There is also a ^25m proposal to add stations at Saltford, Ashton Gate and Corsham in Wiltshire. Funding bids would be submitted to central government for each phase.

At a meeting of the city council's cabinet on Thursday, Mr Ferguson gave his approval for funding to develop a business case for the project. The money will be set aside with ^559,000 from the council's revenue and ^1.24m from its capital budgets up until 2016/17. If rubber-stamped, the decision will enable more funding to be released by central government in 2015.

Mr Ferguson said: "This is something around which the transport lobby seems to be agreed. It's making use of current infrastructure and adding to it in places. Over the next 10 or 15 years it enables us to make a more integrated approach to our transport and will hopefully lead to an integrated transport authority in the long term."

On Thursday, the government announced that the greater Bristol area, including Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset, could receive more than ^80m to spend on transport schemes. It comes as Transport Minister Norman Baker outlined plans to devolve decision-making on major local transport schemes to local transport bodies from 2015.

Definitely looking positive!


Edited to fix quote. bignosemac.

[TonyK]

Certainly is hopeful! Pip Sheard is a leading light in Stop BRT2. That our red-trousered Mayor has appointed her to his panel is a declaration of intent. Trevor Smallwood was the man behind the transformation of Badgerline buses into First Group, and was chairman of Bristol Airport when First owned it. I believe he is involved now in ULTRA, the group behind the pods at Heathrow airport. John Grimshaw founded Sustrans, and Roger Key is the founder of Key Transport Consultants, involved in the failed bid to build tramways in Bristol, but not responsible for the failure. There is plenty of experience.

The BRT^▸ (Bus Rapid Transit) route along the alignment of the railway by the New Cut, past M Shed, and over the Prince Street bridge was a central part of two routes, and its blocking could endanger the whole scheme. I hope so, anyway. When the Portishead line is likely to cost ^35 million, ^200 million for BRT looks farcical. Central government money will pay for the Portishead line to reopen, and as the route is clear and the technology needed is well understood, there won't be the massive hike in costs as seen in the sorry saga of the Cambridge BRT. It seems the Mayor's idea is to get the railways sorted out first, then see what can be done to integrate buses or whatever into a proper system. If that is the case, then I am all for it. It remains to be seen how the panel and the Mayor deal with the West of England Partnership, who I feel have not done much to advance the cause of public transport in Bristol.

One thing has been settled though - the railway line along Cumberland Road is to stay. It would be nice to see the bridge over the Avon brought up to scratch to be used by the Harbour railway, and maybe even those Parry People movers again.

[anthony215]

Maybe some longer low floor versions of the Parry people movers will be great for use along the harbour especially since they will be much lighter than conventional trams.

Bristol could ideally trial a free shuttle bus running clockwise around the city linking key area's as they have in Manchetser and a few other places.

I wonder have trampower contacted Bristol council about their lightweight tramway similar to what they are hoping to open in Preston

[TonyK]

Bristol could ideally trial a free shuttle bus running clockwise around the city linking key area's as they have in Manchetser and a few other places.

Certainly a good idea. The 8 and 9 don't do the job well, and have to be paid for.

[chuffed]

Manchester have 3 very well patronised  metroshuttle routes using bigger and better Optare type buses,  running around the central area between Piccadilly, Oxford Road, Deansgate and Victoria. Every 10 mins or so 6am to midnight. Free for everyone. Found myself on one with Dame Joan Bakewell back in November .. thinking man's crumper as was... but now the standard bearer of the pensioner bus pass.

If Bristol were to introduce such a system. I'd be willing to share a seat with Rita Webb Peggy Mount or Norah Batty !

[swrural]

Now you are getting carried away Chuffed!  A group of well meaning people did start a free bus from the station last year (one was invited to throw a coin in the box), but I still feel that fast trams from the suburbs to Broadmead and back around the Centre, will be most effective eventually.  However, taking the stance of the erstwhile portfolio holder for transport, it's worth getting off the ground with something, so a frequent bus service, indeed minimally every 10 minutes and 'free' (paid by CT payers and some BRT^▸ (Bus Rapid Transit) money?), is a good start and mitigates having to change at the projected wonderful all-singing, all-dancing, Hub, next to the old platform 15.  (Am I shewing my age?). 

[TerminalJunkie]

If Bristol were to introduce such a system. I'd be willing to share a seat with Rita Webb Peggy Mount or Norah Batty !

You want to sit next to dead people?

[anthony215]

Bristol could ideally trial a free shuttle bus running clockwise around the city linking key area's as they have in Manchetser and a few other places.

Certainly a good idea. The 8 and 9 don't do the job well, and have to be paid for.

I was thinking a route similar to Buglers old Harbourlink service 500. Chester had a free shuttle bus which I am not sure how well used it was before a commercial service was registered. Pontypridd has a similar town circular which is not free however.

[anthony215]

Going slightly off topic but  are there any  bus routes in and around Bristol which could  justify a 24 hour service?

[Trowres]

Going slightly off topic but  are there any  bus routes in and around Bristol which could  justify a 24 hour service?

Yes, if the frequency is 2 per day like Melksham   

[swrural]

The  8 and 9 (that, from TM^‡(resolve),  go around the Centre and Broadmead up to Clifton village in a circular fashion start at just after 5 am and go on until nearly midnight, and that seems to be the nearest I can find.  They are every 10 minutes, so not bad, but I note that some of the late ones need (they get anyway) Bristol CT payer support.

The UWE buses finish quite early which surprised me.

[anthony215]

This news article might be interesting for you:

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Bristol-night-buses-operated-set-saved/story-18002342-detail/story.html

I wonder has  the mayor been reading this thread? 

[JayMac]

Woohoo!

Service 40 (amongst others) to run until 2am. That's fantastic for me. No need for taxis when coming back to Bristol TM^‡(resolve) late at night. That'll save me a few bob. 

Full details from First in Bristol Bath and the West:

Agreement between the Mayor and First means night buses will run six nights a week from March

Wednesday 30 January 2013

Night buses, providing late night journeys to destinations throughout Bristol and South Gloucestershire, are to run six nights a week thanks to a new experimental agreement between Bristol Mayor George Ferguson and bus operator First.

The buses, which will begin operation on 24 March (subject to the traffic commissioners approval), will provide extra late night journeys across the city, giving shift workers and revellers the opportunity to travel much later than at present, helping people get to and from work and leisure destinations much more easily.

The move, which will see late night services run six days a week, is a significant improvement on the current arrangement, which sees late night buses operate just two days a week under contract to the city Council.

While the new journeys, which will operate on Services 40, 43, 44, 48, 54, 70, 75 and 90, will be pump primed by the city council initially (at a cost of ^60,000 a year) the plan is for First to take over the running of the services on a commercial basis as soon as they have established themselves.

The deal represents a positive step forward for the city, and taxpayers: at present the City Council supports night buses across six routes on Saturdays and Sundays only (between midnight and 6am) at a cost of ^40,000 a year, however under the new arrangement, journeys will operate six days a week on eight routes for an initial cost of ^60,000. Steps taken by First also mean that one of the routes - service 75 - will operate 24 hours a day on a commercial basis from 24 March, with buses running between Hengrove and Cribbs Causeway through the night, on an hourly basis in both directions.

The new six day a week service is expected to attract shift workers as well as the traditional pub and club market. It also means that theatres, restaurants and other leisure activities can consider longer operating hours.

Talking about the new service, Marc Reddy, Regional Commercial and Business Growth Director for First in the South West and Wales, says: "At the end of last year we began operating late night journeys on Service 73 (Bristol City Centre - Bristol Parkway Station via Gloucester Road and Filton Avenue) on a commercial basis and these have proved popular.

"As a result of this and knowing that the Council was considering its night bus commitments, we put forward a proposal which suggested that we could run the journeys for them, if they were willing to help support them initially while they get off the ground. They have agreed and plans are now in place to roll this out from the end of March.

"This is good news for Bristol. It means the city will have a much more comprehensive night bus service. Our plans to move Service 75 to be a truly 24 hour operation will, we expect, also be welcomed, especially by those who need to travel either for work or leisure in the small hours of the morning."

Bristol Mayor George Ferguson adds: "This is a good outcome. A major city with a late-night culture as vibrant as Bristols must have a night bus service. And it easily has the potential to run as a self-funding private business. It just needs to be bigger, bolder and braver. Better late night connections make the city a more attractive place for more late night activity which brings more users to the night buses."

"Firsts proposal points the Night Bus firmly in the direction it should be travelling, and Im happy to support its route towards commercial viability."

The services that will operate extra late night journeys from 24 March are as follows:

Service 40
Operates between Old Market & Shirehampton
From Old Market at: 00:00, 01:00, 02:00
From Shirehampton (Green) at: 00:30 and 01:30
*late night journeys will not operate via Church Road, Julian Road, Downleaze

Service 43/44:
Operates between Centre & Kingwood (Buses between the Centre and Kingswood will operate as Service 43 but will return to the centre as Service 44 travelling via Hanham. This means that people wishing to travel from the Centre to Hanham will be able to do so, travelling on Service 43 and staying on board for the journey via Hanham)   
Service 43 from the Centre: 00:00, 01:00, 02:00
Service 44 from Kingswood: 00:22, 01:22, 02:22 (the 02.22 journey will terminate at Laurence Hill (Croydon Street).

Service 48
Operates between Centre & Downend
From the Centre: 00:00, 01:00, 02:00
From Downend (The Leap): 00:28 and 01:28

Service 54
Operates between Stockwood & Cribbs Causeway
From Cribbs Causeway at: 23:20, 00:06, 01:06,
From Stockwood at 00:07 and 01:07

Service 70
Operates between Centre & UWE (Frenchay Campus)   
From the Centre at: 00:30, 01:30, 02:30
From UWE at 01:00 and 02:00

Service 75
Operates between Hengrove and Cribbs Causeway
This will be a 24 hr operation (60 min frequency 00:00 to 05:00) in each direction

Service 90   
Operates between Broadmead & Hengrove Depot
From Broadmead (Horsefair) at: 00:00, 01:00, 02:00
From Inns Court Green at: 00:30 and 01:30