Fastrack Kent Thameside

Dartford and Gravesham form an area called Kent Thameside. This has huge development potential, which will bring up 50,000 new jobs and 25,000 new homes over the next 15 to 25 years. But this amount of development cannot happen if everyone uses a car for local journeys.

So a real alternative is needed, which is why a high quality, attractive public transport system is essential as part of the redevelopment of the area.

Fastrack is already making a real difference to Kent Thameside. Positioned in the hierarchy of public transport between the railway service and current bus services, Fastrack will ultimately connect nearly all of the major existing and new developments in Dartford and Gravesham with core express routes on which only Fastrack services will be allowed to run. Alongside enhanced bus services, Fastrack already provides the frequent, reliable high quality service that ensures people can ‘get around’ – to work, to school, to play – even to London and the continent!

Flexibility is a watchword for Fastrack. An area facing such growth across a relatively large area and long period demands a transport system that can grow with time. As a bus-based system Fastrack has that flexibility built in, yet at the same time offers the reliability and attractiveness of a modern tram. Fastrack has dedicated busways protected by ANPR and traffic signal priority which speed up journeys and make them more reliable and attractive to local people.  

By ensuring people will be able to get around, Fastrack is the driving force behind regeneration in Kent Thameside! Fastrack has been operating in the Thameside region since 2006, and now accounts for over 2.5 million journeys per annum.

Kent County Council plays a major role in the development and operation of the Fastrack Network because of its status as the local transport authority for the area. However, this work is aided by our external partners and Kent’s borough and district councils who play a major role in the development of the network as they can provide key information which helps KCC to plan and execute both new and existing Fastrack routes.

However, this work is aided by our external partners and Kent’s borough and district councils who play a major role in the development of the network as they can provide key information which helps KCC to plan and execute both new and existing Fastrack routes. KCC also draws on the expertise of the private sector to achieve this goal. This expertise can range from design works, construction, assistance with public consultations, maintenance and monitoring the network, and providing transport models to assess the areas which require a Fastrack route. Fastrack is also supported by several central government bodies such as the Department for Transport and the Ministry for Housing, Communities, and local government.

For service information, as well as further information on exciting improvements we are currently working on, please click the links below: