FAQs

What is ‘f t r’?

‘f t r’ is a totally new concept in public travel.

The initiative is being led by FirstGroup plc (First), the UK’s largest surface transport operator, working in partnership with vehicle manufacturer The Wright Group and with forward-thinking local authorities across the UK.

‘f t r’ is all about the partners getting together to deliver excellence in public travel through an integrated approach to vehicle design, engineering, technological support, infrastructure and route management. This will include better traffic management measures, increased car restraint, better infrastructure, better timetable information, and a significant step forward in vehicle design.

‘f t r’ is a new way of delivering public travel that will encourage more people to consider leaving their cars at home and use ‘f t r’ services for some journeys.

The letters ‘ftr’ are texting shorthand for ‘Future’. The terminology has been specifically chosen to help challenge existing thinking on public travel, and to demonstrate that the initiative is both unique and very different from what has gone before. Introducing the name ‘f t r’ will help to break away from the traditional categories of public travel – the tram, the train, the bus, the car.

‘f t r’ services will be delivered through a partnership between First, The Wright Group and local authorities.

First will operate ‘f t r’ services. The Wright Group is building the vehicle that will operate the services. Local authorities will deliver the ‘f t r’ TRACK.

‘f t r’ will only be introduced in a town or city where there is full sign-up to the concept by the local authority. For ‘f t r’ to be successful it requires full involvement from all the partners.

‘f t r’ is the next step in the development of existing and proposed partnerships to help deliver increasing numbers of people using public transport in towns and cities across the UK.

‘f t r’ aims to encourage people out of their car for some journeys. For this to be achieved, ‘f t r’ must deliver its passengers from A to B without the usual delays associated with traffic congestion. An ordinary light rail or tram system has its own dedicated track to ensure there are no delays. Even in town and city centres, trams have right of way to ensure their passengers reach their destinations on time.

‘f t r’ isn’t a tram, but for it to appeal to car users it does need to have its own right of way, especially in town and city centres. Local authorities who recognise the role that ‘f t r’ can play in helping to reduce traffic congestion in their towns and cities have to provide the appropriate priority measures that will give ‘f t r’ its own priority roadspace - in effect, the 'f t r' TRACK.

These measures will include traffic lights that turn to green as the ‘f t r’ approaches, traffic lights that limit other vehicles to ensure that the ‘f t r’ doesn’t get caught up in queues. Other measures to restrict non-essential traffic from entering the heart of town and city centres will be introduced including rising bollards and automatic access gates.

Yes. Delivering a step change in public travel encompasses everything, from the vehicle, to bus stops, to passenger information, and to ticketing. Everything is being looked at to see how it can be improved. We want people to think about the alternatives to taking the car, and those alternatives need to deliver a high quality and ease of use.

First is at the forefront of innovation and has led the way with guided bus schemes in Leeds, Bradford and Ipswich. These schemes, together with imaginative marketing initiatives and investment in new vehicles has seen significant growth in passenger numbers in many of our main towns and cities. However, public transport in its present form has come as far as it can. A single or double-deck bus is still a single or double-deck bus, regardless of changes to its fixtures and fittings. Articulated buses have brought boosts in passenger numbers, but they are still seen as a bus – and buses can have a poor image, especially to a car user.

‘f t r’ is a concept that leads us on from where we are today. The objective of ‘f t r’ remains as before – to enable people to carry out their lives and to give them a way of getting from A to B, safely and on time. But this time in much greater style and comfort than before. Once again First, this time working in partnership with The Wright Group, PTEs and local authorities, is at the forefront of innovation, finding new ways to encourage more people to leave their cars at home and help reduce the levels of traffic congestion in our towns and cities.

Yes. Here are the figures. Based on our Leeds/Bradford Guided bus schemes and extensive bus priority experience we have compared the costs of a 7km light rail corridor with an ‘f t r’ corridor. We could provide similar capacity at less than a tenth of the cost.

Light rail corridor:

• Probably needs 10 double car light rail vehicles @ £2m each = £20m
• 7km of track at up to £20m per double track kilometre = £140m
• Total cost £160m

‘f t r’ corridor:

• Probably need 15 ‘f t r’ vehicles = £4.5m
• Extensive Guideway /Bus priorities @ £10m
• Total cost £14.5m

The vehicle that will deliver ‘f t r’ is articulated and single-deck. It has been designed by The Wright Group who have worked closely with First to incorporate the latest customer, driver and engineering and operator research. The Wright Group has called the vehicle ‘StreetCar’.

StreetCar unites for the first time the style and technology of the best in light rail vehicle design, with the flexibility and affordability of automotive manufacturing techniques.

