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Transport chiefs back plan for orbital bus route



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Published Date: 21 August 2008
A DEDICATED bus service around the south of the city has moved a step closer after winning the backing of transport chiefs.
The £54 million Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system – capable of carrying up to six million passengers a year – would follow a route between Queen Margaret University in the east of the city, the ERI and on to Edinburgh Park and Gogarburn.

New bus lan
es would be created alongside some of the city's busiest roads, including the City Bypass, and stops would be built next to tram, railway and park-and-ride sites.

With up to 12 buses an hour running, Sestran – the transport body behind the plans – hopes it will offer commuters who currently drive on the city bypass a viable transport alternative.

Sestran's board gave the scheme its backing last week.

The project is likely to be done in a phased approach, with the first section hoped to be in place by 2012 if government and local authority funding can be secured.

The core section of the recommended "orbital" service comprises a semi-circle from St Margaret's University in Musselburgh in the east to Gogarburn in the west.

This would include a segregated busway along the south side of the City Bypass between the Straiton and proposed Lothianburn park-and-ride sites, as well as the use of the bypass' hard shoulder between Lothianburn and Torphin Bridge.





The full article contains 238 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 21 August 2008 10:49 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

alex paterson,

edinburgh 21/08/2008 13:02:20
I saw a lovely Highland Coo yesterday on my travels.
2

Bob 2,

21/08/2008 13:07:17
another old story that the EN is repeating, its even got the same mistakes.

WASTE of Money

Given that there is limited parking at QUEEN MARGARET UNIVERSITY at Musselburgh, what use would there be for a bus from QMU to Gogarburn.

and if they can do it for £54m!!!
3

Andrew,

21/08/2008 14:47:05
Edinburgh ALREADY HAS a south orbital route - THE SUBURBAN RAIL LINE! IT could surely benefit from £54M of investment to CONNECT with other Edinburgh/Central Scotland rail routes!
4

PaulB,

Edinburgh 21/08/2008 14:52:42
What a stupid plan! The city bypass needs more lanes for cars, not a redundant orbital bus service. perhaps we need more orbital bus services within the city, preferably ones that go nowhere near Princes Street, but instead link areas that presently require passengers to make a change. And yes, the southern sub rail opening would be a much better use of this money.
5

Iona Bicycle,

21/08/2008 15:26:42
What a great idea! Buses and trams are the future of our green city. The last thing we should do is pander to the selfish profit-driven needs of car owners who only care about how close they can park to their city center offices.
6

supersh,

South Queensferry 21/08/2008 17:00:17
Aye, but will they let you get on with a huge Ikea flat-pack?
7

Axl,

Edinburgh 21/08/2008 17:46:21
#5

I would hardly call the trams 'green'.

I don't think anyone could put a figure on the amount of energy that is being wasted during the creation of Edinburgh's tram line, but whatever the amount may be, it is VERY un-environmentally-friendly.

And once up-and-running, they may not put out any emissions in the City itself, that is left to Cockenzie and Torness....


8

Andrew,

21/08/2008 19:17:50
7) Agreed. The trams are more likely to be (the depicted) creamy-whire with 'Midlothian Maroon' decorations! Ding-Ding-Ker-ching! Come-own, get-aff!
9

Andrew,

21/08/2008 19:18:18
7) Agreed. The trams are more likely to be (the depicted) creamy-white with 'Midlothian Maroon' decorations! Ding-Ding-Ker-ching! Come-own, get-aff!
10

Mist001,

Marseille 21/08/2008 20:52:30
I sometimes wonder what it's like to be a bus driver.

For instance, two matey drivers both start their shift at 7am but head off in opposite directions, say a No.30. Sooner or later on the route, they're going to pass each other and fair enough, they're going to wave, or at least let onto each other first thing, but for the rest of their shift, do they ignore each other or do they wave each time they pass each other?

Michael.
11

igloo,

Edinburgh 21/08/2008 22:30:28
#5 "selfish profit-driven needs of car owners who only care about how close they can park to their city center offices"

I wish it was profit driven, however, due to the poor bus service we receive on the outskirts of town and in order to provide the "public service" I give in my job and the nursing care my wife provides at the NRIE. We are obliged to work unsocial hours, with my wife doing 12.5 hour shifts, to then expect her to travel by bus, would add a further 2.5 hours onto her day. To travel by car takes 20 minutes each way.

There are times when I have finished my shift at 02:00 and later in the morning. All for profit? I don't think so, its to make a decent living and provide for our family.

If there was a decent and efficient public service to ALL areas, people would use it.

It's as simple as that.
12

igloo,

Edinburgh 21/08/2008 22:34:54
Further to my last posting #11

My wife has to pay £120 per year for the "privilege" to park at the hospital and that doesn't guarantee a parking place !!!!

Full time Hospital staff have to pay £250 for the same privilege.
13

Oisinp,

Kirkliston, Edinburgh 21/08/2008 22:52:23
I have a novel idea that will help to cut reduce car use in the city. Provide Kirkliston with an Edinburgh bus at Edinburgh prices. £2.30 single and £4.20 day ticket is out of order for what is supposed to be part of Edinburgh. It is curently cheaper to drive into the city but no one seems to have (or has ever had) any intention of doing anything to change the situation.
14

Way Out West,

21/08/2008 23:37:26
Not so long ago there was an orbital bus route - it was called the 32/52, and went around the perimeter of the city. It was split a few years ago and became the 18 and 32 - both of which are to be withdrawn, apart from a few peak-hour journeys, in a few weeks time, along with various other services.

Instead of money being wasted on this rubbish idea of an orbital bus service via the bypass, it would be better off being used to keep the bus services in the city which are currently under threat on the road.

 

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