Ftr

English: ftr is a bus rapid transit system from First Group. Marketed as the 'future of travel' (ftr = future in textspeak), it combines custom designed vehicles (un-guided articulated buses) with dedicated infrastructure & other features, to offer a local public transport system which is more like a tram service while retaining the low cost & flexibility of a conventional bus based system. The implementation model involves local authority partners paying for the infrastructure improvements in exchange for First buying the buses, upgrading their facilities & operating the ftr service on a commercial basis (i.e. without any subsidy). Launched in York in 2006, it has also been implemented in Leeds and Swansea. All three systems operate as a single cross city route, with ftr vehicles having replaced a pre-existing bus service (in all cases, the route replaced was the number 4, which was retained as the ftr service number). The York ftr vehicles were introduced overnight, but after that caused problems, the Leeds and Swansea ftr's were introduced on a gradual basis. Except for minor differences between the systems, ftr is presented with a uniform livery, brand image and web presence (www.goftr.com). Ftr buses and the base livery is also being used in Luton on an airport rail-link service train2plane, but is not an ftr system as such.

Systems

York

Details

• Partners: City of York Council
• Key dates: Launched on Monday 8 May 2006 (full introduction)
• Bus operator: First York
• Depot: James Street
• Fleet size: 11 (10 + 1 spare)
• Route number: 4 (replacing existing route 4)
• Route length: 4.6 miles
• Stops: 75
• Infastructure: enhanced stops, junction improvements, traffic priority, clearways, removing on-street parking

The York ftr starts in Acomb in the west where it has a triangular terminal route. It then proceeds on a roundabout route to the south east until it joins the Tadcaster Road (A1036), upon which it proceeds on it directly north east into the city centre. In the centre it describes a semi-circular route, before leaving on an easterly route, to the University of York.

Images

• 
  10 August 2006
  at: York station (Station Road)
  to: Acomb
  closeup
• 
  7 April 2007
  at: University (University Road)
  to: n/a (terminus)
• 
  22 September 2007
  at: City centre (Tower Street)
  to: Acomb
  closeup
• 
  5 April 2008
  at: City centre (Clifford Street)
  to: Acomb
  closeup
• 
  5 October 2008
  at: York station (Station Road)
  to: University
  closeup
• 
  12 February 2009
  at: University (University Road)
  to: University
• 
  21 October 2010
  at: York station (Station Road)
  to: University
  closeup

Baby ftr

In October 2010 the York ftr south eastern (University) terminus was extended from Heslighton Hall to Heslington East. In order to maintain the 10-minute frequency, a standard bus was added to the 10 ftr's already in the fleet. Christened the 'baby ftr', it is First York's No. 69306 (reg. YJ09 FWA), a 2009 built Volvo B7RLE standard single-decker with 44 seat Wrightbus Eclipse Urban bodywork. As a dedicated ftr vehicle it was painted in the ftr York two tone livery, complete with the ftr future travel for York logo and strapline, the University-city-Acomb route branding and the 'up to every 10 minutes' message on the roofline.

Special liveries

Two of the York ftr buses have also been painted in special liveries, No. 19001 (YK06 AOU) twice, and No. 19002 (YK06 ATV) once:

• In May 2006, ftr 19001 received a 'special edition' allover livery intended as a "moving piece of art". It was designed by Leeds Metropolitan University graphic design student Adam Johnson, whose scheme was chosen from over 50 entries by fashion designer Wayne Hemingway as the £1,000 winner of a competition open to undergraduate students of the creative arts from across the UK. He based his multi-coloured design on the First York bus network map. A red 'Unique York' motif was also applied to the sides near the rear, with ftr and First logos also present, aswell as a credit to the artist on the rear of the vehicle

• In June 2009, ftr 19001 received an allover advertising livery for the York Dungeon tourist attraction in the city, which is on the ftr route. The scheme is an allover black one with a red slogan THE BLOODTHIRSTY VIKINGS ARE BACK applied along the full length of the bus and on the rear window, with just a single white First logo on the forward roofline and on the rear

