Fastrack (bus)
{{Short description|Bus Rapid Transit network in Kent, England}}
{{About|the bus rapid transit scheme in Kent|the electronic toll-collection system in California|FasTrak|the light rail and commuter rail project in Denver, Colorado|FasTracks|other uses|Fast Track (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox Public transit
| name = Fastrack
| image = Fastrack-logo-withbg.png
| image2 = Fastrack IE33 Close up.jpg
| caption2 = Go-Ahead London Fastrack Irizar ie Tram bus at Greenhithe railway station on 30 April 2025
| locale = Kent Thameside
Dover
| transit_type = Bus rapid transit
| began_operation = {{Start date and age|2006|03|26|df=yes}}
| lines =
| vehicles = 28 Irizar ie Trams (Thameside)
15 Alexander Dennis Enviro200s (Thameside)
12 Mercedes-Benz Citaro O530 (Thameside)
6 Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMCs (Thameside)
5 Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMCs (Dover)
| stations =
| operator = Go-Ahead London
Stagecoach South East
| map =
| map_state =
| website = [https://www.go-fastrack.co.uk/ www.go-fastrack.co.uk]
[https://www.kent-fastrack.co.uk/ www.kent-fastrack.co.uk]
}}
Fastrack is the name given to two bus rapid transit schemes in Kent. The original network began on 26 March 2006 in Dartford and Gravesend, part of the Thames Gateway regeneration area, and on 17 November 2024 a separate network was launched in Dover.
History
=Kent Thameside=
Construction work on the Fastrack network in Kent Thameside began on 23 September 2004.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/3685036.stm|title=Work starts on new Buslink scheme|date=23 September 2004|work=BBC News|access-date=6 November 2020}} The network commenced operations on 26 March 2006 with the introduction of Fastrack B between Temple Hill and Gravesend.{{cite web|title=Fastrack bus service open for use|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4845404.stm|publisher=BBC|accessdate=17 August 2014|date=26 March 2006}}{{cite news |last=Booth |first=Gavin |date=25 April 2006 |title=Fastrack flight test |url=http://www.busandcoach.com/featureStory.aspx?id=743 |url-status=dead |work=Bus & Coach Professional |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060504222557/http://www.busandcoach.com/featureStory.aspx?id=743 |archive-date=4 May 2006 |access-date=6 April 2023}}
On 3 June 2007, Fastrack A commenced operations in order to serve the new development at The Bridge in Dartford.[http://www.thebridgecommunity.co.uk/index_87.htm Community Website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304100143/http://www.thebridgecommunity.co.uk/index_87.htm |date=4 March 2016 }} The route is part-funded by Prologis, the developers of The Bridge.
From 19 November 2007 following the opening of Ebbsfleet International railway station, Fastrack B was diverted to serve the station in order to connect with Eurostar and Southeastern High Speed services.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/kent/content/articles/2007/01/17/thames_gateway_facts_ebbsfleet_station_feature.shtml|title=Thames Gateway Facts: Ebbsfleet Station|work=BBC|access-date=21 October 2024}}
Following the completion of the Everards Link Phase 2 on 10 December 2012, Fastrack B was rerouted via a new section of busway linking Ingress Park with Greenhithe railway station.{{cite web|title=New Dartford to Gravesend Fastrack bus is 'life line' for residents|url=http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/10104164.New_Dartford_to_Gravesend_Fastrack_bus_is__life_line__for_residents/|publisher=Newshopper|accessdate=17 August 2014|date=12 December 2012}} Fastrack B began serving the whole of the Ingress Park development from 2 September 2018.[https://www.gravesendreporter.co.uk/news/arriva-changes-1-5663050 Changes to Arriva bus services] The Reporter August 2018
From 2 August 2020 following the opening of the Springhead Bridge, Fastrack B was rerouted between Ebbsfleet International railway station and Gravesend to serve the new Springhead Park development.{{cite web|url= https://cdn1-originals.webdamdb.com/13953_110328695?cache=1598617403&response-content-disposition=inline;filename%253DJ12962%20Fastrack%20map%20AW.pdf&response-content-type=application/pdf&Policy=eyJTdGF0ZW1lbnQiOlt7IlJlc291cmNlIjoiaHR0cCo6Ly9jZG4xLW9yaWdpbmFscy53ZWJkYW1kYi5jb20vMTM5NTNfMTEwMzI4Njk1P2NhY2hlPTE1OTg2MTc0MDMmcmVzcG9uc2UtY29udGVudC1kaXNwb3NpdGlvbj1pbmxpbmU7ZmlsZW5hbWUlMjUzREoxMjk2MiUyMEZhc3RyYWNrJTIwbWFwJTIwQVcucGRmJnJlc3BvbnNlLWNvbnRlbnQtdHlwZT1hcHBsaWNhdGlvbi9wZGYiLCJDb25kaXRpb24iOnsiRGF0ZUxlc3NUaGFuIjp7IkFXUzpFcG9jaFRpbWUiOjIxNDc0MTQ0MDB9fX1dfQ__&Signature=nDOIu6-FL7c~gSGnfW-uuAPnRk~DJdgk9MjFutRjNTJHpzNmldmTkDuj1FfwTFEcRlyuBGMPufQf72khUlaxjlalqTqQepxurpWVqReJYJBaIc2vUgNYShzB4aY4LXqy6NMUGhLjZoPvVoUV8jZzXssiNImyEHlctwrVTIj62p-qv3ZqK8C7udV-L-UbZfegUx57ygxf05xIit2vgdYJdUb1VJ2Vtm1LaGoOYueQ4uIiwQb7MQZho1Zl~agv7iyz2qQJqu2Lnz0mtr5ag7eoTbXzx7BmuHa2~GBcYvNLRnHWrChcGMvLcZmgdzmPf3w20YJXKB0X1IrXXcZCckMRCg__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAI2ASI2IOLRFF2RHA|title= Fastrack Network Map, August 2020|work= Arriva Southern Counties}}{{cite web|url= https://www.kentonline.co.uk/dartford/news/new-bus-route-after-16m-bridge-opening-233341/|title= Arriva Fastrack service re-routed to include Springhead Park at Ebbsfleet Garden City after £16m bridge opening|work= Kent Online, September 2020|date= 7 September 2020}}
