Frequently Asked Questions

Rapid Transit is a type of high-quality, high-capacity public transport generally found in urban areas. Aberdeen Rapid Transit is planned to be a bus-based public transport system designed to have greater capacity and better reliability than an ordinary bus system. Typical bus-based rapid transit systems include; significant sections of road dedicated to buses, priority given to buses at junctions where buses may interact with other traffic, and design features which reduce bus delays, for example a ticketing system which enables people to board buses more quickly.

The vision for ART focuses on delivering a high-quality bus-based public transport system which seeks to deliver joined-up transport services, including connections with other public transport services, with walking and cycling networks, and with car through Park & Ride sites.

The aspiration for ART is to deliver a fast and efficient mode of public transport offering an alternative to car travel.
ART aims to deliver:

• Quicker, more predictable, and dependable journey times
• New or extended bus lanes which reduce the effect of traffic jams on public transport
• Modern bus shelters designed to enhance passengers’ experience including improved safety, comfort and information
• A joined-up transport network providing improved connections across North East Scotland, improving access to jobs and other opportunities.

In the UK, rapid transit systems operate in Belfast (Glider) and Bristol (Metrobus). A rapid transit system is also currently being developed for the West Midlands (Sprint).

Elsewhere in Scotland other city regions are developing their own plans to improve public transport. The ambitions of ART are equal with those, with the proposed solution of ART appropriate to the needs and circumstances of North East Scotland.

Journey times can be made quicker and more predictable through a combination of improvements to infrastructure, vehicles and ticketing:

• Bus priority infrastructure which will help ensure that ART vehicles and other buses are less affected by delays caused by other traffic, e.g. dedicated bus lanes, priority signalling at junctions
• Vehicles which have more doors (enabling passengers to get on and off more quickly) and provide level boarding at stops (which is quicker as well as easier for many people)
• Buying tickets before getting on the bus, or using electronic ticketing, which will mean that buses don’t need to spend as much time at stops.

A report on the routeing analysis was presented at Aberdeen City Council's Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee on 11 June 2024,where it was agreed that the optimum network for delivery at this time is two cross-city routes:

• Blackdog to Kingswells / Westhill
• Craibstone P&R / airport to a new Portlethen Mobility Hub

The vision of two-cross city routes was first set out in the Regional Transport Strategy which identified four key radial corridors connecting three existing and one proposed park and ride sites. These corridors align with the region’s identified Strategic Development Corridors and provide the greatest opportunity to deliver segregated bus priority and encourage mode shift away from car.

More detailed analysis of these routes was undertaken using the ASAM19 regional transport model which tested a number of different routeing options within these four broad corridors. The results of this testing, along with engagement with bus operators and elected members and engagement with the public on bus priority options through the multi-modal corridor studies, has informed a recommendation on the desired network.

ART routes have been selected to provide continuous cross-city links, with opportunities to connect with other services at various locations including in the city centre and at the ends of the routes.

Existing bus services will also benefit from being able to use the ART infrastructure resulting in faster and more reliable journey times for all services on these corridors and in the city centre.

Existing bus services will also benefit from being able to use the ART infrastructure resulting in faster and more reliable journey times for all services on these corridors and in the city centre.

Further work will be carried out to identify any other changes that could help optimise the overall public transport network in the region.

This has yet to be decided. The vehicle we are using for the demo is one example of a tram-like vehicle, with similar features to what previous feedback has highlighted as important to future users.

This is a demonstration to help us test and engage on a future vehicle type. The final vehicle type and supplier have not been selected with any future decisions informed by the outcomes of the Business Case, preferred delivery model and funding.

This particular vehicle, the Irizar ie tram is used by a number of operators across Europe for similar style rapid transit systems, including in Belgium, France and Spain.

Closer to home, you will find the vehicle at Dublin Airport and will soon be at London Gatwick Airport.

The Glider system in Belfast also uses an articulated tram-style vehicle too, but the Glider vehicles are produced by Belgian manufacturer Van Hool.

At this stage, the project is still being developed and assessed through the Outline Business Case. This stage helps us to identify the best option for delivering ART, confirms that it offers good value for money, and checks that it can be funded and delivered successfully. It also sets out how the project would be managed and how services would be provided, helping decision-makers move forward with confidence.

What happens next will depend on outcomes of the Outline Business Case, Committee decisions and funding availability.

What happens next will depend on outcomes of the Outline Business Case, Committee decisions and funding availability.

Current work is focused on evidence gathering, design development and engagement.

Accessibility is a key part of the ART project. You will be able to board the demonstration vehicle with either step-free or level access.

The vehicle’s internal low floor and arrangement of the seats means that passengers have room to move around while on board and allows passengers to enter and exit the vehicle smoothly at one of three sets of doors.

We plan for improvements to facilities for people walking, wheeling and cycling to take place at the same time as ART is delivered. But there will be locations where there isn’t enough space to deliver high quality facilities for both ART and active travel, and detailed work will be required to identify the best solutions.

ART is being developed alongside the City Centre Masterplan which considers pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users in the city centre.

In addition, ART vehicles should enable carriage of wheelchairs, buggies and bicycles, with easy boarding.

The aspiration for ART is to provide bus services which are faster, more reliable, accessible, affordable, comfortable and easy to use.

ART vehicles will be high capacity and have low emissions. The aspiration is for high frequency, express services which can complete with car journey times.

We aspire for there to be new ART stops, offering better facilities than most bus stops and enabling step-free boarding onto vehicles. ART stops might be further apart than normal bus stops, to help ART services operate quicker.

Vehicles are expected to have more doors than ordinary buses, with ticketing systems that don’t rely on the driver, so that passengers can get on and off ART vehicles quicker, meaning vehicles spend less time at stops.

£12 million was awarded to the North East Bus Alliance from Transport Scotland's Bus Partnership Fund for delivery of the early stages of the project.

£2 million of this funding was used for the development of a business case, identification of different options, and development of designs for ART.

The remaining £10 million was used to deliver improvements to South College Street and implement city centre bus priority on Bridge Street, Guild Street and Market Street. These improvements are delivering existing benefits for bus passengers and will facilitate the delivery of ART in the future.

From April 2024, funding for the continued development of the ART business case has been secured through the Aberdeen City Region Deal. 

ART was identified in the Regional Transport Strategy as one of the projects that provides the right solutions for north east's transport issues.  It has also been recognised in Transport Scotland’s Second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) and the Scottish Government’s fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).  We feel ART is realistic, deliverable and affordable, and will support local and regional priorities.

Nestrans continues to work to secure mechanisms to deliver all the projects listed in the Regional Transport Strategy.

A period of public engagement took place from 30 September until 7 November 2025. We also conducted some additional Market Research which asked the same questions. You can read about the results here.

You can join our mailing list to be kept up to date on ART progress and future ways to get involved.