• In September 2010, ftr 19002 recieved an allover livery as part of a 1 year long advertising campaign for the VisitYork tourist information centre, which was relocated to a new centre on the corner of Blake Street and Museum Street in May 2010, promoting it as a service for all - both locals and tourists. On a base livery of metallic red (with standard purple wing mirrors) promotional messages for the visitor centre and visityork.org website are in white, highlighting local attractions and activities, including a message covering the full rear, which also depicts a Yorkshire Pass card. In addition, large vinyl images of various local attractions are included along the full length of the bus, extending to partially cover the bottom of the side windows. Images on the nearside include York Minster (the west front's twin towers), steam locomotive No. 6229 Duchess of Hamilton (representing the National Railway Museum), trees, York Racecourse and three female musicians. The images on the offside include Vikings (representing the Jorvik Viking Centre), York Minster (the south transept with rose window), the bronze Constantine's Statue, Clifford's Tower, a dining couple, the Yorkshire Museum and the bow of a Viking Longship. A picture of the Information Centre building is also included on both sides, at the very rear.

Leeds

Details

• Partners: Leeds City Council & METRO (the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive)
• Key dates: Official launch 15 August 2007 (commercial service ramped up from 2 vehicles introduced on 3 January 2007, to full service by June)
• Bus operator: First Leeds (First West Yorkshire)
• Depot: Bramley
• Fleet size: 17 (15 + 2 spares)
• Route number: 4 (replacing existing route 4)
• Route length: 13 miles
• Stops: 140
• Infastructure: enhanced stops, junction improvements, traffic priority, clearways, Wellington Road bus lane

The ftr in Leeds runs from Pudsey in the west, into the city, then out again on a north easterly direction to Whinmoor.

Images

• 
  17 April 2007
  at: Leeds station (Wellington Street)
  to: Pudsey
  closeup
• 
  26 April 2007
  at: Pudsey (Low Town road)
  to: Pudsey
  closeup
• 
  10 July 2007
  at: City centre (New Market Street)
  to: Pudsey
• 
  19 April 2008
  at: City centre (New York Street)
  to: Whinmoor
  closeup
• 
  28 September 2008
  at: City centre (Wellington Street)
  to: Pudsey
  closeup
• 
  13 July 2009
  at: Leeds station (New Station Street)
  to: Pudsey
  closeup
• 
  4 May 2010
  at: City centre (New York Street)
  to: Whinmoor
  closeup
• 
  11 June 2010
  at: Seacroft (York Road)
  to: Whinmoor
  closeup
• 
  7 August 2010
  at: City centre (New Market Street)
  to: Pudsey
  closeup
• 
  7 April 2011
  at: Seacroft (Naburn Approach)
  to: Pudsey
  closeup
• 
  14 April 2011
  at: Seacroft (York Road)
  to: Whinmoor
  closeup

Swansea

Details

• Partners: City and County of Swansea Council, with funding from the Welsh Assembly Government's Transport Grant and European Union's Objective One Programme
• Key dates: official launch 16 September 2009 (after test runs in May 2009, commercial operation was ramped up from 1 vehicle introduced on 1 June 2009 up to full strength by early summer)
• Bus operator: First Cymru
• Depot: Ravenhill
• Fleet size: 10 (9 + 1 spare)
• Route number: 4 (replacing existing route 4/4A, and part of 82A)
• Route length: 8.3 miles
• Stops: 54
• Infastructure: enhanced stops, traffic priority, clearways, 2 busways (see #'Busways)

The ftrmetro in Swansea runs from the Singleton Hospital and Swansea University campus in the south west, along the coast around Swansea Bay into the city centre, and then out in a northerly direction following the River Tawe and on to Morriston Hospital.

