| Medway is the largest conurbation in the South East anywhere between the outskirts of London and Portsmouth. It has a population of 250,000, set to rise to 300,000 within 20 years. But it still has enormous areas of countryside and deeply rural communities.
The 197 service is a Medway Council-supported service operated by ASD Coaches of Strood with a former Optare demonstrator, T789 KNW. It runs from Chatham - the future city centre of Medway and the Thames Gateway - to the Isle of Grain. Most days it operates only to Lower Upnor, but twice a week it runs on to the Stokes. The Potteries may have a Stoke (on Trent), but Medway has Stoke, Lower Stoke and Upper Stoke. And a handful of loyal customers for the Tuesday and Friday runs across the Hoo peninsula. |
1. T789 KNW at the stop in Upper Stoke 640x480 254.0271J.jpg 2006-04-28 09:19:00 |
2. T789 KNW in Upper Stoke. 640x480 254.0270J.jpg 2006-04-28 09:19:00 |
3. T789 KNW with the 800-foot high chimney of Grain power station in the distance. This area could soon change with plans by BP for 14 500-foot high wind generators to the left of the chimney. 638x480 254.0230J.jpg 2005-10-06 15:02:40 |
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4. T789 KNW in its new livery makes the twice weekly run around Lower Stoke. It is an Optare Solo M920 acquired from London Borough of Waltham Forest (3201) 640x480 254.0480J.JPG 2009-02-27 10:33:00 |
5. The cranes mark the location of Thamesport, one of the busiest container ports in Britain. The bus has just left Lower Stoke on Stoke Road towards Chatham 638x480 254.0229J.jpg 2005-10-06 15:02:32 |
6. The hill is on the Isle of Sheppey, which has a new bridge link with the mainland. Here it is nearing completion in the distant right. Plans are well advanced to develop the shore on the opposite side of the Medway estuary. 638x480 254.0228J.jpg 2005-10-06 15:02:21 |
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7. T789 KNW running out of Lower Stoke 640x480 254.0484J.JPG 2009-02-27 10:35:00 |
8. T789 KNW heads for Chatham through the farm fields flanking Malmaynes Road 640x480 254.0481J.JPG 2009-02-27 10:35:00 |
9. T789 KNW 640x480 254.0264J.JPG 2006-04-28 09:31:00 |
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10. T789 KNW approaches the bridge over the single track branch from Hoo Junction to Thamesport, heading back to Chatham 640x480 254.0265J.JPG 2006-04-28 09:32:00 |
12. T789 KNW 640x480 254.0266J.JPG 2006-04-28 09:32:00 |
12. T789 KNW 640x480 254.0267J.JPG 2006-04-28 09:32:00 |
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13. T789 KNW 640x480 254.0268J.JPG 2006-04-28 09:32:00 |
14. T789 KNW in Malmaynes Road, Kingsnorth 640x480 254.0269J.JPG 2006-04-28 09:32:00 |
15. T789 KNW in Chattenden. 638x480 254.0225J.jpg 2005-10-06 14:51:31 |
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16. T789 KNW picks its way through the former army barracks village of Chattenden. This area is expected to become a 7,000 home redevelopment township in the next few years. 638x480 254.0226J.jpg 2005-10-06 14:51:38 |
17. T789 KNW reaches the civilian areas of Chattenden 640x346 254.0227J.jpg 0000-00-00 00:00:00 |
18. Arriving in Lower Upnor: On the return journey, the Optare Solo runs into Lower Upnor. 638x480 254.0231J.JPG.jpg 0000-00-00 00:00:00 |
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19. In Lower Upnor. It goes to the end of the road, turns and heads out of Lower Upnor past the Medway marinas 638x480 254.0232J.JPG.jpg 2005-10-06 15:36:08 |
20. T789 KNW with a typical ex-Royal Naval dockyard crane behind it in Lower Upnor. 638x480 254.0233J.jpg 2005-10-06 15:36:15 |
