Sprint (West Midlands)
Sprint is a bus rapid transit scheme under construction in the West Midlands, England. The project is developed by Transport for West Midlands.
Quinton route
[edit]
In July 2014, it was announced that a new BRT bus-tram service "featuring vehicles that look and operate like a tram but without tracks", named Sprint, would be introduced on the Hagley Road, which would connect with the Metro's Line One extension.[1] Viewed as 'Metro's Little Sister', Sprint is intended to offer a higher level of service quality than standard bus services, and will feature some bus priority measures, like bus lanes and priority signalling to speed up service. Sprint should grow demand, and improve connectivity in areas which do not yet fully justify Metro access.[2] Centro stated that the new City Centre-Quinton route was chosen primarily for its potential for economic growth.[3] The route will have 16 stops.[4]
Cross-city route
[edit] | This section needs to be updated. (November 2022) |
Plans remain for the 'Quinton line' but priority was given,[5] following the award of the 2022 Commonwealth Games to Birmingham, for a cross-city route from Walsall along the A34 road, passing by the Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr to Birmingham City Centre and on to Birmingham Airport and Solihull. Work began in April 2021 with the aim to be complete before the Commonwealth Games start in July 2022.[6][7]
As of August 2024[update], no Sprint vehicles have been commissioned.
Future routes
[edit]Future routes are proposed to Stourbridge, Longbridge and Sutton Coldfield and Dudley.[8]
In 2014, money was also allocated for a service to Birmingham Airport "by 2021".[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Brown, Graeme (2014-07-30). "Sprint buses down Hagley Road by 2016 under £15m plans". Birmingham Post. Retrieved 2016-07-21.
- ^ "Rail Professional - the business magazine for railway managers". Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 2013-02-14.
- ^ "Sprint Network Vision - Sprint". Centro.org.uk. 2016-06-17. Retrieved 2016-07-21.
- ^ "Sprint : Metro's Little Sister" (PDF). Bearwoodblog.files.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2016-07-21.
- ^ "Sprint Update Report - Walsall to Birmingham" (PDF). www.tfwm.org.uk. Transport for West Midlands. March 2019. p. 7. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
- ^ "Six months of delays expected as work begins on Sprint bus route along A34 in Great Barr". BirminghamLive. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
- ^ "The Sprint Route". Transport for West Midlands. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
- ^ TfWM https://www.tfwm.org.uk/who-we-are/what-we-do/sprint-bus-priority-corridor/the-sprint-route/