Could you imagine a public transport system where driverless cabs would be taken you and your friends and family around Cardiff? Well, back in 2002, the capital was looking to the future in a bid to help its chances of becoming the European Capital of Culture in 2008.
A test track for the planned new transport system - created by Professor Martin Lowson of Bristol University - was launched at Cardiff Bay in the first public airing of the prototype vehicles and the specially-built track measuring nearly 1km, both on the ground and elevated.
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Then Cardiff deputy mayor Christine Priday said: "This will have enormous benefits for the travelling public and give Cardiff something totally unique. Successful cities innovate and position themselves at the forefront of developments in technology and knowledge."
Mrs Priday said the ULTra (Urban Light Transport) system would complement the other aspects of Cardiff's bid to become the European Capital of Culture. "I think it will be an extra string to our bow in bidding for the title, " she added.
ULTra was developed by Professor Lowson, who previously worked on the moon landing space programme. If the project was given final approval it would have been the first of its kind in the world. The team behind the system, who were based in Bristol, wanted to test passenger reactions to the taxis, which could carry up to four people in small automated pods and operated along specially-constructed tracks.
Cardiff council was understood to be very keen on using a driverless taxi scheme to tackle its transport problems. Speaking in 2003, a spokesperson for Cardiff council said it was looking at various types of what it calls “Personal Rapid Transport Systems”, including the ULTra.
The transport, which could cost as little as £1 a ride, could provide a valuable link between Cardiff Bay and the city centre. But critics said the £45m price tag was too expensive, and the system would not be able to cope with large numbers of passengers. Chris Cook, a director of Advance Transport Systems, the team behind ULTra, said the trials had gone better than expected.
However, as we all know, the lack of a monorail shows that the idea never came to fruition, mainly due to the cost involved. Love nostalgia? Have the best articles emailed to you for free with our nostalgia newsletter. Click here to see all the Wales Online newsletters.
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