| Fastrack | |
|---|---|
 | |
 AnIrizar ie tram on Kent Thameside Fastrack route A | |
| Overview | |
| Locale | Kent Thameside Dover |
| Transit type | Bus rapid transit |
| Number of lines | 7 |
| Website | www.kent-fastrack.co.uk |
| Operation | |
| Began operation | 26 March 2006; 19 years ago (2006-03-26) (Kent Thameside) 17 November 2024; 12 months ago (2024-11-17) (Dover) |
| Operator(s) | Go-Ahead London Stagecoach South East |
Fastrack is the name given to twobus rapid transit schemes inKent. The original network began on 26 March 2006 inDartford andGravesend, part of theThames Gateway regeneration area, and on 17 November 2024 a separate network was launched inDover.
Fastrack aims to improve bus services inKent Thameside andDover, supportingredevelopment in the areas it serves and connecting major new and existing developments.[1] As abus rapid transit system, Fastrack is positioned in the public transport hierarchy between existingrailways and other local bus services and is intended to deliver the capacity and speed ofrail transit with the lower costs, simplicity and flexibility of abus system.[1]
The network includes variousbus priority measures in order to improve journey times and reliability by reducing the impact of traffic congestion on services.[1][2] These include segregatedbus lanes on which only Fastrack buses are allowed to run andpriority at traffic lights to allow buses to bypass congestion.[3][2]
Construction work on the Fastrack network inKent Thameside began on 23 September 2004.[4] The network commenced operations on 26 March 2006 with the introduction of Fastrack B betweenTemple Hill andGravesend.[5][6]
On 3 June 2007, Fastrack A commenced operations in order to serve the new development atThe Bridge inDartford.[7] The route is part-funded byPrologis, the developers ofThe Bridge.
From 19 November 2007 following the opening ofEbbsfleet International railway station, Fastrack B was diverted to serve the station in order to connect withEurostar andSoutheasternHigh Speed services.[8]
Following the completion of the Everards Link Phase 2 on 10 December 2012, Fastrack B was rerouted via a new section of busway linkingIngress Park withGreenhithe railway station.[9] Fastrack B began serving the whole of the Ingress Park development from 2 September 2018.[10]
From 2 August 2020 following the opening of theSpringhead Bridge, Fastrack B was rerouted between Ebbsfleet International railway station and Gravesend to serve the newSpringhead Park development.[11][12]
On 23 August 2021, Fastrack AZ commenced operations in order to serve theAmazonLCY3 distribution centre in Dartford.[13] The route was initially operated byGo-Coach but transferred toArriva Southern Counties on 3 April 2022 with Fastrack A being modified to serve the LCY3 distribution centre at the same time.[14]
In June 2023, it was announced thatGo-Ahead London had been awarded a 15 year contract to operate the Kent Thameside network, starting in November 2024.[15] On 10 November 2024, the Kent Thameside network was taken over by Go-Ahead London.[16][17] On the same day, Fastrack E commenced operations, initially running fromGravesend toCastle Hill in order to serve the Castle Hill andCable Wharf developments.[18]
From 16 August 2025, following the opening of the Whitecliffe busway, Fastrack E was extended to serveBluewater.[19]
Construction work on the Fastrack system inDover began in February 2023 and infrastructure works were completed in Summer 2024.[2]
The system was launched on 17 November 2024. Route D runs between Dover andWhitfield and is now operated byStagecoach South East.[20]
The current Fastrack network in Kent Thameside is formed of six routes, all operated byGo-Ahead London.[21]
Fastrack A operates betweenDartford station andBluewater Shopping Centre viaTemple Hill,The Bridge,AmazonLCY3,Stone Crossing station andGreenhithe station. It operates every 15 minutes daily.[22]
Fastrack AZ operates betweenDartford station andGravesend station viaTemple Hill,The Bridge,AmazonLCY3,Stone Crossing station,Greenhithe station andEbbsfleet International station. It operates during shift changeover times at the LCY3 distribution centre only.[23]
Fastrack B operates betweenTemple Hill andGravesend station viaDartford station,Princes Park,Darent Valley Hospital,Bluewater Shopping Centre,Ebbsfleet International station andSpringhead Park. It operates every 12 minutes daily.[24]
Fastrack E operates betweenBluewater Shopping Centre andGravesend station viaCastle Hill,Ebbsfleet International station andCable Wharf. It operates every 30 minutes daily.[25]
Fastrack F operates betweenBluewater Shopping Centre andIngress Park viaGreenhithe station. It operates every 12 minutes daily.[26]
Fastrack N operates betweenAmazonLCY3 andGravesend station viaThe Bridge,Temple Hill,Dartford station,Princes Park,Darent Valley Hospital,Bluewater Shopping Centre,Ebbsfleet International station andSpringhead Park. It operates hourly overnight only.[27]
The current Fastrack network in Dover is formed of one route, operated byStagecoach South East.[28]
Fastrack D operates betweenDover Priory station andWhitfield viaDover town centre andDover Castle. It operates every 20 minutes on weekdays and Saturdays, and hourly on Sundays.
The vehicles used on the Fastrack routes are tagged in order to allow them to use the variousbus priority measures across the network. This allows them to enter segregatedbus lanes and changetraffic light sequences to give the buses priority over other vehicles.[29]
The buses are also marketed with a number of features to improve travel experience, including free WiFi, USB charging points and next stop announcements.[15][30]
Between 21 March and 9 May 2018, the firstelectric bus was introduced to the Fastrack network inKent Thameside network as part of a trial period.[31]
Following the takeover of theKent Thameside network byGo-Ahead London and the introduction of theDover service between 10 and 17 November 2024, Fastrack is planned to be the first fully electric bus network inKent, with the first new electric buses entering service during 30 April 2025.[15][32]
Media related toFastrack at Wikimedia Commons
