Kent County Council has marked 20 years of its Fastrack bus rapid transit concept, which celebrated that milestone on 26 March amid projected record patronage for the network in 2026.
That day in 2006 saw the opening Fastrack bus depart on route B between Gravesend and Temple Hill via Dartford and Bluewater shopping centre. In its first week, Fastrack exceeded expectations and carried over 23,000 passengers.
Little over a year later came creation of service A between Dartford and Bluewater via a different route. Since then, the Fastrack network has further expanded on Kent Thameside, where seven routes now operate with the servicing of new developments in the area prominent.
Beyond that, Fastrack was expanded to Dover in 2024, where new development is also key to its service area. Stagecoach delivers the service in that town. On Kent Thameside, Go-Ahead is the operator, with Arriva and Go Coach having previously been represented.
On ridership trends, Kent County Council says that for the first full year of Fastrack routes A and B on Thameside, 1.75 million passenger trips were delivered against a forecast of 1.1 million. In 2025, the combined Fastrack network recorded 2.88 million journeys, while in 2026, ridership is expected to pass three million for the first time.
While the opening Fastrack fleet included Volvo B7RLE buses with Wrightbus bodies, it has subsequently evolved, first to Euro VI diesel vehicles and now towards zero-emission. Irizar ie tram battery-electrics have been purchased for the Thameside network, while in Dover, Volvo BZL examples are in use.
The local authority says that sustainability has long been keen to Fastrack. It was developed to enable sustainable growth in areas experiencing heavy traffic congestion, with dedicated bus lanes, signal priority and a focus on reliability offering “a viable alternative to car travel for local journeys,” the council adds.
“This has helped to unlock major housing and commercial developments, including Ebbsfleet Garden City and Whitfield, by supporting a higher share of local trips than a typical bus service,” the local authority continues.
Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport Peter Osborne says that Fastrack has grown into “a public transport success story” in its 20-year history.
“The distinctive buses have carried millions of people, helped new communities to find their feet, eased congestion, and supported the growth of our towns. We are proud of how far the service has come, and we hope that residents will continue to enjoy and make the most of Fastrack for many years to come.”
Various events will be held in 2026 to mark the 20-year anniversary of the bus rapid transit project in Kent.
