Liverpool City Region is demonstrating its new rapid ‘Glider’ bus that will provide connections to Liverpool John Lennon Airport and the city’s football stadiums by 2028.
The 18-metre, articulated vehicle can transport around 30% more passengers than a standard double-decker bus.
It also has three sets of double doors to facilitate efficient boarding and alighting, thus reducing the time spent at stops.
The demonstrator vehicle is on loan from Translink in Northern Ireland, where it operates as part of a fleet of 34 Gliders.
Over the next week, it will be on display at various locations throughout the Liverpool City Region.
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region said:The Liverpool City Region is a well-established – and growing – magnet for visitors from around the world with our unique mix of music, culture, hospitality and sport.
Millions of people pass through John Lennon Airport, many of them on their way to Anfield and, in future, to Bramley Moore. But one of the things people always tell me is that they need better links to these important places.
As part of my plans to build a London-style transport system, that is something I am committed to addressing. I was just re-elected on a promise to look at delivering a ‘glider’ style rapid link that will make getting to the airport and the football much faster, more efficient and, above all, a more pleasant travelling experience.
The Glider vehicle will provide a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service to offer fast, direct and reliable transportation at a lower cost than new rail or tram networks.
During its visit, the vehicle will be tested on key routes to assess whether changes need to be made to accommodate the vehicles.
These findings will inform the finalised plans for the new connections. Details of proposed routes and infrastructure will follow later in the year.
Rotheram added:This is the first time the glider will be seen on our streets – but I’ll make sure they’re up and running serving passengers in time for the Euros in 2028.
This is not the end of the story either. I remain committed to building the world class transport system our region deserves. Having a glider doesn’t mean that we won’t one day see a tram or rail station at the airport, but is an outstanding solution that will make an immediate difference to getting people around.
