Go-Coach launches Darts in Dartford

Praise

Even though the services had only been running for four days at the time of the launch, Austin had already received a number of e-mails and comments from passengers congratulating him on the new Darts. It seems they have proved an instant hit with bus users, despite an initial difficulty of flooding on Bob Dunn Way in the town causing traffic build up and consequently slowing the buses down. The drivers worked their way through this disruption though, providing the best service they could in these unfortunate conditions.

A considerable amount of attention was generated by Go-Coach's Dennis Dart on display in Dartford town centre

A considerable amount of attention was generated by Go-Coach’s Dennis Dart on display in Dartford town centre

Understandably pleased with the new Darts, Austin is confident and positive about the future of not only these new routes, but bus operations throughout the area. ‘There are a lot of opportunities for operators to take advantage of in Dartford’, he claims, with developments taking place throughout the town that could call for bus links. He gave the example of a large factory that had closed in the region. The site it occupied is going to be a massive housing development, with around 10,000 homes being built along with accompanying shops and amenities. It is going to be a huge undertaking realised over a ten year period. The Arriva operated Fastrack service currently runs around the outskirts of this area and may well be serving it once complete. Austin sees the potential of running new Dart services in and around this development, providing feeder routes to other transport links further afield and into the town centre.

Providing links to the wider transport network is part of the thinking behind the Darts, according to Austin. Darts 1 and 2 take residents from estates that previously had not benefited from a regular bus service to not only the local amenities, but London buses, Fastrack services and the railway station.

Last word

Austin sees working in partnership with Councils and local authorities, such as he has done with Kent in this latest development, as important for the future of smaller operators. He said, ‘Having a background in engineering means that when I came into operating a few years ago, I brought a fresh perspective. Working with Councils is so important if we want to prosper and I don’t see it in a lot of other smaller operators.’ With the first signs of success already being noticed for the Dart services, it would seem there is some truth in what he is saying about partnership working.

By Chris Peat

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