…………on public transport should become a lot easier for me now or at least for part of the way that is.

On the 7th August, two years late and massively over budget, the worlds longest guided bus route finally opens to fare paying passengers. At the moment to get from St Ives in Cambridgeshire, where I live, and into Cambridge city centre to catch the Citi7 bus out to Duxford the No 55 service has to travel along an 8 mile stretch of the A14 dual carriageway. Heading towards Cambridge in the morning rush hour, the bus and the rest of the traffic can sometimes move at a snails pace due just to the amount of vehicles on the A14. Even a minor fender bender can close the carriageway for a couple of hours. A lorry with a speed limiter overtaking another lorry with a speed limiter just adds to the problem. The return journey from Cambridge especially during the afternoon/evening rush hour can be even worse. Frequently there is an accident, particularly on a Friday and nearly always at the Spittals Interchange in Huntingdon, which can even have traffic parking as far back as the M11 motorway ending well south of Cambridge. When I use public transport to go to Duxford I usually get an earlier bus than I should just to take into account any stoppages that might occur on the journey into Cambridge. From next week, the bus no longer has to use the A14 with all its associated problems to get to and from Cambridge and I can probably get out of bed a bit later then.

Known as ‘The Busway’ the guided bus route runs for about 25 miles from Huntingdon, through St Ives into Cambridge, down to the Railway Station and then out to Addenbrooke’s Hospital and finally terminating at the Trumpington Park and Ride site next to the M11 south of Cambridge. Only about 16 miles of it is guided though. Huntingdon to St Ives is normal roads then concrete track way along the old Huntingdon to Cambridge rail line route to the outskirts of Cambridge. It’s back to normal roads through the city to the Railway Station. From there its back onto guided track way down to Trumpington with a detour to Addenbrooke’s along the way.

Brian

(aka Pen Pusher)