Bus operator of Dartford Fastrack services to change this weekend
This weekend will Dartford Fastrack bus services transfer from current operator Arriva to Go-Ahead in advance of new electric vehicles.
A new website has been created highlighting a number of changes to tickets.
Taking a leaf out of TfL’s book (as well as numerous cities abroad) is a new hopper ticket allowing changes within an hour for £3.
The downside of that is through-tickets from Fastrack route A to B changing at Greenhithe have been scrapped.
Existing single fares are capped at £2 but government increased that by 50 per cent at the Budget in 2025 to £3 – so we’ll see what levels they rise to. As a flagship service supported by Kent County Council they may not jump straight up to £3.
I’d expect Arriva’s tickets on other non-Fastrack bus services in the area to do so however, which is hardly ideal in traffic clogged Dartford and surrounds. Many new developments are also being built in this area of north Kent, and most have much ample car parking.
In addition train fares through Dartford, Stone, Greenhithe to the Medway towns will rise above inflation next year due to Department for Transport policy, so it’s unlikely traffic issues in Kent will improve anytime soon.
Day tickets on Fastrack will be priced at £6.20 for adults and £4.70 for children aged 5-16. Will that get people out of cars?
On the plus side, there’s cheaper tickets after 7pm. The website states:
“If you’re travelling after 7pm, you can travel on all Fastrack buses all evening and in to the wee hours for just £3 for an adult, or £6 for a family (either one adult and up to four children, or two adults and up to three children).”
Buses also run overnight.
Vehicles
New vehicles are on the way with a total of 28 electric buses are on the way and due to arrive in 2025.
It’s the buses that are pretending to be trams. I always look at these and see bad early 1990s car prototypes at motorshows.
As for now, Go-Ahead will use old buses in the short term. I must say it’s the first time I’ve heard “pre-loved” used to describe old buses.
Transfer takes place from tomorrow (Sunday 10 November) and new buses are set to begin in a few months.
The buses would like better if the glass panels below the main windows are filled iin for privacy and to make the buses safer for passengers..
This new singke decker busex are also to be introduced on to route 358 between Orpington and Crystal Palace operated by Go Ahead London Metrobus
These buses look very futuristic and modern. They somehow look a bit out of place compared to more conventional buses. We are used to seeing in and around London.
To me however, Fast Track means high frequency routes of about every 8 to 10 minutes throughout the day. So basically turn up at a bus stop and board a bus with in a few minutes.
It will be goid to see them in passenger service soon.
I agree we need improved bus services with services more frequent along witb the new buses on the Fast Track services in the Dartford area. The same applies to bus services operated by Transport For London. We have seen to many cuts to bus services in Greater London since 2015 with some major routes axed. Services curtailed and frequencies cut.