Cambridgeshire Guided Busway

Thursday 1 September 2022 (1047) – Stagecoach East buses seen at Longstanton Park & Ride on the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway. At Longstanton the bus loading area includes a covered building with shelters alongside the boarding platforms. Buses leave the guideway and are then driven normally within the open area re-joining the guideway when they leave. Right is 13907 (BU69 XYG), one of twelve 98 seat Alexander Dennis Enviro400XLB bodied Volvo B8L tri-axle double deckers delivered in December 2019, working service B from Cambridge city centre to St. Ives, Huntingdon and Hinchingbrooke Hospital. Left is 21233 (AE12 CJU), a Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE new in July 2012, working service A from St. Ives to Cambridge city centre, Addenbrookes Hospital and the Trumpington Park & Ride site. Due to a low bridge on the southern section of the Busway service A can only be worked by single deck vehicles. I travelled on both these buses today: 13907 Histon to Longstanton 21233 Longstanton to Histon followed by 13902 Histon to Longstanton 21366 Longstanton to St. Ives 13904 St. Ives to Histon

Thursday 1 September 2022 (1051) – The driver of Stagecoach East 21233 (AE12 CJU) gives a wave to a colleague driving 21308 (BF65 WKX) along the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway. Both are Wright Eclipse bodied Volvos, 21233 a Volvo B7RLE new in July 2012 and 21308 a B8RLE new in December 2015. 21233 was working the 1015 service A from St. Ives (Morrisons) to Cambridge city centre and Trumpington Park & Ride due there at 1140 whilst 21308 was working the 0955 service from Trumpington due at Morrisons at 1118. The tracker on the Bus Times website showed both had on time journeys. Due to a low bridge on the southern section of the Busway service A can only be worked by single deck vehicles. I travelled on five Busway buses today: 13907 Histon to Longstanton 21233 Longstanton to Histon 13902 Histon to Longstanton 21366 Longstanton to St. Ives 13904 St. Ives to Histon

Thursday 1 September 2022 (1058) – On the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway, the driver of Stagecoach East 13902 (BU69 XYA) remains alert whilst not having to steer the bus. This was one of twelve 98 seat Alexander Dennis Enviro400XLB bodied Volvo B8L tri-axle double deckers delivered in December 2019. Rather than tradition wing mirrors these vehicles have rearward view cameras. Note the screens giving two different offside views (above the steering wheel) and the nearside view (above the ticket machine). A normal mirror is fitted to view the lower deck interior. I travelled on five Busway buses today: 13907 Histon to Longstanton 21233 Longstanton to Histon 13902 Histon to Longstanton 21366 Longstanton to St. Ives 13904 St. Ives to Histon

Thursday 1 September 2022 (1105) – Two of the twelve Stagecoach East 98 seat Alexander Dennis Enviro400XLB bodied Volvo B8L tri-axle double deckers seen at Longstanton Park & Ride site on the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway. They were new in December 2019. Heading away is 13902 (BU69 XYA) working the 1035 service B from Cambridge (Drummer Street Bus Station) to Huntingdon (Hinchingbrooke Hospital), due there at 1100. The Bus Times website tracker showed that it ran close to time throughout although arriving slightly late at Hinchingbrooke. On the right 13908 (BU69 XYH) which was working the 0956 service B from Hinchingbrooke Hospital to Cambridge. It was due here at 1054. The Bus Times website tracker showed that it ran on time into St. Ives departing there four minutes late. Progressively it lost more time along the way arriving 17 minutes late at Drummer Street. At Longstanton the bus loading area includes a covered building with shelters alongside the boarding platforms. Buses leave the guideway and are then driven normally within the open area re-joining the guideway when they leave. I travelled on five Busway buses today: 13907 Histon to Longstanton 21233 Longstanton to Histon 13902 Histon to Longstanton 21366 Longstanton to St. Ives 13904 St. Ives to Histon