Busways

In Swansea the ftrmetro runs on two dedicated bus only busways:

• The 'Metro' track in the city centre is a bi-directional red-tarmaced busway which parallels Orchard Street, The Kingsway & West Way, linking the station in the north to the Civic Centre in the south. At the southern end it also has its own dedicated landscaped alignment, which provides a shortcut into the Civic Centre complex's roads. See this image for an aerial view of the West Way end of the busway and part of the Civic Centre alignment. The city centre busway is also used by standard bus services.

• The Landore Express Bus Route is a mile long bi-directional segregated busway to the north of the city centre. Built to bypass congestion on Neath Road and the Dyfatty junctions, it runs in parallel with the railway tracks entering the city from the north into the station, running along their western side. The busway is enclosed by a fence and access is controlled by 8 foot high gates at either end, operated automatically by transponders fitted to the underside of buses. At the southern end near the station it re-enters traffic via Bethesda Street, which is carried by a bridge over New Cut Street 51°37′39.71″N 3°56′22.16″W. At the northern end it re-enters traffic at a junction with Neath Road 51°38′7.95″N 3°56′15.87″W, just south of Bowen Street. The expressway is also used by Park & Ride bus services which run north to the Landore car park site 51°38′23.62″N 3°56′8.18″W via another short section of busway which connects to an underpass 51°38′15.46″N 3°56′13.68″W under the rail tracks.

Images

• 
  19 December 2006
  Kingsway Metro track
• 
  9 July 2009
  at: City centre (The Kingsway)
  to: Morriston Hosp.
  closeup
• 
  9 September 2009
  at: University (Singleton Campus square)
  to: n/a (terminus)
  closeup
• 
  2 October 2009
  at: City centre (West Way)
  to: University
  closeup

Buses

Design features

For the ftr system, Wrightbus developed the StreetCar bodywork, built on elements from Volvo's articulated bus chassis, the B7LA. Distinct from standard buses, the ftr vehicles are longer (18.75m), higher (3.3m), and the driver's position is moved forward over the front axle, allowing the front entrance to be moved behind the front wheels. The turning geometry is different to standard articulated buses due to the altered front wheel position (the vehicle automatically brakes if the angle of articulation is too acute). The power plant is a Volvo D7C engine to Euro-3 emissions specification, with a roof mounted radiator and a compartment fitted with a powder based automatic fire suppression system, following the fires on Mercedes Citaro articulated buses in London. The driveline includes a 6-speed Voith ZF automatic gearbox. The vehicles are air-conditioned, with the equipment mounted in the roof. 85% of an ftr is made from recyclable materials.

To be more in keeping with tram like vehicles, the ftr's are fitted inside with a bulkhead separating the driver's position from passengers, greater internal headroom, deeper & double-glazed tinted windows, and an unobstructed passenger entrance area, unobstructed by the front wheel arches. The doors open outwards and then sideways, rather than the more conventional inwardly folding design. The external bodywork also features wheel spats, fixed coverings over the middle and rear wheels. Large wheel trims were also placed over the steerable front wheels to continue this visual line, but these were later reduced to simple hub caps.

The changes to the front of the bus leads to a much deeper front windscreen, and allows a superior driving position for the driver in his own separate 'cabin' where all he is required to do is drive the vehicle, with his view unobstructed by passengers or the front door (thus in the ftr the driver is called a 'pilot'). Air intakes alongside the front headlights are part of a forced air system for clearing the driver's mirrors of spray. Due to their restricted view of the passenger cabin and the higher likelihood of standing passengers, ftr 'pilots' are instructed to drive the ftr in a tram like manner, with smooth acceleration and braking.

For accessibility the bus features a retractable powered wheelchair ramp fitted beneath the front door. The front of the forward vehicle has a low floor area with priority seating and a space for one wheelchair. The low-floor corridor continues across the articulation joint. The remaining seating in the front vehicle is arranged in the conventional fashion in forward/rear facing rows on a higher floor. In the rear vehicle it is laid out in a 'lounge' style at the low level, inwardly facing and incorporating corner seats. Seating on the York and Leeds system was fitted with a moquette material; Swansea was seated in leather to improve durability. The main interior lighting is concealed & augnmented with LED spot lights.

