Sillienss At Swanley (3)

Who Did What And When?

10 Question that Must be Asked!

There is no doubt that Arriva was quick to announce the withdrawal from the 477 as soon as the change was registered with The Traffic Commissioners. The last day will be Saturday 25th October.

The intruder is GoCoach (the company) a k a GoBus (the brand) ...

... sotarted operating over part of the Arriva route from 1st September. This means that the service would have been registered sometime in late June.

Question 1 - Did Go Coach get wind of Arriva's decision to abandon the service?  Or did the yellow company read the signs, as in yesterday's blog, signs of decay and lack of commitment; then did they decide to give Arriva a push towards 477 annihilation?

There was no sign of a negative attitude to Arriva on their publicity for the new service.

Exactly the opposite, in fact, with publicity for new 477 being particularly chummy.

Question 2 - Did Arriva actually warn GoCoach of their intentions and, effectively, invite them to step in. This would be "collusion" and thus illegal - but, of course it happens. When fbb was at the fringes of the bus industry they were called "pub meetings", whereby the two (or more} parties would just happen to meet in a pub where ill-advised conversations might, possibly, unfortunately, embarrassingly just happen.

Whoops, deary me!

Question 3 - How come Arriva justified its withdrawal by referring to GoBus "competition" when the newcomer had barely set tyre on the road! 

When Arriva posted their comment ...

Additionally, the introduction of a competing service on the Swanley to Dartford section of the route by another operator from 1 September has significantly impacted the commercial viability of continuing the route. 

... Go Bus had barely started and certainly would have made little immediate impact of Arriva's cash till.

Question 4 - Why is Go Bus not interested in local passengers between Swanley and Dartford. Here is a map which shows Arriva's service unchallenged between Swanley and Orpington.

Arriva would continue to run the RED bit unchallenged and carry local passengers on the "shared" section.. 

And here is Go Coach's very unusual fares policy appplicable between Swanley and Dartford.

Three quid for, say, three stops to the shops? Even by today's standards that is a bii pricey.

Question 5 - why didn't Go Coach run at least hourly between Swanley and Orpington? Was the yellow bus lot hoping to get a bit of Kent County Council money to run the full route?

Even Roger French though this was likely until GoAhead went ahead with their new service.

Following Arriva’s recent decision to withdraw Route 477, an essential transport link between Orpington and Dartford, Go-Ahead Group will step in to serve local communities under the new brand name ‘Kent Country’, ensuring that no one along the route is left without access to vital bus services.

The closure, announced in early September, would have left residents without access to important destinations, including schools and places of work. Kent Country will ensure that the local community continues to have reliable connections to these key locations along the route.

Kent Country will operate from the Fastrack depot, providing continuity for customers. Services under the new operator will begin on 26 October 2025.

Isobel Hedley-Jones, Head of Fastrack ... 

... said: “We recognise the vital role this route plays in connecting people to essential destinations, and we are committed to supporting the community through this transition. The introduction of Kent Country will provide a seamless handover and a dependable service for passengers who rely on this route every day.”

Readers may remember that GoAhead snaffled the Fastrack contract from Arriva.

Laura Trott MBE, MP for Sevenoaks, Swanley and the Dartford Villages ...

... said: “I am delighted that, subsequent to my campaign, Go-Ahead will be taking over the Arriva 477 bus route in full from the end of October. This is brilliant news for residents – especially in Crockenhill – who were facing the prospect of being left without any public transport at all. I am extremely grateful to Go-Ahead for stepping in, and I look forward to working closely with them going forward.”

MPs, like policemen, are looking younger and younger!

Readers may remember that Laura claimed personal credit for saving the Arriva 477 extension to Darent Valley Hospital a while back! 

It did not survive!

Question 6 - how come GoAhead have managed to register their new 477 AND create a new brand in less than the normal registration period? This is possible with the backing of the Council but it might also have been because GoAhead "heard" that Arriva was withdrawing.

Question 7 - The new brand (Kent Country) looks very much like GoAhead preparing the ground for major expansion into what remains of Arriva's "territory" Will we see more Kent Country very soon?

GoAhead has yet to publish a timetable. fbb has asked for one, but, so far, with no response.

He awaits details with excitement.

BUT! Roger French has informed the chubby one that he believes GoAhead will be running their 477 commercially, not seeking any Council cash. So ...

Question 8 - have GoAhead "counted the cost" of taking on a moribund route from Arriva? AND ...

Question 9 - How will Go Coach fare with GoAhead as a far more savvy competitor than Arriva?

Which leads us to ...

Question 10 - Why are there no pictures of Go Coach 477 on line?

Tomorrow, we look at Go Coach (and/or Bus) and their route 477.

Whoops forgot! Roger has ridden the new 477, reported thereon and taken some nice pictures of his journey.

Very smart vehicles!

 Next Swanley Silliness blog : Thurs 18 Sept