Runcorn Busway

{{Short description|Busway system in Runcorn, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Use British English|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox public transit | name = Runcorn Busway | image = Runcorn-Busway-P1030854 (34524369561).jpg | alt = | caption = An elevated section of the Busway at Runcorn Shopping City in 2008 | image2 = | alt2 = | imagesize2 = | caption2 = | image3 = | alt3 = | imagesize3 = | caption3 = | owner = Halton Borough Council | area served = Runcorn | locale = | transit_type = Bus rapid transit | lines = | line_number = | start = | end = | stations =  | daily_ridership = | annual_ridership = | chief_executive =  | headquarters = | website = | began_operation = October 1971 | ended_operation = | operator = | vehicles =  | headway = | system_length = {{convert|22|km|mi|abbr=on}} | average_speed =  | top_speed =  | map = {{Halton busway}} | map_name = | map_state = collapsed }} The '''Runcorn Busway''' is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Runcorn, England. Opened in 1971, it was the first BRT system in the world.<ref name="RUDI 7.3 Transport">{{cite web |url=http://www.rudi.net/books/3346 |title=Runcorn New Town – 7.3 Transport |website=rudi.net |access-date=24 July 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018012240/http://www.rudi.net/books/3346 |archive-date=18 October 2014}}</ref>

==History== First conceived in the Runcorn New Town Masterplan in 1966, it opened for services in October 1971 and all {{convert|22|km|mi}} were operational by 1980.<ref name="RUDI 7.3 Transport" /> It was the first BRT system in the world.<ref name="Runcorn Busway JSTOR">{{cite journal |last=Lesley |first=Lewis |date=1983 |title=Runcorn – A Rapid Transit New Town? |jstor=23286723 |journal=Built Environment |volume=9 |issue=3/4 |page=234}}</ref> Arthur Ling, Runcorn Development Corporation's master planner, said that he had invented the concept while sketching on the back of an envelope.<ref name="Arthur Ling">{{cite web |last=Crabtree |first=Gordon |date=6 August 1971 |title=Runcorn Busway creates worldwide interest |publisher=Commercial Motor |url=http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/6th-august-1971/32/runcorn-busway-creates-worldwide-interest |access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> The masterplan considered a variety of transport systems, including a monorail, but a busway was judged to be more economical. The town was designed around the transport system, with most residents no more than five minutes' walking distance, or {{convert|500|yard|m}}, from the busway.<ref name="New Town Masterplan">{{cite book |last=Ling |first=Arthur |url=http://www4.halton.gov.uk/Pages/planning/policyguidance/pdf/evidencebase/Area%2520Specific%2520Evidence/RuncornNewTown/Runcorn_New_Town_Masterplan_(1967).pdf |publication-date=1967 |title=Runcorn New Town Master Plan |publisher=Runcorn Development Corporation |access-date=25 July 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621015846/http://www4.halton.gov.uk/Pages/planning/policyguidance/pdf/evidencebase/Area%20Specific%20Evidence/RuncornNewTown/Runcorn_New_Town_Masterplan_(1967).pdf |archive-date=21 June 2018}}</ref>

The busway was designed to cross the town in a figure of 8. It was created exclusively for buses, excluding both pedestrians and private vehicles, and where the route crossed general roads and didn't go over a bridge or underneath, buses were given priority at the traffic lights.<ref name="RUDI 7.3 Transport" /> The central station is at Runcorn Shopping City where buses arrive on dedicated raised busways to two enclosed stations.<ref name="Tale of Two Centres">{{cite journal |last1=Couch |first1=Chris |last2=Fowles |first2=Steven |date=2006 |title=Britain: Runcorn — A Tale of Two Centres |jstor=23289488 |journal=Built Environment |volume=32 |issue=1 |pages=88–102 |doi=10.2148/benv.32.1.88}}</ref>

Initially, the bus operator on the busway was Crosville.<ref name="RUDI 7.3 Transport" /> The National Bus Company commissioned an electrical conversion of a Leyland National in the 1970s by removing the diesel engine and adding a 7 tonne battery trailer. The length of the vehicle meant that it needed special permission to operate on the highway, and this was only granted on the Runcorn Busway where it operated sporadically, with its range of 60 to 80 miles on an 8 hour charge too short for use all day.<ref>{{cite web |last=Jenkins |first=David |date=13 July 2017 |title=Battery Power |url=https://www.keybuses.com/article/battery-power |website=Key Buses |location= |publisher=Key Publishing Ltd |access-date=6 November 2025}}</ref>

==Technical details== The Busway has a design speed of {{convert|40|mph|kph}} and a maximum gradient of 4 per cent (or 6 per cent for distances under {{convert|200|m|abbr=on}}).<ref name="Technical study">{{cite web |url=https://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp90v1_cs/Runcorn.pdf |title=RUNCORN, UNITED KINGDOM – BRIEF: RUNCORN BUSWAY |author= |date= |website= |publisher= |access-date=21 August 2024}}</ref> Bus stops are at intervals of approximately {{convert|400|m|ft}}.<ref name="Technical study" />

==Gallery== {{multiple image | align = center | image1 = Runcorn busway, Castlefields – 1971 - geograph.org.uk - 6726020.jpg | caption1 = The Busway integrated with Castlefields local centre in 1971, now demolished | alt1 = | image2 = Runcorn busway near Runcorn East railway station - DSC06730.JPG | caption2 = The Busway station for Runcorn East railway station | alt2 = | image3 = Elevated busway at Runcorn Shopping City.jpg | caption3 = Elevated section of the Busway at Runcorn Shopping City | alt3 = | image4 = Runcorn-Busway-P1030856 (34524365321).jpg | caption4 = Elevated section of the Busway at Runcorn Shopping City passing over a roundabout | alt4 = | image5 = Runcorn-Busway-P1030865 (34524334551).jpg | caption5 = A Busway junction with a general traffic road | alt5 = | image6 = Runcorn-Busway-P1030862 (34654965665).jpg | caption6 = An Arriva bus in east Runcorn | alt6 = }}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd6B4QfkqUg 1974 Canadian documentary film about Runcorn New Town] * [https://x.com/bbcarchive/status/786948903438397440 1971 BBC Archive video on the Runcorn Busway] * [https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p01rk56y/where-we-live-now-3-new-town-home-town#t=35m32s 1979 BBC film, ''Where We Live Now'']

Category:Buildings and structures in Runcorn Category:Guided busways and BRT systems in the United Kingdom Category:1971 establishments in England