Thursday 1 September 2022 (1126) – Stagecoach East 21366 (BU69 XXD), an MCV eVoRa bodied Volvo B8RLE new in February 2020, seen leaving St. Ives bus station. This was the 1015 service A from Trumpington Park & Ride to St. Ives (Morrisons). Service A travels on the southern section of the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway between Trumpington Park & Ride to Cambridge Railway Station then on normal road through Cambridge city centre to Kings Hedges. From Kings Hedges it joins the northern section of the Busway to travel to St. Ives Park & Ride where the Busway ends. It is just a short distance (approx. 0.3 mile/500 metres) to St. Ives bus station and onward to the Morrisons Supermarket (a further mile/1.6km) by normal roads. The rather grand buildings that form the exit of the bus station are the gates to the old Cattle Market which date from the late 1800s. I travelled on five Busway buses today: 13907 Histon to Longstanton 21233 Longstanton to Histon 13902 Histon to Longstanton 21366 Longstanton to St. Ives 13904 St. Ives to Histon

Thursday 1 September 2022 (1115) – On board Stagecoach East 21366 (BU69 XXD), an MCV eVoRa bodied Volvo B8RLE new in February 2020, operating on the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway. This was the 1015 service A from Trumpington Park & Ride to St. Ives (Morrisons). Note the bell pushes set within the seat panels. This view was taken from the rearmost seat which was quite high compared with the entrance level and shows the gradual increase of the different seat levels. I travelled on five Busway buses today: 13907 Histon to Longstanton 21233 Longstanton to Histon 13902 Histon to Longstanton 21366 Longstanton to St. Ives 13904 St. Ives to Histon

Thursday 1 September 2022 (1156) – Stagecoach East 13904 (BU69 XYC), one of twelve 98 seat Alexander Dennis Enviro400XLB bodied Volvo B8L tri-axle double deckers delivered in December 2019, seen turning from Market Road to Station Road in St. Ives. It was working the 1056 Busway service B from Hinchingbrooke Hospital to Cambridge (Drummer Street bus station) which was actually due here at 1140. Using the Bus Times website tracker I could see that 13904 had run on time for the first trip of the day (0634 Cambridge-Hinchingbrooke arriving 0719). It had departed Hinchingbrooke on time with the 0736 service to Cambridge but arrived 23 minutes late at Drummer Street (Due 0901/actual 0924). Making an almost immediate turn round it departed as the 0915 service at 0926 arriving in Hinchingbrooke twenty minutes late at 1100. With another immediate turn round it departed Hinchingbrooke at 1102 just 6 minutes late but was already 14 minutes late in this photo - time that it never re-couped on the way to Cambridge (Due 1221/actual 1236). With another quick turn round it seemed to maintain the schedule for the rest of the day. Quite possibly the delays were as a result of a road closure and diversions in Ramsey Road, St. Ives (?) I travelled on this service to Histon, the last of my five Busway rides today which were: 13907 Histon to Longstanton 21233 Longstanton to Histon 13902 Histon to Longstanton 21366 Longstanton to St. Ives 13904 St. Ives to Histon

Thursday 1 September 2022 (1220) – Stagecoach East 13904 (BU69 XYC), one of twelve 98 seat Alexander Dennis Enviro400XLB bodied Volvo B8L tri-axle double deckers delivered in December 2019, seen at Histon and Impington on the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway. It was working the 1056 Busway service B from Hinchingbrooke Hospital to Cambridge (Drummer Street bus station) which was actually due here at 1203. Using the Bus Times website tracker I could see that 13904 had run on time for the first trip of the day (0634 Cambridge-Hinchingbrooke arriving 0719). It had departed Hinchingbrooke on time with the 0736 service to Cambridge but arrived 23 minutes late at Drummer Street (Due 0901/actual 0924). Making an almost immediate turn round it departed as the 0915 service at 0926 arriving in Hinchingbrooke twenty minutes late at 1100. With another immediate turn round it departed Hinchingbrooke at 1102 just 6 minutes late but was already 14 minutes late in this photo - time that it never re-couped on the way to Cambridge (Due 1221/actual 1236). With another quick turn round it seemed to maintain the schedule for the rest of the day. Quite possibly the delays were as a result of a road closure and diversions in Ramsey Road, St. Ives (?) I travelled on this service from St. Ives, the last of my five Busway rides today which were: 13907 Histon to Longstanton 21233 Longstanton to Histon 13902 Histon to Longstanton 21366 Longstanton to St. Ives 13904 St. Ives to Histon

