New service to improve bus links with Tenterden

tjamieson@thekmgroup.co.uk A new bus route between Tenterden and Ashford is being launched on Monday with free travel on the service all day.

The new 2A Stagecoach route operates via Shadoxhurst and replaces routes 295 and 296, which were provided by various bus companies.

When combined with existing route 2 via High Halden, it means there will be a bus between Ashford and Tenterden every 30 minutes for the first time.

Jeremy Cooper, commercial director of Stagecoach in East Kent, said: “With so many buses to chose from we hope many more people will now travel from Tenterden to Ashford by bus, particularly with the high speed trains offering an attractive route into London.

“We hope the free travel on Monday will help passengers have a great day out at the start of the school holidays and we plan to have a classic 1968 AEC Regent doubledecker in use on some of the journeys as an added bit of fun.”

As well as the free travel on Monday, residents of Bethersden, Stubbs Cross and Shadoxhurst can also benefit from discounted fares throughout the summer as these areas will be included in the Ashford Megarider ticket zone until the end of August.

A seven day Megarider costs £11 and allows unlimited travel on Stagecoach buses in Ashford and the nearest villages.

For the new 2A bus times, call 0871 200 22 33 or visit stagecoachbus.com/eastsussex

Miles and Louise Porter with daughters Dilys and Bonnie, from Tenterden, help launch the free bus service with, left to right, bus driver Paul Houselander, Stagecoach marketing manager Divene Anderson and Dutch Docherty, operations manager