Fastrack - Route Changes

Route Changes

When Fastrack B began it was divided into five fare zones. These were replaced with the current three zones when Fastrack A began, in order to simplify the fare structure and to ease the introduction of off-vehicle ticket machines.

Prior to the opening of Ebbsfleet International in November 2007, Fastrack B ran through Northfleet. The diversion along Thames Way to the new international rail station, which now offers Eurostar, domestic and High Speed services, added 2 km (1ΒΌ mi) of junction priority and segregated lanes to the network. Northfleet is still served by conventional Arriva routes 480 and 490, running up to every ten minutes.

For the first four months of operation Route A ran on a temporary alignment via Junction 1a of the M25 to link The Bridge, Dartford, development site with Crossways Business Park. From 30 September 2007 it was diverted via a dedicated Fastrack bridge over the Dartford toll plaza and under the QE2 Bridge of the Dartford Crossing. With the opening of this bridge Fastrack A avoids a congestion hotspot, allowing the original six minute peak frequency to be improved to five minutes.

Since 2010 it has been hoped that Everards Link Phase 2 would link Greenhithe railway station with the Ingress Park housing development via a stretch of Fastrack-only busway. However, this extension is currently held up due to subsidence in a key cut-and-cover tunnel threatening historic Ingress Park Lodge.

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