FIRST STRETCH OF CAMBIDGE GUIDED BUSWAY READY
The first stretch of the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway, a guided bus system under construction in England. At 25 kilometres (16 mi) long, the scheme will be the longest in the world. Construction started in March 2007 and is expected to be finished in 2009.
The scheme will link the city of Cambridge, in eastern England, with satellite towns and villages to the north west, and the M11 motorway to the south. The northern section will link Cambridge with a proposed 10,000 home new town Northstowe and to the towns of St Ives and Huntingdon. It is estimated that 11,500 journeys a day will be made on the guideway. The project is budgeted to cost £116.2 million.
The scheme comprises two sections of guided operation, together with sections of on street running in bus lanes, and a bus only road. Guidance is achieved through the guidewheel on concrete kerb method, with the guideway being constructed from pre-cast concrete sections that are 15 metres (49 ft) long and 2.6 metres (8.5 ft) wide.
As with all other UK busway schemes per the privatised bus industry, Cambridgeshire County Council owns the infrastructure, and will allow private bus operators to use it on their registered services, subject to quality contracts specifying vehicle and service standards. Since many guided busways are already operative in Britain, nearly all British bus operators have suitable buses available.