Leeds Trolleybus gets go-ahead

[SF07]

The government have approved plans to introduce trolleybuses in Leeds. Construction should start in 2013 and be ready in 2016. The routes would link two park and ride sites plus the city's hospitals and universities with the city centre.

Leeds train station south entrance has also been approved.


www.wymetro.com/news/releases/100322
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/8579871.stm

[Matty]

Great news! I wonder who will make the trolleybuses then? Probably Wright Bus.

[A1YBG]

the ftr springs to mind!

[danielnew]

It'll be interesting to see the effect on bus routes on the corridors that the system will cover. The viability of Routes 1, 28, 96 & 97 will be reduced significantly! With Route 95 withdrawn. First had better win the contract for the T-bus system!

Also what is the point in the scheme when hybrid buses will probably be more reliable by then giving unrivalled flexibility and cost efficiency and utilising bendi-trolleybuses flies in the face of the decision to withdraw bendi-buses elsewhere. Surely on the Headingley corridor we should have double decker trolleybuses at least owing to the high proportion of agile students who use the routes on the corridor for whom stairs are not an issue - the length of the proposed vehicles will cause more congestion than the current vehicles. High density, high frequency, high capacity are the most important considerations.

On the other hand a fixed infrastructure will be more appealing to new users, although we all know that bus routes will not change drastically on the St. James or Headingley corridor.

[Matty]

LOL, It would be funny if Centrebus got awarded the contract with Metro liking them now.

[Jack]

What publicity has been made fails to acknowledge that the DfT won't fund a loop around the city centre or the line to St James' Hospital.

So the bus station or markets won't be served as won't Eastgate and most of the Headrow.

[glennh2]

They are trying to find the missing £15m to ensure those plans still happen