IT'S been hailed as the future of transport. Today, people in York got the chance to try out the new ftr "superbus" for themselves, as it went into service carrying passengers for the first time anywhere in the UK.

Council and transport chiefs declared that the ftr service could soon be expanded to many additional parts of the city.

The ftr, short for future, arrived on the No 4 University of York to Acomb route, with City of York Council leader Steve Galloway saying the vehicle was bound to be a success.

With comfortable seating, the ability to use a mobile phone to pay for tickets and information points dotted around the city, the vehicle has been chosen to run on the No 4 route because it is York's fastest growing bus route.

Ten of the £300,000 vehicles arrived last night, and were put straight to work today picking up passengers.

Coun Galloway said ftr had been made possible by the council's great relationship with bus operator First, which has pioneered the new vehicle.

York is the first place in the country to have ftr, and the vehicle is expected to be rolled out across the country in the coming years.

Jonathan May, managing director of First York, said the company had already identified new ftr routes across the city.

"We are working with members and officers at the council to take the project forward, and as long as we continue to get benefits in journey times and priority (then it will move forward)," he said.

"ftr is much bigger than just a vehicle. We have invested properly and City of York Council has put its money where its mouth is and delivered improved journey times in such a sport space of time. The strength of partnership is evident and there is no doubt it is going to be a huge success."

Coun Galloway said: "ftr brings the most modern public transport system that's available - certainly in this city and possibly in the world.

"Our expectation is that it will be attractive to people who currently choose to drive into the city centre and we hope it will reduce car journeys by about ten per cent. That has to be in the best interests of the city as a whole.

"I believe it will be a huge success, and I hope this is just the start."

Updated: 09:18 Monday, May 08, 2006