Colchester Rapid Transit

What is a rapid transit system?

A rapid transit system is a transport system which has priority over other forms of transport. This can mean priority in traffic, on a dedicated lane alongside traffic, or on a rapid transit corridor separated from traffic.

Giving priority and ensuring the route connects key destinations means journey time reliability and can make it quicker and easier to travel by rapid transit than by car.

In a thriving, growing city such as Colchester, providing high-quality public transport solutions will not only help to grow the local economy, but will also help reduce congestion, improve accessibility and support environmental objectives.

Rapid transit in Colchester

The planned route within Colchester travels from the A12 Park and Ride to the University of Essex and new Garden Community due to be developed close by. With stops along its route and services delivered every few minutes, this will connect new and existing residents with key destinations including the hospital, railway station, city centre and university.

A Green Rapid Transport Bus

And with priority measures, modelling indicates that, once operational, the rapid transit will provide a 35% journey time saving when travelling between the park and ride and the city centre and 20% between the university and the city centre.

Once operational in 2025/26 users can expect to see services unlike anything else in the city, with distinct vehicles, unique branding and modern ticketing and stops using the latest technologies.

With vehicle technology evolving at pace, we are also exploring different types of vehicles. Elsewhere in the country, for example, the West Midlands Sprint is introducing new hydrogen-based vehicles, while the Belfast Glider uses a diesel-electric engine.

Rapid Transit route map

Northern Approach works

Along Northern Approach there are existing plans for a rapid transit corridor and having been granted planning permission in 2006, an initial design was created in 2012.

Forming part of the new Colchester Rapid Transit system, Colchester City Council approved a revised design in 2022. This sees the rapid transit lane moved further from properties along with new improved walking and cycling facilities created in line with latest design guidance.

Northern Approach is the first stage of the rapid transit infrastructure to be constructed, with John Sisk and Sons Ltd appointed to undertake the work.

Through 2023 around 70% of the preperation work for the installation of the new lane were completed. Further details can be seen in the contractor newsletter in the documents section below. 

Landscaping

As part of the main works, a major tree planting scheme will be undertaken, with large (about 6-7m in height,) nursery grown semi-mature varieties planted along the route. This will increase the total number of trees by over 20%. Along the avenue this will see a mixture of London Plane and Small-leaved Lime trees to match those on the eastern side, while Silver Birch, Flowering Cherry and Turkey Oak will be planted at stops and within an amenity open space created next to Bruff Close.

In addition, we will create landscaped areas, which are to be planted with shrubs and herbaceous groundcover next to the busway and pedestrian/cycle facilities, throughout halt areas and on some islands. We are designing this robust planting scheme to enhance the sense of place, promote biodiversity and attract wildlife, with the introduction of pollinator-friendly native plant species, log-piles and the addition of bat and bird boxes.

More details on the landscaping proposals as well as other technical documents submitted to planning can be seen via the Colchester City Council website.

Full plans for Northern Approach can also be seen in the document section below.

The overview plans for this section of the rapid transit route can be seen in the document section below. For more details on documents submitted for planning please see the link to the Colchester City Council page

St Andrew's Avenue

Supporting the rapid transit route, through July and August 2023 sections of St Andrew’s Avenue were improved for pedestrians and cyclists. 

This has seen the footway on the northern side of St Andrew’s Avenue upgraded and widened to 2 metres in width, and a new 2 metre wide pavement will be installed on the southern side to join the existing footway.

A new signal-controlled Toucan Crossing (a type of crossing point that allows for pedestrians and cyclists to cross) has also been installed adjacent to The Chase, replacing the existing non-controlled informal crossing point.

For more detail, see the scheme overview plan in the documents section below.

 

 Clingoe Hill Advanced works

On Clingoe Hill a new rapid transit lane will help improve journey time reliability along this section of the route. New walking and cycling facilities will also provide good links between the future Garden Community development and the city's existing walking/cycling network.

Advanced works on the Clingoe Hill section of the rapid transit started in January 2024 ahead of the main works getting underway in the summer. 

The advanced works will include vegetation clearance and the diversion of utilities.

There will be some traffic management and lane closures during this time. These will take place at night where possible to avoid serious impact on traffic, however there may be some instances of day-time lane closures which will ensure the work can be done as efficiently and safely as possible.

Overview plans can be seen in the Document Section of this page.

 

The works mean that there will be some traffic management and lane closures during this time. These will take place at night where possible to avoid serious impact to traffic, however there may be some instances of day-time lane closures which will ensure the work can be done efficiently. There will be no traffic diversions during this time and so you should be able to carry out your regular journeys without disruption, however, please allow extra time for your journeys during this period of works.

Got a question?

If you have a question about rapid transit, the proposals for Colchester or any of the specfic scheme works, please do not hesitate to contact the project team by emailing rapidtransit@essexhighways.org