Colchester Rapid Transit
| Colchester Rapid Transit | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Owner | Colchester City Council, Essex County Council and First Essex |
| Locale | Colchester, Essex, England |
| Transit type | Bus rapid transit |
| Number of lines | 1 |
| Number of stations | 8 |
| Headquarters | Colchester |
| Operation | |
| Operation will start | 2025 |
| Operator(s) | First Essex |
| Headway | Once every 10 minutes |
| Technical | |
| System length | 4.7 mi (8 km) |
Colchester Rapid Transit, is a bus rapid transit system under construction in Colchester, Essex, England;[1] it has a main bus line including a 1 mile segregated busway alongside the Northern Approach Road, and new bus lanes and priority measures at Clingoe Hill. It is set to open its first line in 2025.[2]
The system will serve central Colchester, Essex University, as well as some suburbs including Myland and The Hythe.
Overview
The system is being built as a part of multiple transport improvements across the city, such as the A133-A120 link road[3] and the re-construction of St Botolph's Circus. The busway was proposed as a more efficient alternative after some called for a tram system in the city.[4]
It is to have one line and eight stations, terminating in the proposed new garden community. The guided busway portions are along Cowdray Avenue, and Via Urbis Romanae.[5]
The line will have one bus every ten minutes, which would make it one of the most frequent bus services in Essex.[6]
Construction
The project was originally meant to be completed by Spring 2024, but was later delayed to Autumn 2025.[7] The project is set to finish construction in 2025, with work ongoing as of May 2025.[8]
The project received criticism after it was revealed that cracks appeared on multiple homes after construction started to build the rapid busway.[9]
The first phase, Northern Approach, is being built by Sisk Group.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Colchester Rapid Transit". Essex Highways. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
- ^ "Colchester's bus lane project will be delayed". BBC News. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
- ^ "A120 to A133 Link Road | Essex County Council". Essex Highways. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
- ^ "New calls for trams to be introduced in Colchester city centre - here is where". Gazette. 22 August 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
- ^ "Explained: Why council bosses say new 'rapid' bus lane is needed to keep city moving". Gazette. 7 September 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
- ^ Essex Highways (6 January 2023). Colchester Rapid Transit System. Retrieved 16 January 2025 – via YouTube.
- ^ "When will we see an end to Colchester's Rapid Transit System works?". Clacton and Frinton Gazette. 28 April 2025. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
- ^ "A133 Clingoe Hill westbound lane closure". Essex Highways. 11 March 2025. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
- ^ "Work to build Colchester's rapid transit system 'damaging' homes". BBC News. 26 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2025.