Dover Pilot- Registered: 28 Jul 2018
- Posts: 346
One of the business cases for the Fastrack service was to enable people living in Whitfield to commute to London via the highspeed rail. The timetable has been released and the last Fastrack bus on a weekday from Dover Priory will be at 7.20pm. Having previously worked in London and knowing most people do not leave the office before 6pm this is almost impossible to use as a commuting option.
Arthur, Weird Granny Slater and Captain Haddock like this
Karlos- Location: Dover
- Registered: 1 Oct 2012
- Posts: 2,529
Button likes this
Gary39- Registered: 7 Jul 2017
- Posts: 451
I have written to our MP about the cuts... Should be interesting
Arthur- Registered: 18 Nov 2020
- Posts: 438
Timetable is a joke! So much for being able to get home to Whitfield after a night out! The commuter link is laughable if it wasn’t so tragic.
Button
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 22 Jul 2016
- Posts: 3,050
The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away (I've only just caught up with Karlos' post!):
https://news.kent.gov.uk/articles/kent-county-councils-statement-on-dover-fastrack(Not my real name.)
Dover Pilot- Registered: 28 Jul 2018
- Posts: 346
Throwing good money after bad. No wonder KCC are almost bankrupt.
Arthur and Jan Higgins like this
Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,046
' will be extended to coincide with the London high speed timetable in 2025.'
What does that even mean?
Will it connect with the first train up to London at 05.48 and meet the last down at 00.12?
Not everybody works Mon-Fri 9 - 5.
Meanwhile the excellent Deal - Whitfield - Canterbury services are halved with the last bus back to Deal at 18.45.
I know always say that I only went into teaching because I don't like children but didn't know Stagecoach hate passengers quite so much.
Matey and Arthur like this
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,864
Those who use buses to visit the Canterbury theatre will not be happy but taxi companies probably will be.
Arthur likes this
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Arthur- Registered: 18 Nov 2020
- Posts: 438
Well, this was predicted at the outset! I was looking back over information provided at the beginning of this fiasco when the information provided on the display boards during the consultation period said that the service would operate between 6am and midnight .
What on earth is this meant to achieve which will improve life for local residents ? I wasn’t a fan in the beginning and nothing since has happened to change my mind.
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,046
Jan Higgins wrote:Those who use buses to visit the Canterbury theatre will not be happy but taxi companies probably will be.
It's cutting it a bit fine when attending Choral Evensong in the Cathedral. Little time to listen to the Organ Voluntary or chat to clergy and other congregants..
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Karlos- Location: Dover
- Registered: 1 Oct 2012
- Posts: 2,529
Arthur wrote:Well, this was predicted at the outset! I was looking back over information provided at the beginning of this fiasco when the information provided on the display boards during the consultation period said that the service would operate between 6am and midnight .
What on earth is this meant to achieve which will improve life for local residents ? I wasn’t a fan in the beginning and nothing since has happened to change my mind.
Information boards are still online.
https://www.dover.gov.uk/Planning/Regeneration/Fastrack/Fastrack-Public-Exhibition-Boards.pdfButton- Location: Dover
- Registered: 22 Jul 2016
- Posts: 3,050
Captain Haddock wrote:Meanwhile the excellent Deal - Whitfield - Canterbury services are halved with the last bus back to Deal at 18.45.
I wasn't aware that there was a 12 from Canterbury later than 18:45 even now.
(Not my real name.)
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,046
Button wrote:I wasn't aware that there was a 12 from Canterbury later than 18:45 even now.
There isn't. The lack of service continues whilst becoming less regular during the day.
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Karlos- Location: Dover
- Registered: 1 Oct 2012
- Posts: 2,529
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/folkestone/news/why-kent-s-first-zero-emission-route-is-launching-this-wee-315930/
Electric buses in another year's time (maybe).
“It’s really down to how long it takes them to get hold of the electric buses,” he explained.
“They have got them on order and they are due to arrive in summer next year. It's outside of KCC's control.” Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,911
KCC passing the buck again ?????
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Gary39- Registered: 7 Jul 2017
- Posts: 451
Gary39- Registered: 7 Jul 2017
- Posts: 451
Does the above money mean they will restore evening buses and a direct route back to Whitfield from Aycliffe. At present in Jan 2025 it will cost 12 pounds just to get to Dover leisure Centre and to go shopping there
But I think the route will be forgotten
Gary39- Registered: 7 Jul 2017
- Posts: 451
I am going to give up on labour councillors that represent Aycliffe for our ward. this one reply I have had again not willing to help Aycliffe. Pass the buck time:
Good evening Gary,
Of course I am aware about the alteration of bus services. It directly affects me, I do not have the luxury of a car.
Once more Mr Dodds I can simply reiterate the following , roads and public services are provided by the Kent County Council, so might I suggest you contact them, for I am as frustrated as the next person .
Kind regards,
Exactly the same kind of reply: pass the buck for the lorry park
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,046
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
CaptainHaddock
Arthur likes this
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Andy B
- Location: dover
- Registered: 10 Nov 2012
- Posts: 1,813
Should have seen it in Pencester when they shut the road today,absolute confusion,i actually witnessed some poor lady almost get taken out by a car as she didnt know the traffic could turn round n come the other direction and all for what?Do we really need all this,we,re just a small town not a great big city,i suppose this scheme was thought up by someone who dont even live here.Was told its shut for 3 weeks now.