The vehicles are fitted with automatic vehicle location technology, which is integrated with two internal display screens & speakers to provide next stop information. This is also use for real time service information at stops.

Six CCTV cameras monitor the interior of the bus, four visible and two hidden. Two external CCTV cameras are also fitted to assist the driver, one looking forward, one rearward. The driver has two monitors in the cabin to monitor these external and internal feeds, and which automatically switch to the doors when opened. To also assist drivers in manoeuvring, red waist level lights were added to the rear corners.

Initially in the York system, ftr vehicles featured automated ticketing machines fitted to the rear of the driver's bulkhead, with these intended to be used by passengers by themselves (with 6 ticket inspectors roaming to enforce a £35 penalty fare). After problems with this method, the bulkhead ticket machines were abandoned in favour of using 'customer service hosts' on each vehicle, to issue tickets and assist passengers.

Branding

Designed by Best Impressions, all ftr buses wear a common two tone livery of lilac & purple, separated by a wavy white line running the full length of the bus, sweeping up at the very rear. In terms of other branding elements on the buses paintwork, there are commonalities as well as differences in each ftr system, as follows:

ftr	Main logo & straplineG (behind front wheel)	RooflineG	Rear
York	ftr future travel for York	University • city • Acomb up to every 10 mins R a travel initiative from First f (rear)	www.goftr.com ftr up to every 10 mins Vertical route diagram University city Acomb
Leeds	ftr future travel for Leeds	Pudsey • city • St James's Hospital • Whinmoor up to every 10 mins R a travel initiative from First f (rear)	www.goftr.com ftr up to every 10 mins Vertical route diagram Pudsey city St James's Hospital Whinmoor
SwanseaL	ftrmetro future travel for Swansea	First f F Singleton Hospital • University • City •• Stadium • Morriston Hospital a travel initiative from First f (rear)	www.ftrmetro.com ftrmetro Vertical route diagram Singleton Hospital University City Stadium Morriston Hospital

English: ^G - some buses (example) have operated without any geographic branding - i.e. without the roofline or rear route branding and with the strapline of just "future travel"

^L - in the Swansea system in Wales, the branding is presented in English language on nearside (door side) of the bus, and in the Welsh language on the offside (with both used for the route branding on the rear)

^R - in the York & Leeds systems, the roofline route branding is centred in the middle of the front vehicle's roofline, with the up to every 10 mins line situated on the rear vehicle, directly behind the articulation joint. On the Swansea system, the 10 mins line is dropped in favour of placing the longer route information across both vehicles, centred on the articulation joint.

^F - the larger First name and flying f logo only appears on the front roofline of some of Swansea's buses

Other logos, lettering & identification

All ftr buses also carry First's 'flying f' logo in the front and rear windscreens.

ftr vehicles also carry small logos and/or lettering at the bottom of the side windows denoting the partnership between First and the local authorities. On Leeds buses, there is also a larger red M logo and message referring to the METRO passenger transport authority

On the York and Leeds systems, foot passengers enter by the front door and leave by the rear. In Swansea passengers can board or alight at either door, and so their buses carry the message "please board at front and rear doors" placed above the front door.

The only manufacturers identification on ftr vehicles is a silver StreetCar badge on the rear, below the characteristic W shaped Wrightbus stylistic feature.

The ftr fleet is numbered into First's UK wide 5 digit numbering system, with all ftr's given numbers with the 190 prefix, inside the 1xxxx series which is for articulated buses. The fleetnumbers applied to ftr buses are smaller than on other First vehicles, and can be found in white on the front left above the headlamp, on the rear left at window sill level, and on both sides at window sill height at the extreme rear.

