New Ventures with Nu-Venture

[Chris]

Much bus-related excitement amongst the "regulars" in "south Medway" last week, with the launch of new daytime service 167, and associated school service 667, by Nu-Venture. 

The service provides three Monday-to-Friday return journeys between the retail parks and ASDA at Horsted, Walderslade, Lordswood, Princes Park and Hempstead Valley, between school times, although with an additional journey on non-schooldays to cover the main part of the route. The first to and last from Walderslade run direct via Princes Avenue (conveniently suiting the Club Secretary...) whilst the others serve Heron Way. Other changes, yet to find their way in front of the camera, are the replacement of weekday 179 with local circular 178 and 169 increasing to hourly, and new school service 648 to Blue Bell Hill village via Maidstone Road. 

There has been much chatter in recent years (/decades) that journeys between the two sides of the Capstone Valley (other epithets are available...) are only possible with a lengthy diversion via Chatham, and this new service has been well received by locals - I had 8 fellow passengers on both my first day journeys, and that seems to have remained fairly steady from pavement-based observations. 

E300 144 has been given a fresh coat of green for the service, along with nearside and rear route branding. Neither of those are visible in this first day picture at Walderslade Village by-pass on 20th April. 

Chris