Going Ahead with Fastrack

10th November saw the “Fastrack” services in the Dartford area of Kent transfer from Arriva to Go Ahead. Watton’s Wanderings was there a week or so later to sample the new operation.

This poster appeared at various Bus Stops along the Fastrack routes to advertise the revised network.

Increased Evening and Sunday services were a feature of the changes and are highlighted here.

Background

Go Ahead assumed control of the Fastrack network from Arriva and Go-Coach on 10th November, with buses operating out of a new base at Dartford, coded FT. After a plan to use Mercedes Benz Citaros cascaded from TfL routes 108 and 358 fell through, a collection of Enviro 200s was amassed instead, comprising mainly SEs from other garages plus some MMC versions formerly with Sullivan Buses and recoded SEN. In addition, a couple of Volvo B7RLEs (6003/13) were hired from Metrobus, Crawley, with a quartet of Citaros also acquired that were formerly with APCOA on Luton Airport car park shuttles, coded MEC70-73. The allocation is intended to be temporary, until new Irizar ie tram buses enter service in Spring 2025.

Fastrack A: Bluewater - Dartford

I began my rides at a chilly Bluewater Bus Station at the end of the morning peak, where I awaited the next departure on Fastrack A to Dartford. This route is the same as it was with Arriva but now runs every 12 mins Daily and every 30 mins Overnight, representing a big increase on the previous Evening and Sunday frequencies of 20-30 mins.

However, there seemed to be some delay in the service, as I saw SEN65 departing as I arrived, with SE125 behind it, a bus that had served at Putney (AF) and Merton (AL) earlier in the year. I was the only one boarding the latter and we left just 6 mins after the previous bus - more or less on time. Out of the shopping centre and up to Greenhithe Station, where we picked up a few passengers. Then round via the business park area with a short section of “Bus Only” road under the Dartford QE2 Bridge, just after which we caught up with the previous bus which was caught at temporary traffic lights due to roadworks, no doubt the cause of the late running.

After dropping a couple at Amazon, we returned over the double run section to resume our journey via the Temple Hill estate, where we swapped the industrial nature of the route for housing. Arrival at Dartford Home Gardens, near to the Station, was after a trip of just under half an hour. We had overtaken SEN65 by this time, which pulled in behind us and then had to reverse off the stand to depart on its next trip, being first in the sequence!

SE125 on Fastrack A at Dartford Home Gardens.

Nudging in behind is SEN65, formerly AE19 with Sullivans and before that 8861 wih Abellio. Pending the introduction of new Irizar ie tram buses in Spring 2025, a collection of Enviro200s has been gathered to start the routes off with Go Ahead.

Fastrack C: Dartford - Temple Hill - Dartford (Circular)

Crossing the road by the footbridge, I switched my attention to Route C, which is a new service under Go Ahead, although is really the former Dartford - Temple Hill section of Route B renumbered. Indeed, buses generally interwork between the two routes at Dartford, switching from B to C and vice versa, so no real change to the operation. This route now runs every 15 mins Daily, except early mornings and late evenings when it is every 30 mins.

SE95 was the next to arrive on an inbound B, a bus previously at Silvertown (SI) and Bexleyheath (BX) Garages. The driver changed the route letter to C after some difficulty with the blinds. Some passengers were clearly confused by the change and were asking the driver exactly where the C went!

With a few on board, we were soon off on this “frying pan” route, which operates via Temple Hill, Trevithick Drive, Henderson Drive, Littlebrook Manor Way and Temple Hill again back to Dartford. A one way loop serving housing estates and taking just 15 mins for the trip.

SE95 on Fastrack C at Dartford Home Gardens.

Route C is a new one taking over the Temple Hill section of Route B under Arriva, although buses generally interwork between the B & C at Dartford.

Fastrack B: Dartford - Gravesend

Remaining on the same vehicle at Dartford Home Gardens, we switched to Route B for a trip to Gravesend, departing after a 5 min pause. We departed Dartford via the “Bus Only” road reserved for Fastrack, before switching to the Bus Lane beside the main road to Darent Valley Hospital. After this, we descended the Fastrack road to Bluewater Shopping Centre.

From here, we continued to Greenhithe Station and then through the Ingress Park area of new housing. However, from that point to Ebbsfleet, a long diversion is in place due to the collapse of the road on the direct route at Swanscombe some 18 months ago, which is still awaiting repair. The bus loops back past Bluewater again and along the Motorway one junction before arriving at Ebbsfleet International Station from the south, which adds considerably to the journey, especially at times of congestion.

