Fastrack shortlisted for four UK bus awards

Fastrack, the bus rapid transit (BRT) system in North Kent has been shortlisted for four categories at the UK Bus Awards, just two months after receiving the top prize in the bus category at the National Transport Awards.

The UK Bus Awards is the original public transport awards scheme. It provides an annual opportunity to recognise and reward those delivering attractive and effective public transport. Open to bus operators, local authorities and industry suppliers, Fastrack was entered into four different categories – ‘Infrastructure’, ‘Innovation’, ‘Street Transit’, and ‘Winning New Customers’. In an announcement today, the organisers have placed Fastrack amongst the finalists in all four of the categories entered.

Announcing the shortlisted finalists at a UK Bus Awards seminar in Birmingham this afternoon, Ian Smith, Executive Director, UK Bus Awards said: “The purpose of the UK Bus Awards is to identify excellence and best practice in bus-based public transport. This means that each shortlisted project is recognised as being one of the best in the UK, and so is therefore already a winner!”

Following a further period of judging the winners of each category will be announced at the awards ceremony in London on 7 November.

Fastrack Project Manager David George said: “This is fantastic news, yet further recognition of how innovative and important Fastrack is both locally and as a national example of best practice. It is also very encouraging to the whole project team who have worked so hard over many years, including Kent County Council and our wider partners. We look forward with anticipation to November!”

Arriva, operator of the Fastrack service, is also delighted. Kevin Hawkins, Commercial Director with Arriva Southern Counties commented: “Feedback from our customers and staff since Fastrack’s launch in March 2006, consistently showing how successful it has become, has of course greatly pleased us. But this recognition is especially welcome, coming as it does from our peers in the bus industry. We, too, look forward to November.”

The nominations today are testament of the success the Fastrack team has had over the past year. Fastrack has a key role to play in the regeneration and development of Kent Thameside. Exceeding patronage estimates from the outset, Fastrack has now carried over 2.75 million passengers. Surveys after six months of operation showed that 19% of passengers had switched from using a car – a very encouraging early success for a system designed to be a credible alternative to the car for local journeys.

Two Fastrack services are now operating – Route A and Route B. Route A, launched earlier this year and serving the innovative Bridge Development to the north of Dartford, has been partially operating on a temporary alignment. However, a new £8.6m bridge over the M25, designed solely for Fastrack and funded by developer ProLogis, is now complete and Route A services will run across it from 30 September. And Fastrack services will also serve the new Ebbsfleet International Station when Eurostar services commence from Ebbsfleet on 19 November this year.

For general information on Fastrack please visit: www.go-fastrack.co.uk.