7 January 2008
We received a petition asking:
"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Scrap the Huntingdon-Cambridge Guided busway."
Details of Petition:
"we petition the government to scrap the idea for a ‘guided busway’ between on the trackbed of the old railwayline between Huntingdon & Cambridge due to the lack of support from the public, and instead to reopen the said railway, which is well supported in the Area."
Read the Government’s response
The proposal for a guided busway arose from the Cambridge-Huntingdon Multi-Modal Study (CHUMMS), which was commissioned by the Government to investigate possible solutions to congestion on the A14. CHUMMS, which reported in Autumn 2001, rejected options for using light and heavy rail due to the high costs and reduced flexibility they would offer. The capital and operating costs of light and heavy rail would be higher than those of a guided busway and the level of patronage lower. A planning inquiry was held in September-December 2004. The Inspector specifically endorsed CHUMMS’ findings.
Installing a rail link would be more expensive than petitioners might think. The former rail line between St Ives and Huntingdon has been built over in each town. Where the line crossed the River Ouse flood plain, all the bridges and several sections of embankment have gone. The line could not be reinstated on the old route and a new route would have to be found at considerable expense.
In addition to relieving congestion on the A14, the guided busway will link two new Park & Ride sites at St Ives and Longstanton and the existing site at Trumpington. It will serve large areas of proposed new housing in the Clay Farm and Shelford Rd areas, as well as Addenbrooke and Hinchingbrook hospitals.
Construction of the guided busway is well under way and is expected to be completed by early 2009. The Government believe it represents a significant contribution to resolving the transport problems faced by Cambridgeshire.