Today sees the start of services on the Luton Dunstable guided busway. It was officially opened yesterday (Tuesday) by Transport Minister Norman Baker. The £91M scheme makes use of disused railway corridor and promises to reduce journey times between the two town centres down to just 15 minutes.

The busway is 10km long and includes a 7.5km section of concrete guideway into which small wheels on the front of the buses engage, allowing vehicles to travel safely at up to 50MPH. Main contractor on the project was BAM Nuttall, with Parsons Brinckerhoff and Arup providing consultancy services.

Services begin in the east at Luton Airport and its Parkway railway station, pass through the town and extend west towards Houghton Regis, Toddington and Dunstable. Three bus companies will run services on four routes. Core services between Luton and Dunstable will operate up to every seven minutes at peak times.

Transport Minister Norman Baker said: "This scheme will make a real difference not only to those taking the bus, but to everyone using the roads. Boosting public transport is a great way both to help the economy of our town centres and to cut carbon." 

Business leaders welcomed the busway's opening. Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce chief executive Cheryl Smart said: "The busway should create important links with rail and air transport, allowing the area to maximise on the economic potential of Luton Airport and its proximity to main transport routes."

• Work started last week on a £27M guided busway for Greater Manchester, linking the districts of Leigh and Ellenbrook. The project is due to open in 2015.

Photo credit: © ATP Media 2013

To return to the newsletter, please close this window.