The articulated StreetCar is unlike any other vehicle in operation in Europe. It has been constructed to the new length of 18.7m as permitted under the Road vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2003. As such it is marginally longer than articulated buses. The vehicle is 3.5m high, higher than existing single-deck vehicles due to the roof mouldings that enclose the air-conditioning and other technical equipment. The exterior styling is intended to excite attention not just among existing public transport users, but among non-users too. To achieve this the StreetCar offers a unique travelling environment, with an interior layout to match the promise of the exterior design.

The vehicle can carry 53 seated passengers and 47 standing.

As well as creating a unique environment for its users, it also provides new standards for its driver. The driver is in a totally-enclosed full-width compartment, separated from the passenger compartment by a full-height partition with tinted glazing. The driver’s air-conditioned workstation is as spacious as that on a tram, and to make his or her job as easy as possible has ergonomically-designed controls. The driving position is also similar to that of a rail vehicle, to give a good view of the road ahead.

The use of modern soft-touch plastics in the workstation area echoes trends in the motor industry. The separate driving compartment also gives the driver security, while preserving the reassurance which passengers appreciate - that help is on hand if it is needed. A public address system allows two-way communication between driver and passengers. A CCTV system is provided throughout the vehicle.

There are two passenger entrances to StreetCar, one behind the front wheels, the other in the rear section. A ramp for wheelchair users is available at the forward door, and the layout around the entrance means that priority seating and the wheelchair space are immediately accessible, without having to negotiate the “throat” created by the front wheel arches on buses.

Alongside the front door there is sophisticated ticketing equipment which comprises a smartcard reader and a barcode scanner, and which can also issue tickets for cash.

Once inside, travellers have a choice of conventional seating, perches to provide support for those who prefer to stand, a lounge-style area at the rear, and open standing areas for people making short journeys.

Yes, the StreetCar has tinted double-glazed windows to reduce solar gain, and a sophisticated heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system which means there is no need to have opening windows. Noise absorption material throughout the vehicle provides new levels of sound-proofing for passengers and for the driver.

The StreetCar uses an advanced stiffened structure to address what the automotive industry describes as NVH – Noise, Vibration, Harshness – and this brings further benefits in creating a high-quality environment for passengers.

Two screens provide passenger information and all of the on-board telematics systems are co-ordinated using a system developed jointly by The Wright Group and ACIS, ensuring that different systems such as CCTV, automatic vehicle location and passenger information can interact.

The interior has concealed lighting, backed up by LED spotlights. It uses proven materials, but with designs which mark the StreetCar as a vehicle of the 21st century, not simply a make-over of a 20th century design.

Accepting that people do drop litter, the interior of the StreetCar was designed with ease of cleaning as a high priority.

Underneath the skin is the Wright Group’s patented Aluminique structure, which combines strength and durability. A new design of cant rail extrusion allows the use of deep windows. This adds to the striking exterior appearance of StreetCar, which is further enhanced by the use of specially designed covered wheels. On the mid and rear axles the wheel covers are fixed to the body, while the spats on the front axle are secured to the wheel hub, so that they can turn as the wheels are being steered.

Much of the design work was done using 3D computer modelling, with CNC (Computer Numerical Control) parts production working straight from CAD (Computer Aided Design) programmes.

The StreetCar is powered by a low-emission Volvo engine, and its drivetrain is based on the successful Volvo B7L model. The vehicle uses diesel but it has been designed so that it can use other fuels at a later date. The radiator, normally fitted just above the engine, has been relocated to the roof. This adds to the sense of space in the rear compartment of the vehicle.

The first ‘f t r’ services will start in York at the beginning of 2006. Detailed plans are being developed for other schemes in cities around the UK.

Although there are some similarities to other articulated vehicles currently operating on streets across the world, StreetCar is unique in a number of ways. Its eye-catching design and livery will certainly attract attention in the same way that other vehicles manufactured by The Wright Group have done over the last few years. But it is in the detail that StreetCar will outshine other similar vehicles.

A significant programme of research has been carried out involving members of the public. The research has also involved members of First staff representing those areas of day to day activity that will be required to provide dedicated support to ‘f t r’. This research has included cleaners, engineers, drivers and our operations teams.

The Wright Group has pioneered low floor buses in the UK and has earned a reputation for producing vehicles that are stylish, durable, high in quality and packed with innovative features. First has also recently announced a major order with The Wright Group worth £66.5 million for 486 new buses for its operating companies in many parts of the UK.

On the ‘f t r’ page at www.firstgroup.com, click on the ‘For more information about StreetCar’ link.