The longest guided busway in the world, when's it opening ?

[shinkansen1966]

Had no idea about the fiasco of the Cambridge busway. Cambridgeshire council aren't best pleased with contractors, BAM Nuttall.
http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/transport/thebusway/

Christian Wolmar's report here:
http://www.christianwolmar.co.uk/2010/10/cambridge-busway-debacle/

Does anyone have any idea as to when it will open ?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Hopefully never, reinstating the railway from Huntingdon-St Ives-Cambridge would have been so much better, would have been useful for EC diversions too.

 

[Class20]

The council have been unwilling to put a final opening date for the busway since the end of 2009 when the opening date was missed for about the 4th time.

BAM Nuttall seem unable/unwilling to sort out the problems that the council have identified even though BAM are the ones responsible for creating some of them. From the larger issues like the car park for the St. Ives P&R site being built at too shallower an angle resulting in poor drainage and resultant flooding, to the height of signs and poorly built pavements. Its all been one problem after another.

If they can sort out their problems soon then I think the busway might see an opening date this year. Tests have been carried out recently that have seen buses running the full length of the busway, at normal operating speeds, to allow traffic lights and other busway signals to be tried and tested.

David.c

 

[mumrar]

This episode is a perfect example of the systemic failures resulting from private industry and having too many cooks involved. Doubtless BAM will have sub-contracted work to someone else, who in turn may have sub-contracted more. All these levels of changeover are each after a profit.

It is a prime example of ineptitude and mismanagement and has been from start until not finished. The budget increases and delays are huge and quite baffling. I also believe the railway should have been the preferred choice for the route. Many will scoff at our abilities in that department too, but I'd remind people that HS1 was delivered on budget, and completed slightly early also!

 

[Aictos]

Hopefully never, reinstating the railway from Huntingdon-St Ives-Cambridge would have been so much better, would have been useful for EC diversions too.

How much time would it have saved though between Cambridge and Peterborough via Huntingdon then Cambridge to Peterborough via Ely?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

How much time would it have saved though between Cambridge and Peterborough via Huntingdon then Cambridge to Peterborough via Ely?

Hmm, can't tell whether that's for or against my statement, but it could have good time savings for XC stuff, whilst Ely-Peterborough may have low speed limits (I don't know), there's nothing to stop the route via St Ives being 100mph or more... it would also be handy if St Neots was closed for engineering works.