The post you are reporting:
Q and A
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Dear Mr Pout,
I am writing to you as the DDC Traffic Supremo and the interface between me (the consumer) and 'public transport' in the knowledge that if I write to KCC or Stagecoach or the Dept of Transport they will each claim it is nothing to do with them.
I have always been less than supportive of the Dover Fastrack (especially with £16.1m from a funding programme designed to help stimulate new housing development!) but nevertheless thought I'd give it a go today - in spite of the fact that its thrice hourly service is operated by diesel buses, there being no sign of the promised 'green' electric buses, or indeed their charging infrastructure.
Indeed, having seen that a 'paperwhite display' style board showing imminent arrivals and destinations in real time put up at the Tesco bus-stop, much like the rest of the country now enjoys, and Europe has had for decades, I thought local public transport was finally taking on a touch of modernity. More fool me!
Arriving on the Stagecoach 12 service from Deal at the bus-stop outside Tesco I alighted and looked at the indicator board.
There was no sign of the Fastrack bus nor any information or direction signage.
Nobody at the stop knew anything about it. Eventually a bus driver told me that if I crossed the petrol station forecourt and the road exit from Tesco and then the entrance to the car-park and crossed the new road I'd be able to see the stop 'up the road'.
Having found the stop I then tried using the Stagecoach App on my 'phone to find the next bus. Unfortunately the App 'does not recognise' the location.
I took the next bus to Dover Priory which was OK if you like empty diesel buses but somewhat marred as he 'wasn't going to Pencester' as they were digging up the road.
Talking to various Stagecoach personnel during the day apparently.
1. The new buses can't go to the Tesco Stop as the corner is too tight for them! Really?
(Leaving anyone at Whitfield having to cross busy roads to change services with no idea when at a bus-stop, if the 'other' service is leaving first).
2. Apparently the 'real time' information board at Tesco has been paid for by the store and there are no plans to introduce such things at Canterbury Bus Station, Deal South Street or Pencester Road or other 'busy' places as 'the council' don't give Stagecoach enough money! AND it doesn't cover Fastrack since Fastrack doesn't stop there!
I would be grateful to know why we have not got a half-useful transport interchange between Tesco-Whitfield buses and the Fastrack? (Someone is going to get killed crossing roads between the two. Why can't the new buses go round corners?)
Also why are live-time indicator boards not being introduced as in the rest of the country? Not all of us have smart phone and those that do often have no signal (see Canterbury Bus Station).
Best wishes
Captain Haddock (retd)
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Dear Captain
I am writing in response to your email enquiry dated 18 November 2024 regarding the
Tesco stop and the Real Time Information screens.
Regarding your comments on Dover Fastrack not serving Tesco, I can confirm that
Fastrack services do connect to Tesco via the stops at Honeywood parkways. The 67-
shuttle service is designed to serve the people of Whitfield by connecting them to
Tesco where they will then be able to access Dover Fastrack services. I will also note
that residents will be able to cross the road using the assistance of the crossing island
outside of the stop.
Furthermore, and regarding your point on the electrification of Fastrack, the decision to
use low emission buses from the opening of the network was made due to the time
constraints of the scheme and was not a decision which we took lightly. Kent Fastrack
is designed to ensure innovations like electric vehicles can be used without significant
delays to the services which ultimately get residents from point A to point B. With this in
mind, the temporary use of low emission vehicles was taken to ensure that the
residents that rely on the service are able to access it on the day, rather than delay the
start date of the service.
Kent County Council (KCC) is still very keen on electrifying Dover Fastrack in the new
year. Kent is currently working to install chargers at sites such as Dover Priory Train
Station to prepare for the arrival of the electric vehicles in Dover. The construction on
these chargers should commence in February which will have a five-week construction
window. Electric Vehicles will then be present on the network shortly after this.
Regarding your comments on the RTI screens, KCC has placed RTI screens in areas
such as Tesco to assist residents with planning their journeys. The decision to install
the RTI display was taken in partnership with Stagecoach and was included as part of
the scheme's original budget and programme. KCC are monitoring public sentiment
regarding this and is open to installing additional displays in the future. I noted in your
comments that the RTI screen at the Tesco Extra has not been showing stop
information for Fastrack D services. I will raise this with my colleagues to see if this can
be investigated further.
Finally, regarding your comments on additional RTI displays in areas such as
Canterbury bus station, the Fastrack team had an agreement with Dover district council
to deliver the service, including elements such as the RTI screens. In order for us to
install displays at locations in Canterbury, KCC will need to reach an agreement with
Canterbury City Council to deliver this. Currently, no agreement of this nature is in
place. This being said, Fastrack is keen to expand its operations, and Canterbury is an
area which we have considered. We will continue to assess the viability of a Fastrack
project in the area and will make an announcement if this gets approved.
I hope this has addressed some of your concerns with the Fastrack D service.
Yours sincerely
Neil Baker
Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport