TPi leads BRT European Study Tour

The Department of Transport in Ireland is currently investigating the deployment of rapid transit within major cities throughout the country, with Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) being considered as a viable alternative to conventional Light Rail Transit (LRT) systems.  Having been involved in BRT UK and advised Galway City Council on BRT proposals, TPi organised and led a study tour for council officers to similar size towns operating BRT systems in Europe.

The study started at Gravesend in the UK where the team visited the highly acclaimed FASTRACK System.  The tour members witnessed a BRT system using high-quality, environmentally-friendly vehicles operating on a regular 10-minute service, running on a segregated track wherever possible and with effective priority over other traffic elsewhere on the system.

Following a quick hop over the channel on Eurostar the party was given a tour of the newly constructed, but yet-to-open, Douai BRT system.  The system is similar to the electronic guidance operated in Eindhoven and operates automatically on dedicated traffic lanes.

The final stop of the four towns was at Rouen which has a three-line optically guided BRT system.  The system uses a mixture of exclusive right of way corridors, reserved lanes and mixed traffic in areas of lower population density.

Following an overnight stop in Luton the party headed back to Galway fully appreciative of what BRT can offer the City of Galway.   

Issued: August 2008

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