Kent County Council will make a transformation in public transportation using zero-emission electric Fastrack buses across the Kent Thameside network. This is a huge project that falls under the continued ambitions for KCC to reduce carbon emissions and make public transport sustainable. Twenty-eight e-buses will be in operation by April 2025, plying the routes in both Dartford and Gravesham and thus helping to lead to more clean energy solutions in the region
The new electric buses will be equivalent to a sliced 1,300 tonnes of CO2 per year. Such a reduction also falls into the larger plan by the KCC to continue offering residents greener and more reliable ways of travel. Shifting towards electric buses is an important move to make public transportation sustainable and, in turn, is hoped to raise service quality to passengers.
To further the operations of these electric buses, KCC has put in place charging infrastructure at strategic points. Charging points will be installed at such facilities as Gravesend Bus Station and at Dartford Acacia Hall by the end of the month. At least this will ensure the electric buses could at least provide smooth and reliable service along the routes. Apart from plug-in charging—the standard variety—wireless charging capability will be built into the buses to thus add to the efficiency and convenience of the system.
These new electric buses represent one element of a far broader 15-year contract between KCC and Go-Ahead London for Go-Ahead to operate the Fastrack services in both Dartford and Gravesham. This wider collaboration is important for the long-term sustainability of public transportation in North Kent and focuses on creating improved connectivity between communities with less harmful impact from travel.
The new buses are customer-led, and therefore there is a host of features that will meet with approval. Among them are better lighting for comfort and improved accessibility that will benefit everybody, but especially those with mobility problems. It makes the public transport offer more appealing to residents and a growing number now view the bus network, and in particular the Fastrack fleet, as a true alternative.
The switch to electric buses in Kent Thameside is not only going to be a transformational initiative in Dartford and Gravesham. Five more e-buses will join the new Dover Fastrack network in the initiative. In this way, the extended electric bus coverage across the region consolidates KCC’s commitment to lowering the carbon footprint of public transport across Kent.
KCC sees the new zero-emission electric buses on the Fastrack network as reaching a very large milestone toward sustainable, reliable public transport throughout Kent. These are going to be leading the way in Kent and will actively work on the environmental impact of transportation by the benefit of appropriate charging infrastructure and features that make passengers’ lives easier. With the full deployment of 28 electric buses by April 2025, the full Dartford and Gravesham route shall be electrified, making it cleaner and greener for the region through times ahead.
[Source: This story is based on a press release from Kent County Council.].