Daventry PRT scheme to go ahead at Heathrow

Daventry District residents will be able to see first hand a pioneering public transport link at London’s Heathrow Terminal Five as part of a European-wide project.

Members of the public advisory panel that recently worked with Daventry District Council on exploring options for Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) have been invited to visit the new ULTra PRT system that links one of the airport’s public car park to the new terminal.

The trip, which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, July 28, is funded by the Council’s involvement in the European NICHES+ project, which promotes innovative measures for making urban transport more efficient and sustainable. On July 14 district councillors and representatives of other local public sector bodies within Northamptonshire will also visit the Heathrow link as part of the NICHES+ scheme.

In late 2008, Daventry was designated a ‘champion city’ of the NICHES+ project, alongside other towns including Burgos in Spain, Trondheim in Norway and Cork in Ireland. The project, which aims to move innovative transport from its current ‘niche’ position into the mainstream, is due for completion in spring next year. Early next year all champion cities will host a series of conferences to discuss the lessons learned from NICHES+ as well as transport innovation in a wider context. Daventry is expected to host its conference in February, although the details have yet to be finalised.

PRT is one of the alternative transport methods being explored by Daventry District Council as part of its proposals to create a greener, more sustainable travel network in Daventry. Other methods also being looked at include Group Rapid Transit, a system of automated ‘cyberbuses’, already in operation in Rivium in The Netherlands and Morgantown, USA.

Daventry District Council Executive Director Ian Vincent said: “With PRT among the innovative transport methods that the Council has been exploring for Daventry, the NICHES+ visits to Heathrow should give us a real insight into how the system works in practice.

“Members of the PRT Public Advisory Panel and other interested parties will be shown around the system by experts from ULTra and, depending on testing schedules, may also be able to ride on the PRT. Although panel meetings are not currently being held, we have been grateful for their input and felt the Heathrow visit would be of interest to them.

“While the details have yet to be finalised, Daventry is likely to host its NICHES+ conference on February 9 next. It will be the second time in three years that the town has found itself at the centre of the international stage for transport innovation. This helps raise the area’s profile and encourage inward investment and job creation.”

For more information about NICHES+, visit www.niches-transport.org.