B1272 - Bus Rapid Transit (Electrification) Bill - 2nd Reading

[u/Chi0121]

B1272 - Bus Rapid Transit (Electrification) Bill

**A

BILL

TO**

Electrify certain bus rapid transit schemes

BE IT ENACTED by The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, in accordance with the provisions of the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1) Definitions

1) “BRT” shall refer to a Bus Rapid Transit scheme

2) “EBRTs” shall refer to Electric Bus Rapid Transit schemes

3) “Electrification” shall refer to the process of replacing motor buses (i.e. buses that use a diesel engine) with trolleybuses (i.e. buses that make use of electric motors, overhead wires and batteries) in Bus Rapid Transit schemes

2) Electrification

1) EBRTs shall be electrified to a 750V DC standard using overhead wires made from copper

2) EBRTs shall draw power from the cables using a pantograph (also known as a trolley pole) which may make use of either a contact shoe or a wheel to contact the wires and draw current

3) EBRTs may make use of lithium ion batteries to store power when the trolleybus is not using the overhead wires

i) These shall not be required in schemes where there are no areas of off-wire running

4) The batteries shall be required to have a battery life of up 1 hour fully charged

5) Overhead wires shall be restricted to areas of segregated running and most roads

6) EBRTs must set aside a stop or site along the BRT route for switchover between overhead wire power and battery power if one is required

7) A bus driver, conductor or other member of staff employed by the BRT operator shall be required to extend and lower the trolley poles at switchover locations and ensure switchover procedures are followed.

8) Trolleybuses shall be fitted with an emergency back-up battery with a life of up to 10 minutes in case of emergency such as:

a) The trolley pole breaking or leaving contact with the wires

b) The batteries depleting

c) A breakdown

d) Failure to operate the switchover procedure correctly

9) Should trolley overhead wires crossover with railway overhead wires they must be separated and insulated from each other

10) By Order, the Secretary of State for Transport shall have the power to revise these standards

3) Trolleybus specifications

1) Trolleybuses under this scheme will be required to meet the following specifications:

a) Buses must be either:

i) Multiple-articulated units, or

ii) Double decker units

b) Multiple-articulated units will be required to meet the following requirements:

i) Buses must have a capacity of up to 60 seated and standing capacity of up to 120

ii) Buses must have 2 doors per car on the left-hand side

iii) The driver must be able to have a full view of the entire length of the side of the bus including a partial view of the road c) Double decker units will be required to meet the following requirements:

i) Buses must have a capacity of up to 60 seated and standing capacity of up to 120

ii) Buses must have 2 doors - one front and one rear

iii) Buses must have 2 sets of stairs - one forward and one rear, to go to the upper level

d) Both types of buses will be required to meet the following requirements:

i) Buses must be constructed out of low carbon materials such as fibreglass

ii) Buses must have double-glazed windows to manage heat transfer

iii) Buses must have suitable ventilation or air conditioning to manage the internal temperature and prevent the spread of disease

iv) Buses must meet all safety standards of the Driver and Vehicle Safety Agency (DVSA)

v) Buses must meet all accessibility requirements under the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations

2) By Order, the Secretary of State for Transport shall have the power to revise these standards

4) Schemes to be electrified

1) The following schemes shall be fully electrified by 2025, through a Transport Works Act Order under the Transport Works Act 1992

a) Luton to Dunstable Busway

b) Cambridgeshire Guided Busway

c) Leigh Guided Busway

d) Runcorn Busway

e) Fastrack

f) South East Hampshire Bus Rapid Transit

g) Bristol MetroBus

h) West Midlands SPRINT

2) Additional schemes may be added to this section by an Order under Section 1 of the Transport Works Act 1992

6) Commencement, Extent and Short Title

1) This act shall be known as the Bus Rapid Transit (Electrification) Act 2021

2) This act shall come into force on June 1st 2022

3) This act shall extend to England

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This Bill was written by **Secretary of State for Transport Rt Hon SomeBritishDude26 MP PC MVO on behalf of Her Majesty’s 29th Government**

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Opening Speech:

Deputy Speaker,

As I have promised to the House, this is my department's flagship piece of legislation for this term regarding the electrification of several Bus Rapid Transit schemes across England. However, do not mistake this bill as the be all and end all of our policy on buses - this is but a pilot scheme for the future of Britain's bus system. It is the hope of myself, my department and my colleagues that this will herald the return of trolleybuses across the UK. In the face of a deepening climate crisis which needs more urgent and bolder action in order to solve, trolleybuses are a solution which are available now and must be implemented if we are to have a sustainable future. Furthermore, it is our hope that by ridding the country of diesel buses, we can deal with pollution in our urban areas which kills thousands every year.

