The South West Regional Development Agency has commissioned a feasibility study to pilot an innovative transport scheme in the West Country.

Two locations have so far been identified for the potential pilot scheme – Swindon and Weston Super Mare. Each town is involved in a key regeneration project and has particular transport problems

The prototype tests of ULTra, which stands for Urban Light Transport have already been completed on a 1km track in Cardiff. Passenger trials have been very successful. The design is now ready to be tested in a full pilot project, and the Rail Inspectorate has given its consent for the public to be carried on the prototype system.

ULTra is an automatically-controlled personal taxi system which runs on a specially-dedicated network. Passengers can request a taxi at a series of points across the city, on a turn-up and go basis. Like taxis, passengers share a cab with family, friends or colleagues, rather than strangers.

The Study will consider where the routes should go, how many passengers they will attract and how much they will cost. The aim is to draw up details to enable a business case to be made for Government support. In the case of Swindon, the study will build on work already undertaken by the New Swindon Company, by providing a more detailed assessment of routes, costs and passenger numbers.

ULTra shares many of the benefits of car transport – privacy and flexibility being just two of the main ones – but has none of the polluting effects associated with car travel. The South West RDA believes the project could be a significant step towards encouraging car users to adopt more environmentally-friendly forms of transport. It is also considerably cheaper than Light Rapid Transport systems to construct and operate.

Studies have shown that in 90 per cent of trips during peak time, a passenger would have a cab waiting for them, compared with 6 minutes for a bus. Out of peak time, vehicles will be available on demand for all passengers. The cabs travel at 25 mph and can go straight to the chosen destination on the network with no stops, thanks to a smart-card system and stations off line like pit stops. This compares favourably with average journey speeds in Outer London of 8.5mph for a car and 5 mph for public transport.

The cabs are designed to accommodate up to 4 people, as well as bicycles and pushchairs. They are also accessible to wheelchair users.

The potential benefits for the environment are enormous. ULTra is powered by electricity, and uses 70 per cent less energy per passenger mile than cars, and would therefore contribute significantly to reducing pollution in our towns and cities. It would also help combat traffic congestion, by linking with existing forms of public transport such as park and ride facilities and train or bus stations.

The results of the feasibility study are expected to be available towards the end of the summer.

The pilot will cover its operating costs, and as a result of the South West RDA's support, plans will be available to guarantee that the pilot scheme would be expanded to create a fully operational transport system. Capital costs for the complete system are around one third of the cost of purchasing a light railway system

The South West has a reputation for pioneering transport solutions: Cornishman Richard Trevithick developed the world's first steam-powered locomotive to haul a load on rails, and Isambard Kingdom Brunel's landmark achievements such as the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the Great Western Railway put the region at the forefront of the latest transport developments of the day.