WMTA axes El million Tracline project
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• West Midlands Transport Authority is to axe Tracline, its million experimental guided bus project.
Based on the German Mercedes O-Bahn concept, the Tracline scheme, based on the Birmingham-Short Heath route 65 was Launched four years ago.
The original Tracline project included the purchase of 12 specially-modified MCW double deckers as well as the building of a special 600m long track to segregate the buses from normal traffic.
It has been killed off, however, at the request of Councillor Phil Bateman, the chairman of WMTA. According to Bateman: The experiment has achieved its aims, but it is time to call it a day."
Ironically, Bateman was one of the major moving forces behind the setting up of Tracline when he was chairman of the transport committee.
Despite initial objections from local residents, who complained about the setting up of the busway, Tracline has proved relatively successful, with buses carrying 25% more passengers on the route within 12 months of the scheme starting.
Tracline, however, now appears to have fallen foul of the new Transport Act. West Midlands Travel, which owns the Tracline Buses runs the 65 route profitably between Mondays and Saturdays — but the tender for the loss-making Sunday services is now held by Midland Red West, whose vehicles are unable to use the track and call at different stops. There have also been maintenance problems with the track.
WMTA director general Bob Crawford says there is now little benefit in continuing the Tracline project.