Each ftr operator's legal lettering is applied in the customary place on the nearside at the very bottom of the side panel - on ftr's specifically it is applied behind the rear door as far forward as possible without being obscured when the door leaf is open.

Fleetlist

No.	Reg No.	(former)	ftr	Seats	New on	New to	Image
19000	S90 FTR	YK06 CZN	Swansea	42	2006 (May)	Wrightbus
19001	YK06 AOU		York	42	2006 (May)	First York
19002	YK06 ATV		York	42	2006 (May)	First York
19003	YK06 ATU		York	42	2006 (May)	First York
19004	B7 FTR		York	42	2006 (May)	First York
19005	YK06 ATX		York	42	2006 (May)	First York
19006	OO06 FTR		York	42	2006 (May)	First York
19007	YK06 ATY		York	42	2006 (May)	First York
19008	YK06 ATZ		York	42	2006 (May)	First York
19009	YK06 AUL		York	42	2006 (May)	First York
19010	YK06 AUA		York	42	2006 (May)	First York
19011	YK06 AUC		York	42	2006 (May)	First York
19012N	YJ06 XLR		Leeds	37	2006 (Aug)	First Leeds
19013	YJ06 XLS		Leeds	37	2006 (Aug)	First Leeds
19014	YJ56 EAA		Leeds	37	2006 (Nov)	First Leeds
19015	YJ56 EAC		Leeds	37	2007 (Jan)	First Leeds
19016	YJ56 EAE		Leeds	37	2007 (Jan)	First Leeds
19017	YJ56 EAF		Leeds	37	2007 (Feb)	First Leeds
19018	YJ56 EAG		Leeds	37	2007 (Feb)	First Leeds
19019	YJ07 LVL		Leeds	37	2007 (Apr)	First Leeds
19020	YJ07 LVM		Leeds	37	2007 (Apr)	First Leeds
19021	YJ07 LVN		Leeds	37	2007 (Apr)	First Leeds
19022	YJ07 LVO		Leeds	37	2007 (Apr)	First Leeds
19023	YJ07 LVR		Leeds	37	2007 (Mar)	First Leeds
19024	YJ07 LVS		Leeds	37	2007 (Mar)	First Leeds
19025	YJ07 LVT		Leeds	37	2007 (May)	First Leeds
19026	YJ07 LVU		Leeds	37	2007 (May)	First Leeds
19027	YJ07 LVV		Leeds	37	2007 (May)	First Leeds
19028	YJ07 LVW		Leeds	37	2007 (Jul)	First Leeds
19029	S100 FTR	YJ06 EKT	Swansea	42	2006 (Jul)	First York
19030T	S10 FTR	CU57 AJV	Swansea	42	2008 (Jan)	First Centrewest
19031T	T6 FCC	YJ07 LVX	Luton	37	2007 (Jun)	First Leeds
19032T	S20 FTR	CU57 AJX	Swansea	42	2008 (Jan)	First Centrewest
19033	S80 FTR	YN07 SYJ	Swansea	37	2007 (May)	First Cymru
19034T	S30 FTR	CU57 AJY	Swansea	42	2008 (Jan)	First Centrewest
19035	S40 FTR	CU57 AKG	Swansea	37	2007 (May)	First Cymru
19036N	S50 FTR	CU57 AKJ	Swansea	37	2007 (Oct)	First Cymru
19037	S60 FTR	CU57 AKN	Swansea	37	2007 (Oct)	First Cymru
19038N	S70 FTR	CU57 AKK	Swansea	37	2007 (Oct)	First Cymru

English:

^N - The following buses have also been given names (dislayed on the lower part of the front windscreen):

• 19012 (YJ06 XLR) - Spirit of Leeds, named on the official launch (15 August 2007)
• 19038 (S70 FTR) - City of Swansea, named on the official launch (16 September 2009), to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Swansea gaining city status in 1969
• 19036 (S50 FTR) - Ivor John Allchurch MBE, named on 16 October 2009 after local football hero Ivor Allchurch (1929-1997) on what would have been his 80th birthday, to highlight the role the ftr plays in transporting fans to the Liberty Stadium

^T - see #Luton train2plane.

