FTR (bus)

FTR

A First York FTR bus in York on route 4
Slogan	"The future of travel"
Parent	FirstGroup
Founded	2006
Headquarters	Aberdeen, Scotland
Service area	Leeds
Service type	Bus rapid transit
Fuel type	Diesel
Operator	First Cymru First Northampton First West Yorkshire First York
Website	www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/

FTR is a British rapid-transit bus system, currently in operation in Leeds and formerly in Luton, Swansea and York. FirstGroup introduced the system, using 39 Wright StreetCar articulated buses in conjunction with infrastructure upgrades by local authorities. The vehicles were branded as "the future of travel", the operators claiming that ftr is Abjadic textspeak for the word future.

The FTR concept is made up of a bundle of simultaneously introduced innovations relating to the vehicle type, its configuration, the fare collection arrangements, consequent changes to infrastructure, and an integrated data-handling system for voice radio, vehicle location, real-time passenger information, on-board displays, vehicle diagnostics, and ticket machine data.

Each 'StreetCar' vehicle had a separate driver (or "pilot") compartment, resembling to some extent similar designs in continental Europe. Otherwise the vehicle itself is a modified conventional bus, with styling similar to contemporary trams and trolleybuses and a greater distance between axles to maximise the low-floor area for easily accessible seating. The vehicles are air-conditioned and have tinted windows to enhance the on-board ambience along with ergonomic seating. On-board information is provided using an "infotainment" screen which displays the next FTR stop (in a similar fashion to Transport for London's i-Bus system) and information related to that stop including local attractions/facilities and connecting bus/train routes. The screen also displays advertisements for local businesses.

A major difference between FTR and conventional bus services is the method of fare collection. In York, this initially involved purchase of cash fares from a self-service ticket machine or from a conductor, because the design of FTR allows no contact between driver and passengers. This was intended to reduce journey times but problems with ticketing machines resulted in their withdrawal. On the FTR route 4 in Leeds, all passengers bought tickets from, or showed bus passes and permits to, the conductor.