FERMANAGH AND SOUTH TYRONE RURAL TRANSPORT. (F.A.S.T)

MISSION STATEMENT.

"Fermanagh and South Tyrone Rural Transport Ltd aim to provide an accessible, flexible, affordable and sustainable transport service which is complementary to the existing provision and has an identifiable positive impact on the catchment area it serves"

BACKGROUND

Lack of transport provisions in rurally isolated areas presents very real difficulties for rural communities.  With such a widely dispersed population and significant landmass, Fermanagh and South Tyrone face major issues of rural isolation and social exclusion. F.A.S.T Rural Transport sought to identify rural solutions to rural transport problems and develop needs based provision combining quality service with accessibility.  Since its formation in December 1999 F.A.S.T has established itself as a leading rural transport operator in the Fermanagh and South Tyrone area.  Its aims to quite simply:-

(1)   Provide an affordable transport service, which meets the mobility needs of all sections of the community

(2)   Complement existing public and private transport provision.

(3)   Make transport information more widely available

(4)   Assist in the establishment of a transport partnership network to investigate and learn from centres of excellence in other rural areas of N.Ireland

OPERATIONAL AREA.

The catchment area consists of the following towns and villages

• Ballinamallard     
• Brookeborough
• Clogher                 
• Donagh
• Dromore
• Ederney
• Fintona
• Fivemiletown
• Irvinestown
• Kesh
• Lack
• Lisnaskea
• Maguiresbridge
• Newtownbutler
• Roslea 
• Tempo
• Trillick

FLEET.

At present F.A.S.T has at its disposal 3 minibuses and an MPV (multi people vehicle).

One 16 seater Mercedes Sprinter, Two 12 seater Renault Masters. All are forward facing with seat belts and are fully accessible with passenger lifts, low steps and adapted to transport wheelchairs. The MPV is a Mercedes Vito and carries 8 people very comfortably and is fully adapted to suit disabled and wheelchair users.

SERVICES.

F.A.S.T provides a range of services:

(1)   GROUP HIRE - All buses can be hired by groups for evening and weekend hire providing they are registered members.

(2)   FLEXIBLE ROUTING / DIAL A RIDE SERVICE - This service will operate throughout the operational area on pre determined days Monday-Friday 9am-5pm

(3)   BROKERAGE - Hiring in of vehicles owned and ran by other groups within our catchment area.

(4)   SOCIAL CAR SCHEME - Hire of car and driver from the public to transport people to local services

GROUPS.

A large number of groups already use our facilities; here is a list of just some of them.

SCHOOL - Duke of Westminster High Kesh

PLAYGROUPS -Active Allsorts After school club Irvinestown

EDUCATION CENTRES - The Princes Trust - Derry-Enniskillen

DAY CENTRES FOR ELDERLY/DISABLED - Hillview Lodge Nursing Home Omagh

SPORTS CLUBS - Glendurragh Golf Society Ederney

SENIOR CITIZENS GROUPS - Trillick Senior Citizens

CHURCHES - Colaghty Parish Church Lack

YOUTH GROUPS - Colebrook Youth Club Brookeborough

COMMUNITY GROUPS - Clogher Parent and Toddler Group