Cambridgeshire guided busway celebrates one million passengers
THE millionth passenger to use the guided bus made their momentous journey from St Ives to Cambridge earlier today (Thursday).
Christine Chandler, from Colne, was picked as the millionth passenger as she took her father Len Burrow, the millionth and one passenger, to Addenbrooke’s Hospital from St Ives Park and Ride.
To celebrate, bus operators Stagecoach and Whippet, together with representatives from Cambridgeshire County Council, were there to surprise them and hand over mementos of the occasion.
More than 200,000 trips a month are being taken on the world’s longest busway since its opening in August 2011.
Christine said: “We use the busway regularly to go shopping or to the hospital. It is really convenient and means you don’t have to go on the A14. It is really regular, reliable and efficient and has got us where we want to go on time. It was a complete surprise to be the millionth passenger and we are really pleased.”
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Cambridgeshire County Councillor Steve Criswell, cabinet member for community infrastructure, said: “This is a massive milestone for the busway and is ahead of our business forecasts. The busway is proving very popular as a fast and reliable way to travel and I was pleased to see our millionth customer ride the busway.”
Andy Campbell, managing director for Stagecoach in Cambridge, said: “The busway has been a much bigger success than we had hoped for and have already had to put more services on. We are now looking at buying more new buses and running extra services. We look forward to seeing the next million journeys.”
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Peter Lee, director of Whippet Coaches, said: “The busway is an ideal way of avoiding the A14. We are really pleased with just how successful it has been from day one. This is a great benefit for Cambridgeshire and Whippet is delighted to be part of its success story.”