Images

• 
  ?
  ?
  York
  22 September 2007
• 
  ?
  ?
  Leeds
  10 July 2007
• 
  ?
  ?
  ?
  18 April 2007
• 
  ?
  ?
  Swansea
  9 July 2009
• 
  ?
  ?
  Leeds
  17 April 2007
• 
  19011
  YK06 AUC
  York
  10 August 2006
• 
  ?
  ?
  Leeds
  28 September 2008
• 
  19006
  OO06 FTR
  York
  5 April 2008
• 
  19022
  YJ07 LVO
  Leeds
  26 April 2007
• 
  19004
  B7 FTR
  York
  7 April 2007
• 
  19012
  YJ06 XLR
  Leeds
  7 August 2010
• 
  19018
  YJ56 EAG
  Leeds
  13 July 2009
• 
  19028
  YJ07 LVW
  Leeds
  7 April 2011
• 
  19018
  YJ56 EAG
  Leeds
  14 April 2011
• 
  19020
  YJ07 LVM
  Leeds
  11 June 2010
• 
  19002
  YK06 ATV
  York
  5 October 2008
• 
  19006
  OO06 FTR
  York
  21 October 2010
• 
  19024
  YJ07 LVS
  Leeds
  4 May 2010
• 
  19035
  S40 FTR
  Swansea
  2 October 2009
• 
  ?
  ?
  Leeds
  19 April 2008
• 
  19038
  S70 FTR
  Swansea
  9 September 2009

Luton train2plane

In 2007 Wrightbus were already storing some ftr buses originally meant for Swansea, but unable to be delivered due to delays in the infrastructure projects. In January 2008, as more were delivered, First decided to put 4 of them into use on a new airport-rail link shuttle service in Luton, upgrading and replacing a small NCP operation using 3 minibuses. It linked passengers using Luton Airport to rail services operated by First's rail franchise First Capital Connect (FCC), via nearby Luton Airport Parkway railway station, a 10 minute ride away, on a 10 minute frequency. The link was branded as train2plane, with FCC offering direct London-Luton Airport rail tickets. The buses were delivered in the ftr base livery of two tone lilac/purple with white stripe, but were branded with train2plane and FCC logos and route information. The four buses used were No. 19031 (reg. YJ07 LVX) delivered new to First Leeds in June 2007, and No.s 19030/2/4 (regs. CU57 AJV/X/Y), delivered directly to First's London bus subsidiary First Centrewest in January 2008. As the Swansea ftr system came into operation, 19030/2/4 were transferred to First Cmyru, being re-registered S10/20/30 FTR.

Red train2plane Citaro, 11034 (KR52 ZTN), at Luton Airport

They were replaced in Luton with three 2002 built Mercedes-Benz Citaro G conventional articulated buses transferred from Ireland from First's Dublin airport operation Aircoach (No.s B7/8/9, regs. 02 D 74688/76210/76812), which were given First UK fleet No.s 11033/4/5 and UK regs. KR52 ZSV/TN/SW. These entered service with the same train2plane & FCC branding, but with the red base livery they had with Aircoach. The ftr bus 19031 remained in Luton however, being re-registered T6 FCC, but still wearing the purple train2plane livery. The ex-Dublin buses were also re-registered into this series, as T3/4/5 FCC. These buses were themselves soon replaced with 3 different conventional articulated buses, this time painted in the same purple train2plane scheme used on the remaining ftr. These were 2005 built Volvo B7LA chassis buses with Wright Eclipse Fusion bodywork, transferred from First Somerset & Avon (No.s 10180/1/2, regs. WX55 HWF/G/H). These gained the T3/4/5 FCC registrations, with the ex-Dublin buses reverting to their original UK plates.