Kentish Express Ashford & District
‘Contactless option saved me a last-minute trip to the ATM’
Reporter Molly Mileham-Chappell made a trip on the Little and Often service to and from our offices in North Street on the bus on Monday.
She said: “The first thing that struck me getting on one of the new minibuses was the convenience of being able to pay using a contactless card.
“I experienced the classic ‘I’ve got no change for the bus!’ scenario, before I remembered the contactless payment option, which saved me a last-minute trip to the cash point.
“There were around five or six passengers on my rush-hour service, and I did not hear any complaints about the journey to the driver.
“One couple seemed particularly excited about the frequency of the vehicles, noting each time they saw another pass ours.
“The journey time felt a lot quicker than the double-decker services I remember from school.
“As a reporter, I have heard and seen a fair few comments about the size of the buses and their space. Some people have noted the little leg room, posing questions about what people should do with their shopping.
“Others have mentioned that elderly people may struggle. I personally found the new faux leather seats comfortable, but I can see where these residents may be coming from on these topics.
“It’s clear when you step inside that a great deal of money has been invested in these vehicles, and it will be interesting to hear what residents of Ashford think of the services and how they progress over the next few months.”