From Ebbsfleet, normal service was resumed and we continued via new housing in Springhead Park and Perry Street into Gravesend. Arrival was after a trip of just on 1 hour from the start.

SEN59 on Fastrack B at Gravesend Garrick Street, formerly AE20 with Sullivan Buses. Not a vehicle I travelled on, but illustrates the type.

This was one of the batch previously used on the W9 until Sullivans gave up their TfL work.

SE147 on Fastrack E at Gravesend Garrick Street.

This route was previously operated by Go-Coach and is a temporary one, with the A intended to be extended to cover it in 2025.

Fastrack E: Dartford - Castle Hill (and back)

After a short break, I resumed my rides with a trip on Route E, which has passed from Go-Coach to Go Ahead. Operating between Gravesend and Whitecliffe (Castle Hill), it is intended to be a temporary service, as the plan is to extend Route A over it in Autumn 2025. Buses run every 30 mins M-S daytimes, 60 mins Evenings & Sundays. Certain journeys interwork with Route B at Gravesend.

I had SE147, a vehicle that served at Merton (AL) and Orpington (MB) before transferring to FT. It had a malfunctioning number blind, so that the display was stuck between routes E and AZ. This seemed to be the quietest of the Fastrack routes and we departed Gravesend via a different route from the B, along the river frontage to serve a business and retail park plus new housing. At Perry Street, we joined up with the B to Ebbsfleet International Station. After this, it was uphill to Whitecliffe and the Castle Hill Estate, terminating at a bus turning circle where the current development ends.

After a short layover, we returned via the reverse of the outward route to Gravesend, just 20 mins running time each way on this service.

Not one I rode, but SE137 on Fastrack B at Gravesend Garrick Street illustrates the nearside view.

Note the screen showing the next departures and the Remembrance Poppy on the nearside wing mirror.

Fastrack B: Gravesend - Dartford

Back at Gravesend, it was time to return to Dartford on the B. The service frequency is now every 15 mins Daily, like the A representing an evening and Sunday increase from every 20-30 mins. Hours of operation are extended too, the route running from 0430 - 0130 M-S and 0600 - 2400 Sun.

SE147, which I had just ridden on the E, switched routes to the B and left first, but I caught the next departure, formed by SE97, a bus previously at River Road (RR) and Silvertown (SI). Just after leaving town, at Overcliffe, we caught up with SE147 in front, which had apparently broken down with a mechanical fault, as the driver transferred his passengers to us.

We then continued with a full load to Ebbsfleet and then around the long Motorway detour to Ingress Park, Greenhithe and Bluewater. From this point, with the dedicated bus roads and bus lanes in force, it was a quick run via Darent Valley Hospital back to Dartford. Another 1 hour run end to end.

6013 at Bluewater Shopping Centre on the B is one of a pair of Volvo B7RLEs on loan from Metrobus, Crawley, for Fastrack operation.

In addition, there are four Mercedes Benz Citaros, MEC70-73, formerly with APCOA at Luton Airport on car park shuttle services.

Fastrack A: Dartford - Bluewater

To finish, it was back to Bluewater on Route A, this time aboard SEN65, an Enviro200 MMC formerly with Sullivan’s as AE19 on TfL work in North London and prior to that as 8861 with Abellio in West London. We departed with a few passengers via Temple Hill to Amazon, where no-one alighted or boarded. The driver did his best to keep to time, despite the temporary lights in the industrial area delaying proceedings.

Then, on the dual carriageway section approaching Greenhithe, we were delayed by a procession of around 20 geese crossing the road from a roundabout to a nearby pond. A few choice unrepeatable phrases from the driver ensued! Eventually, after serving Greenhithe Station, we made it back to Bluewater after a run of just over half an hour. On alighting, I noted Metrobus VolvoB7RLE fleet no 6013 on the B to Gravesend, one of only two of the type at FT.

My overall impression of the new Fastrack was of a reasonable operation, but clearly with operational challenges due to roadworks and road closures causing delays and diversions. The use of secondhand buses is not ideal but acceptable as a short term stopgap until the new Irizars come on stream.

The one route I did not sample was the Fastrack AZ, which is a special route serving Amazon in two separate sections, Dartford to Amazon and Amazon to Gravesend. There are just a handful of journeys, operating early mornings and early evenings only to coincide with working shift patterns.

However, hopefully I will be able to visit again next year after the new buses have entered service and the intended route changes have been made. One for the diary!