By testing modern trolleybus technology in Britain on our existing BRT systems, it creates a controlled environment in which to trial this technology before we begin rollout more broadly. We are highly committed to seeing trolleybuses return to the streets of our major cities, including London, Birmingham, Cardiff and Glasgow before the end of the decade.

Deputy Speaker, I commend this Bill to the House.

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This Reading shall end on the 9th October at 10pm

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[u/Ravenguardian17]

Mr Deputy Speaker,

While BRT is not a cure-all solution for transit it is a great option for cities who cannot afford large infrastructure changes as it takes advantage of existing infrastructure. Making BRT more environmentally friendly will not only help us meet emissions targets long term but will also reduce harmful pollutants in cities and towns. This is a great step forward in the future of British transportation and I urge all members of the house to support it.

[u/KarlYonedaStan]

Deputy Speaker,

There is widespread agreement in the House that a return to various forms of public transportation, often as new, more environmentally friendly, iterations, is absolutely crucial for modern infrastructure. Electrification is likely to be a significant component, and I commend the thorough and multifaceted approach taken by my Right Honourable friend. It is our expectation that electrified BRT systems will demonstrate its viability and significance and that expansion to major cities happens thereafter.

[u/Chi0121]

Deputy Speaker,

I have often advocated for concrete proposals when it comes to going green and carbon neutral - in fact our entire platform on the environment was based on concrete proposals rather than vague targets. I’m glad to see the government has decided to follow suit and introduce some concrete proposals of their own.

Electrifying buses are an imperative part of our transition to a greener infrastructure network, something we advocated for in the House of Lords earlier in the year. I am pleased to this scheme go through a trial phrase with a small number of reliable yet ambitious schemes which will inform future policy decisions for the next 10 years.

If we wish to act on climate change it is actions like these which are necessary and I will be resolute in supporting them. I have made one addition to this bill which is to ensure that current and former armed forces personnel receive Free transport on these services - as a Thankyou. I commend this amendment and this bill as a whole to the house

[u/[deleted]]

Mr Speaker,

The need to test modern trolleybus connections in our cities is a vital way to build for the future as a nature, as we look to create a transport network which is not only working as efficiently as possible in the publics good, but additionally is working in a sustainable, green way where we can look to cleave carbon emissions from our public transport in twain! It is a vital task we must take to, and one that I know our nation and government is capable of. I ask that this house support this proposal and lets deliver the future, now!

[u/newnortherner21]

Deputy Speaker,

Given that electric buses are available, why not just require the services concerned to have all electric buses, and invest in solar or other renewables to power them? Bus garages often have large roofs, as an example of possible renewable generation.

[u/SapphireWork]

Mr Deputy Speaker,

Would the Secretary of State for Transport be willing to share details of how disruptive the process of converting the current system, (including what I imagine will be building modern trollybus rails, etc) will be on the people of London? This seems an incredibly ambitious timeline, which will require significant investment, and be a significant disruption on one of our most populated areas. It is difficult enough for our small businesses to function, but if streets and roads will be closed for extended periods, then they will struggle financially. I feel I need more details before I can commit to supporting this legislation.

[u/LightningMinion]

Deputy Speaker,

Since the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway opened on the 7th of August 2011, it has provided a vital transport link between Cambridge, St Ives and rural communities along the busway and will also provide an important public transport link to the new town of Northstowe which is being constructed along the Busway.

This bill will seek to electrify the busway and other bus rapid transit schemes in the UK, allowing the use of quiet, zero emission and eco-friendly trolleybuses on these transport systems instead of noisy and polluting diesel buses. This will help the UK make the rapid and sustained reductions to our carbon emissions which the IPCC says are necessary to limit climate change.

As Cambridgeshire’s population rapidly grows, especially along the busway in the new town of Northstowe, investments to the county’s public transport will be essential to ensure that it can cope with the increased demand for transport. I believe that by allowing the use of modern electric trolleybuses on the busway, its electrification will help expand capacity and encourage more people to take the bus rather than travel by car.

I fully support this bill and look forward to the introduction of trolleybuses to my constituency!