New Bus Services for West Kingsdown In response to requests from residents for improvements to the local bus service Kent County Council will be making major changes to the bus services in West Kingsdown from Sunday 10th May, (first day of operation being Monday 11th May). Route 427 (West Kingsdown – Swanley/Dartford) service currently operated by Kent Top Travel will be replaced by new service 419 which will provide a new direct service between West Kingsdown and Darent Valley Hospital via Swanley and Dartford. The 419 will operate Mon – Fri on a two hourly basis. The Saturday service between West Kingsdown and Swanley will be provided by new service 408. The current two return journeys between West Kingsdown and Dartford on Saturdays operated by the 427 will no longer run, however the new 408 service is timed to connect with Arriva’s 477 services at Swanley for passengers travelling on to Dartford. Griffin Bus will operate the 419 on contract to Kent County Council. New service 408 will provide a direct service between Swanley and Borough Green via West Kingsdown, operating Mon – Sat on a two hourly basis. Griffin Bus will operate the 408 on contract to Kent County Council. School bus route 318 (Istead Rise – Wrotham) currently operated by Griffin Bus will be renumbered 418 and will be operated by Griffin Bus on a commercial basis. Route 407 (New Ash Green –Wildernesse School, schooldays only) will continue to be operated by Griffin Bus on commercial basis. Peak hour route K2 (Hextable – Crockenhill) currently operated by Kent Top Travel will be renumbered the 409 and will be operated by Griffin Bus on contract to Kent County Council. Route 422 (East Hill – Gravesend, Thursdays only) currently operated by Kent Top Travel will be operated by Nu – Venture, (first day of operation being Thursday 14th May) on contract to Kent County Council. Route 405 (Sevenoaks – West Kingsdown, Wednesdays only) currently operated by New Enterprise on contract to Kent County Council will remain unchanged. As a result of these changes West Kingsdown residents will now see an increase in the level of service with an hourly service between West Kingsdown and Swanley Mon – Fri, instead of the currently two hourly service during the day. The new services will also provide direct services to both Dartford and Darent Valley Hospital and a new direct service to Wrotham and Borough Green, which will allow for onward bus connections to Lunsford Park, Tonbridge, Gravesend and Sevenoaks. Kent County Council is in the process of producing a new timetable guide to coincide with the changes to the bus services in West Kingsdown. This will be distributed to the regular outlets prior to the commencement of the new services. For further details of these changes please contract Transport Integration: 01622 605095 [email protected] .