All aboard the Luton BRT

Last week’s Bus Rapid Transit UK (BRTuk) annual conference in Luton coincided with the opening of the Luton-Dunstable guided busway. John W E Helm outlines operations on the busway and, overleaf, reports on the progress being made to deliver BRTschemes elsewhere in the country

Transport minister Norman Baker cuts the ribbon, watched (from left) by Cllr James Jamieson, leader of Central Bedfordshire Council, Cllr Dave Taylor, portfolio holder for environment at Luton Borough Council, Cllr Nigel Young, executive member for sustainable communities at Central Bedfordshire Council, and Cllr Hazel Simmons, leader of Luton Borough Council

Transport minister Norman Baker cuts the ribbon, watched (from left) by Cllr James Jamieson, leader of Central Bedfordshire Council, Cllr Dave Taylor, portfolio holder for environment at Luton Borough Council, Cllr Nigel Young, executive member for sustainable communities at Central Bedfordshire Council, and Cllr Hazel Simmons, leader of Luton Borough Council

A Grant Palmer bus entering a station

A Grant Palmer bus entering a station

An Arriva service on the guideway

An Arriva service on the guideway

After 20 years of planning and three under construction, the Luton Dunstable Busway was officially opened by local transport minister Norman Baker last week. The 8.3-mile link connects Luton with Dunstable and Houghton Regis and cost £91m to build; it is the second longest of its type in the world behind Cambridgeshire’s busway, which opened in August 2011. 

Just over six miles of the Luton route is segregated running, including 4.6 miles of guided sections between Luton and...

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