Bus scheme could switch to light rail

BRISTOL’s bendybus scheme has been put on hold until the end of next year – and could turn into an alternative ultra-light rail scheme instead.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond yesterday told the city council to cut the cost of the £48 million Ashton Vale to Temple Meads plan, telling the authority it is a good idea but should provide better value for money.

Officials will be encouraged to “think innovatively” and to go back to contractors and renegotiate deals that reflect the current economic circumstances.

But more details on two later stages of the bus rapid transit (BRT) system, which would use rubber- wheeled bendybuses that could run on their own guided track as well as existing roads, have to be supplied to Whitehall by January before they will even be considered for funding.

A final list of bids will then be drawn up and all projects will have to vie for cash from a £600m funding pot announced by the Secretary of State.

The city council’s cabinet councillor for transport, Gary Hopkins, said last night he was confident the Government would fund a new transport scheme in one form or another because the authority and its neighbours had proved the economic case for it.

He said: “I think the chances are extremely good for the Ashton line, perhaps a 90 per cent chance.

“It may not be exactly in the form originally applied for – we’re going to be having discussions with the Government and listening to their advice.”

Liberal Democrat Mr Hopkins said the previous government had been committed to BRT schemes but the coalition was rethinking this and considering alternatives such as ultra-light rail (ULR), which uses a tram-like vehicle that can run on branch rail lines and roads, does not need overhead electric cables and has tracks that can be laid down on road surfaces without needing to dig them up.

He said: “We’re not saying we definitely will switch technology but we are saying we are more than happy, if the Government wants us to.”

But no indication has been given of when the Government will make up its mind about its preferred system, so the council is now looking at both bendybuses and ULR.

Mr Hopkins said it was even possible that the Ashton Vale route could be built as a BRT system while later routes were ULR, if the Government decided plans for a bendybus on the first phase were too far advanced to change.

Proposals for a package of traffic improvements in Weston-super-Mare, including an extra lane on the M5 southbound sliproad at Junction 21, were also included on the list of “amber light” proposals that the Government has decided it likes – but wants costs cut before it will fund them.

Construction work on successful projects, which will be announced at the end of next year, is unlikely to begin before 2012/13, Mr Hammond indicated.