On 23 August 2021, Fastrack AZ commenced operations in order to serve the Amazon LCY3 distribution centre in Dartford.{{cite web|url=https://www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2021/08/23/new-24-hour-bus-route-launched-to-serve-amazons-vast-dartford-distribution-depot/|title=New 24 hour bus route launched to serve Amazon's vast Dartford distribution depot|date=23 August 2021 |access-date=23 August 2021}} The route was initially operated by Go-Coach but transferred to Arriva Southern Counties on 3 April 2022 with Fastrack A being modified to serve the LCY3 distribution centre at the same time.{{cite web|url=https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/latest-news/northfleet-april-2022-network-changes|title=Northfleet April 2022 Network Changes|work=Arriva Southern Counties|access-date=21 July 2022}}
=Dover=
Construction work on the Fastrack system in Dover began in February 2023 and infrastructure works were completed in Summer 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.kent.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/road-projects/in-progress-road-projects/dover-fastrack-bus-lane#tab-3|title=Dover Fastrack|work=Kent County Council|access-date=18 October 2024}}
The system was launched on 17 November 2024. Route D runs between Dover and Whitfield and is now operated by Stagecoach South East.{{cite web|url=https://news.kent.gov.uk/articles/dover-fastrack-to-launch-in-november|title=Dover Fastrack to launch in November|work=Kent County Council|access-date=18 October 2024}}
Current routes
File:Fastrack Vector Map.png Fastrack network showing all stops served]]
The current Fastrack network is formed of six routes, five operated by Go-Ahead London, and one operated by Stagecoach South East.{{cite web|url=https://images-fastrackkentthameside.passenger-website.com/2024-10/Dartford%20Map%20V4.pdf|title=Fastrack Network Map|work=Go-Ahead London|access-date=12 November 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.amazonaws.com/RouteMaps/South%20East/Kent/Dover%20Network%20Map%20171124%20MM.pdf|title=Dover town bus network map|work=Stagecoach South East|access-date=29 December 2024}}
Route C{{Cite web |title=C - Gravesend to Dartford and Temple Hill |url=https://www.kent-fastrack.co.uk/services/LGEN/C |access-date=2025-05-30 |website=www.kent-fastrack.co.uk |language=en}}, was a shuttle between Temple Hill and Dartford, linked with B, but it was removed and merged with B, it was merged to "...deliver faster journeys on Fastrack to Temple Hill and [to] improve journey times between Temple Hill and Princes Road [Darent Valley Hospital] by reducing the time services wait at Home Gardens"{{Cite web |title=Service Changes - April 2025 |url=https://www.kent-fastrack.co.uk/network-changes-april-2025 |access-date=2025-05-30 |website=www.kent-fastrack.co.uk |language=en}}
Vehicles
File:Fastrack_IE33_Interior.jpg
File:GoAheadFastrackE200.jpg at Gravesend Bus Hub in November 2024]]
From 21 March to 9 May 2018, Fastrack took part in a trial scheme which saw an additional hourly journey made by an electric Volvo 7900e, with a main charging point installed in the form of a generator at the front of Greenhithe station allowing the bus to fully charge inside six minutes.[https://www.kent.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/travelling-around-kent/bus-travel/electric-bus-trial Electric bus trial, kent.gov.uk]
On 4 August 2019, Arriva Kent Thameside retained the contract to operate the Fastrack B service. As part of this, the 14 Wright StreetLites on the route were replaced with newer Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC vehicles transferred from the Medway area which were refurbished to Fastrack specification. 7 of the Wright StreetLites continued to operate on Fastrack A.[https://www.communityad.co.uk/arriva-wins-contract-fastrack-b-service-13th-year/ Arriva wins contract for Fastrack B service for 13th year] CommunityAd August 2019
Between 23 August 2021 and 3 April 2022, whilst the Fastrack AZ service was operated by Go-Coach, a total of eight Alexander Dennis Enviro400 vehicles worked on the service. When this route was transferred to Arriva Kent Thameside, the Alexander Dennis Enviro400 vehicles were withdrawn and three additional Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC worked on the AZ service.
On 10 November 2024, Go-Ahead London took over the Fastrack network in Kent Thameside, which uses diesel and electric buses, specifically Alexander Dennis Enviro200, Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC, Mercedes-Benz Citaro, and Irizar ie tram vehicles (since 30 April 2025).
See also
- List of guided busways and BRT systems in the United Kingdom
- Crawley Fastway, a similar-sized guided system
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category-inline|Fastrack (bus)|Fastrack}}
- [http://www.go-fastrack.co.uk/ Fastrack website (Dover)]
- [https://www.kent-fastrack.co.uk/ Fastrack website (Kent Thameside)]
{{UK busway}}
Category:Guided busways and BRT systems in the United Kingdom