Thursday 1 September 2022 (1123) – A view from the rear window of Stagecoach East 21366 (BU69 XXD), an MCV eVoRa bodied Volvo B8RLE new in February 2020, at St. Ives Park & Ride at the western end of the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway. The bus had travelled in on the Busway which can be seen in the background and was now about to join the normal roads through the town to the bus station and Morrisons Supermarket. (This was the 1015 service A from Trumpington Park & Ride to St. Ives (Morrisons). On the left is a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo parked at the Cambridge bound departure shelters. I travelled on five Busway buses today: 13907 Histon to Longstanton 21233 Longstanton to Histon 13902 Histon to Longstanton 21366 Longstanton to St. Ives 13904 St. Ives to Histon

Thursday 1 September 2022 (1113) – Stagecoach East 21366 (BU69 XXD), an MCV eVoRa bodied Volvo B8RLE new in February 2020, seen at Longstanton Park & Ride on the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway. This was the 1015 service A from Trumpington Park & Ride to St. Ives (Morrisons). At Longstanton the bus loading area includes a covered building with shelters alongside the boarding platforms. Buses leave the guideway and are then driven normally within the open area re-joining the guideway when they leave. I travelled on five Busway buses today: 13907 Histon to Longstanton 21233 Longstanton to Histon 13902 Histon to Longstanton 21366 Longstanton to St. Ives 13904 St. Ives to Histon

Thursday 1 September 2022 (1108) – Stagecoach East buses leaving Longstanton Park & Ride on the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway. At Longstanton the bus loading area includes a covered building with shelters alongside the boarding platforms. Buses leave the guideway and are then driven normally within the open area re-joining the guideway when they leave. 13908 (BU69 XYH) is one of twelve 98 seat Alexander Dennis Enviro400XLB bodied Volvo B8L tri-axle double deckers delivered in December 2019 which was working the 0956 service B from Hinchingbrooke Hospital to Cambridge. It was due from here at 1054. The Bus Times website tracker showed that it ran on time into St. Ives departing there four minutes late. Progressively it lost more time along the way arriving 18 minutes late at Drummer Street. It was now following 21310 (BF65 WKZ), a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B8RLE new in December 2015 which was working the 1035 service A from St. Ives (Morrisons) to Cambridge city centre and Trumpington Park & Ride. It was due from here at 1106 so was running exactly on time and had caught up with 13908 and departed ahead of 13908. Due to a low bridge on the southern section of the Busway service A can only be worked by single deck vehicles.

Thursday 1 September 2022 (1106) – Stagecoach East buses seen at Longstanton Park & Ride on the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway. At Longstanton the bus loading area includes a covered building with shelters alongside the boarding platforms. Buses leave the guideway and are then driven normally within the open area re-joining the guideway when they leave. 13908 (BU69 XYH) is one of twelve 98 seat Alexander Dennis Enviro400XLB bodied Volvo B8L tri-axle double deckers delivered in December 2019 which was working the 0956 service B from Hinchingbrooke Hospital to Cambridge. It was due here at 1054. The Bus Times website tracker showed that it ran on time into St. Ives departing there four minutes late. Progressively it lost more time along the way arriving 18 minutes late at Drummer Street. Standing behind is 21310 (BF65 WKZ), a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B8RLE new in December 2015 which was working the 1035 service A from St. Ives (Morrisons) to Cambridge city centre and Trumpington Park & Ride. It was due here at 1106 so was running exactly on time and had caught up with 13908 which most passengers were boarding here. As a result 21310 left Longstanton ahead of 13908. Due to a low bridge on the southern section of the Busway service A can only be worked by single deck vehicles.

Thursday 1 September 2022 (1108) – Stagecoach East 21310 (BF65 WKZ), a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B8RLE new in December 2015, seen at Longstanton Park & Ride when working the 1035 service A from St. Ives (Morrisons) to Cambridge city centre and Trumpington Park & Ride. It was due here at 1106 so was running exactly on time. At Longstanton the bus loading area includes a covered building with shelters alongside the boarding platforms. Buses leave the guideway and are then driven normally within the open area re-joining the guideway, visible in the background, when they leave. Due to a low bridge on the southern section of the Busway service A can only be worked by single deck vehicles.

Thursday 1 September 2022 (1108) – Stagecoach East 21310 (BF65 WKZ), a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B8RLE new in December 2015, seen at Longstanton Park & Ride when working the 1035 service A from St. Ives (Morrisons) to Cambridge city centre and Trumpington Park & Ride. It was due here at 1106 so was running exactly on time. At Longstanton the bus loading area includes a covered building with shelters alongside the boarding platforms. Buses leave the guideway and are then driven normally within the open area re-joining the guideway, visible in the background, when they leave. Due to a low bridge on the southern section of the Busway service A can only be worked by single deck vehicles.

Monday 22 April 2024 (1050) – Whippet Coaches WG114 (MX23 LCW) seen from Hills Road bridge just after leaving the Southern section of the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway when working the 1037 service U1 from Addenbrooke’s Hospital to Girton Corner. It is a Mellor Sigma 12 electric single decker new in August 2023. This vantage point gives a different view of the roof top equipment.

Monday 22 April 2024 (1028) – The Southern section of the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway links Cambridge Railway Station with the Trumpington Park & Ride site with a spur to serve the growing Cambridge Biomedical Campus and Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Following two unrelated off bus fatalities on the southern Busway in 2022, one involving a male cyclist and one involving a female pedestrian, the northbound track (running towards the city centre) was closed in early 2022 and remined so for two years whilst the County Council and the Health & Safety Executive decided a course of action (that is perhaps to say faffed about). Temporary safety fencing was put in place to separate the track from the adjacent footpath/cycle path/maintenance track. Instead of positioning the fencing on the latter it was decided to use the northbound Busway track hence why it was closed. During the period of closure buses and their frustrated passengers had to face long delays each morning on the way to the city using already busy roads. Permanent fencing was duly erected and the northbound track re-opened at Easter 2024. The new fencing features yellow opening gates for use in the event of evacuation/emergencies. Also part of the fencing are small openings to allow animals the same option. In this view taken from Hills Road bridge in Cambridge Stagecoach East 21310 (BF65 WKZ), a Wright Eclipse Urban 3 bodied Volvo B8RLE new in December 2015, was seen as it worked service A from Trumpington Park & Ride to St. Ives.

Monday 22 April 2024 (1035) – The Southern section of the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway links Cambridge Railway Station with the Trumpington Park & Ride site with a spur to serve the growing Cambridge Biomedical Campus and Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Following two unrelated off bus fatalities on the southern Busway in 2022, one involving a male cyclist and one involving a female pedestrian, the northbound track (running towards the city centre) was closed in early 2022 and remined so for two years whilst the County Council and the Health & Safety Executive decided a course of action (that is perhaps to say faffed about). Temporary safety fencing was put in place to separate the track from the adjacent footpath/cycle path/maintenance track. Instead of positioning the fencing on the latter it was decided to use the northbound Busway track hence why it was closed. During the period of closure buses and their frustrated passengers had to face long delays each morning on the way to the city using already busy roads. Permanent fencing was duly erected and the northbound track re-opened at Easter 2024. The new fencing features yellow opening gates for use in the event of evacuation/emergencies. Also part of the fencing are small openings to allow animals the same option. In this view taken from Hills Road bridge Whippet Coaches WG119 (MX73 GBV) was heading to the Biomedical Campus when working the 0952 service U1 from Girton Corner. It is a Mellor Sigma 12 electric single decker new in September 2023 (initially registered MX23 LRZ).

Monday 22 April 2024 (1050) – The Southern section of the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway links Cambridge Railway Station with the Trumpington Park & Ride site with a spur to serve the growing Cambridge Biomedical Campus and Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Following two unrelated off bus fatalities on the southern Busway in 2022, one involving a male cyclist and one involving a female pedestrian, the northbound track (running towards the city centre) was closed in early 2022 and remined so for two years whilst the County Council and the Health & Safety Executive decided a course of action (that is perhaps to say faffed about). Temporary safety fencing was put in place to separate the track from the adjacent footpath/cycle path/maintenance track. Instead of positioning the fencing on the latter it was decided to use the northbound Busway track hence why it was closed. During the period of closure buses and their frustrated passengers had to face long delays each morning on the way to the city using already busy roads. Permanent fencing was duly erected and the northbound track re-opened at Easter 2024. The new fencing features yellow opening gates for use in the event of evacuation/emergencies. Also part of the fencing are small openings to allow animals the same option. In this view taken from Hills Road bridge Whippet Coaches WG114 (MX23 LCW) was on the approach to Cambridge Railway Station when working the 1037 service U1 from Addenbrooke’s Hospital to Girton Corner. It is a Mellor Sigma 12 electric single decker new in August 2023.