New electric bus service to be launched in Dover

The Dover Fastrack bus service will connect Whitfield with Dover town centre and Dover Priory railway station

A new bus service will be launched next month after more than £23million worth of grants were awarded.

The Dover Fastrack bus service will connect Whitfield with Dover town centre and Dover Priory railway station.

Kent County Council said the timetable will join up with the high speed train service to London.

A fleet of five electric buses will be introduced on the route next year, with ultra-low emission buses temporarily used in the meantime.

The new electric buses are supported by the £22.9 million grant from Homes England, a government body which funds affordable homes, and a a £850,000 grant from the Department for Transport’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme.

The service will make use of existing and new roads, as well as dedicated busways.

KCC said construction on the route will begin on 14 October.

Neil Baker, KCC’s cabinet member for transport and highways, said: “Our ambition is to make it easier for people to choose public transport for their journeys before jumping in their car.”

KCC added that Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras will be in operation from the beginning of the service and enforcement action will be taken against any unauthorised vehicles using the bus-only sections of the route.