Go-Ahead wins £110m deal to run Fastrack bus service for Kent County Council

By Tom Kilkelly

27 June 2023

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Credit: Go-Ahead

Transport providers The Go-Ahead Group has been granted a 15-year contract worth £110 million by Kent County Council to operate the region's Fastrack bus system.

Go-Ahead will begin operations in November 2024, replacing all buses on the Fastrack networks in the Dartford, Bluewater, Ebbsfleet and Gravesham areas with zero-emission electric vehicles.

The vehicles, Irizar ie Trams, are powered by inverted electric pantograph technology and feature USB chargers, Wifi, braille buttons, luggage racks and real-time passenger information. These vehicles are already in operation on Go-Ahead's south-east London routes.

Chief executive of the Go-Ahead Group Christian Schreyer said: “Kent’s Fastrack network is a fantastic blueprint for the future of bus travel, on dedicated busways away from traffic congestion. Go-Ahead will make this a zero-emission service and will deploy comfortable, modern, state-of-the-art ieTrams to enhance passengers’ journeys.”

The contract means expansion for Go-Ahead. The Group will gain over 100 colleagues through these operations. Go-Ahead intends to use its transport apprenticeship scheme to recruit for Fastrack.

The cabinet member for highways and transport at Kent County Council Cllr David Brazier said: “Our flagship Fastrack Bus Rapid Transit service is a singular tool designed to enable continued economic development and sustainable regeneration in Kent, crucially helping to prevent unacceptable traffic congestion in and around the key traffic interchange, The Dartford Crossing.

“Fastrack’s new zero-emission fleet will further improve air quality and visibly set the trend for local communities and other industries. Through the National Bus Strategy, Kent County Council is working even closer with our bus operators, and it is only through these strong partnerships that we can achieve the bold ambitions that we have set for ourselves. We look forward to welcoming Go-Ahead to Kent.”

By Tom Kilkelly

Tom Kilkelly started working as a freelance journalist for The Business Magazine following his graduation from UCL in 2022.

During his studies Tom became very interested in the works of Irish authors including Samuel Beckett and Flann O'Brien (Brian O'Nolan).

His current role as a freelance business reporter is his first exposure to the world of business journalism. Working at TBM has given Tom the chance to really get to grips with the goings-on in the business hive that is the South East.