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Post by sid on Sept 19, 2017 20:36:37 GMT
I assume they use that alternative route without any penalty from TfL given there are no intermediate stops. In the future that flexibility disappears given the need to serve the hospital. While access to Fastrack will help with reliability I do wonder if a more "fixed" route may bring other reliability concerns for Stagecoach. I've not used Fastrack so don't know if there are height restrictions on the "B" route but it's noteworthy that the busway isn't being used west of Gore Road. It is not possible for double deckers to run on this section? I can see the people on Park Road Dartford wondering why they can't get on the nice "every 8 minutes" 96 bus when Arriva only bother to provide the "hourly if you are lucky" 423 bus into Dartford and to New Ash Green. Some, I guess, can walk round to The Brent where they have more choice but I do wonder what goes through Arriva's head with the planning of some of its bus routes. Perhaps everyone in Dartford just uses cars? Ages since I've been there so don't know what it's like these days. Fastrack B has no height restrictions between Temple Hill and Greenhithe Station. I think the section from Dartford to Princes Rd may be OK towards Bluewater, but other way, the 96's would have a tricky left turn onto Market Street, whereas the B's go straight on to Home Gardens. London Road residents are used to the non stop 96 , they have the x20min 480 , x30min 492 and an hourly 455 Mon-Sat daytimes. Park Road, only has a couple of poorly positioned bus stops, and I've never seen anyone waiting there. The 423 relies on the Fleet Estate , Darenth Hill and New Ash Green residents for its custom. It is quite rare to see a 96 using the Park Road route. Dartforrd as a town has a very strong mini cab trade. Phones in all the shopping centres, and from what I've seen, most have figured out a family of three with shopping from Temple Hill to Dartford is cheaper by mini cab , if not, certainly very convenient There's certainly no height restriction anywhere on the fastrack network. I can only assume that the stopping arrangements for the 96 at DVH means it will have to use fastrack until it rejoins Princes Road and so can no longer use Watling Street? I also can't recall ever seeing anybody use the bus stops in Park Road and I've never seen a 96 go that way although obviously there is no reason why they can't. I did see a suggestion on social media that the 96 should also stop at the Livingstone Hospital on East Hill although I can't see that being practical, it's only a small hospital. I suspect the strong mini cab trade in Dartford is largely down to the rather poor bus services, even fastrack doesn't seem to be run very well, certainly the similar fastway network in Crawley seems a lot better.
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Post by snoggle on Sept 19, 2017 20:44:06 GMT
Just for clarification my comments about Park Road were only made because the map in the consultation shows the 96 running that way in future. It will not serve Watling St at all. Ditto my queries about height restrictions on Fastrack given that I find it odd that the 96 is not exploiting the entire Fastrack infrastructure from Dartford to Bluewater via DVH. I can only assume partial use is deemed the "acceptable" compromise for KCC and Arriva.
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Post by Paul on Oct 6, 2017 19:18:35 GMT
The consultation on this seems somewhat superfluous
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Post by stuckonthe486 on Oct 25, 2017 17:51:10 GMT
"Of the 107 responses we received, 67 per cent supported our proposals to improve route 96. There were 10 per cent of respondents who did not support them and 23 per cent chose not to answer this question. "We are working closely with Kent County Council to finalise things and hope that buses will begin using the new route along the Fastrack network, serving Darent Valley Hospital from late November 2017. " Consultation report and issues raised now up. consultations.tfl.gov.uk/buses/route-96/
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Post by vjaska on Oct 25, 2017 19:54:48 GMT
"Of the 107 responses we received, 67 per cent supported our proposals to improve route 96. There were 10 per cent of respondents who did not support them and 23 per cent chose not to answer this question. "We are working closely with Kent County Council to finalise things and hope that buses will begin using the new route along the Fastrack network, serving Darent Valley Hospital from late November 2017. " Consultation report and issues raised now up. consultations.tfl.gov.uk/buses/route-96/I notice that the 428 may be considered to use the Fastrack lanes in the system. Also interesting was the response to a point raised about why the 96 can’t use all of the Fastrack lanes from Dartford to Bluewater.
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Post by DT 11 on Oct 25, 2017 20:20:03 GMT
"Of the 107 responses we received, 67 per cent supported our proposals to improve route 96. There were 10 per cent of respondents who did not support them and 23 per cent chose not to answer this question. "We are working closely with Kent County Council to finalise things and hope that buses will begin using the new route along the Fastrack network, serving Darent Valley Hospital from late November 2017. " Consultation report and issues raised now up. consultations.tfl.gov.uk/buses/route-96/I notice that the 428 may be considered to use the Fastrack lanes in the system. Also interesting was the response to a point raised about why the 96 can’t use all of the Fastrack lanes from Dartford to Bluewater. I had a feeling the 428 would possibly be considered as well. I am not too keen about the 96 using Park Road. When Dartford is messed up Park Road can be gridlock. Wouldn't surprise me if 96s get turned at Darent Valley Hospital when delayed. Avoiding Watling Street is a good thing because whenever the A2 is bad then so is Watling Street which can add severe delays to the 428.
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Post by sid on Nov 4, 2017 10:40:06 GMT
I notice that the 428 may be considered to use the Fastrack lanes in the system. Also interesting was the response to a point raised about why the 96 can’t use all of the Fastrack lanes from Dartford to Bluewater. I had a feeling the 428 would possibly be considered as well. I am not too keen about the 96 using Park Road. When Dartford is messed up Park Road can be gridlock. Wouldn't surprise me if 96s get turned at Darent Valley Hospital when delayed. Avoiding Watling Street is a good thing because whenever the A2 is bad then so is Watling Street which can add severe delays to the 428. I agree about the 96 using Park Road, I don't see why it can't continue to use it's current route between DVH and Dartford. I think all buses should use the slope in and out of Bluewater.
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Post by Dillon95 on Nov 30, 2017 9:08:43 GMT
Well Woolwich's spider map has been updated to include the change. The rest haven't yet.
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Post by DT 11 on Dec 10, 2017 17:26:40 GMT
Stated on www.londonbusroutes.net96 Re-routed between Bluewater and Dartford via Fastrack busway, stopping at Darent Valley Hospital. (091217)¶ 16 Dec 17
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2017 21:12:41 GMT
Travelled from Woolwich to Bluewater late this afternoon.
The revised routeing resulted in a much delayed journey because of heavy traffic on the M25 which resulted in gridlocked roundabouts.
Took over 2 hours.
Return trip was better although the M25 was still slow moving.
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