Photographers are advised: Kent Karrier

[Chris]

Informed sources advise the Kent Karrier network has recently been retendered, with operation moving from Compaid to a selection of local operators. 

Whilst small minibuses may not be everyone's cup of tea, and the majority of vehicles are supplied by Kent County Council so will move to the new operators, anyone wishing to record them with Compaid is advised to do so before the end of the month. 

We hope to carry details of the new situation, along with some background information, in the July Invicta. (For which the reporting deadline is Tuesday!)

Chris

[DerekJ]

Thanks Chris.  Changeover date will be 25th July so just three weeks left of Compaid operation (they gave notice to surrender the contract back in the spring so KCC re-tendered at fairly short notice and awards were confirmed a month ago with the standstill period for wider comment having just expired on 29th June).

The contract is being split into five area schemes amongst four operators - because of the short notice, for the first few weeks during the school summer holidays there will be interim arrangements using a mix of the new operators' existing vehicles and some transferred over on a temporary basis by KCC from Compaid, and there are also four brand new Mercedes-Benz minibuses on the way, expected to be split between three of the four operators, and some other more recent KCC stock due to be transferred permanently from Compaid.

The new operators, all starting on 25th July, are expected to be:

Ashford  - Ashford Minibuses (AMB Travel)

Canterbury & Dover - Regent, Whitstable

Maidstone - Nu-Venture, Aylesford

Swale - Chalkwell, Sittingbourne

Tonbridge & Malling and Tunbridge Wells - Nu-Venture, Aylesford

Details of the vehicle allocations to each operator have yet to be finalised so cannot yet be confirmed, but some provisional material has been supplied for Invicta and more will follow during the summer when known.  Reports (photographic or otherwise) will I am sure be very welcome.

The balance of Kent Karrier work covering North-West Kent (Dartford, Gravesham and Sevenoaks) is unaffected and remains under the existing contract with Go-Coach which is unchanged.

There is no longer any Kent Karrier scheme in either of Folkestone & Hythe or Thanet.

Derek J