| Monday, 14 February 2005 | |
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MP criticises latest SRA proposals for North Kent rail services Dartford MP, Dr Howard Stoate has strongly criticised the Strategic Rail Authority’s revised proposals for the North Kent rail service.The SRA’s service proposals for the new ‘Integrated Kent Franchise’, which are estimated to come into effect in 2009-10, show some changes to those outlined in the SRA’s February 2004 consultation document; the off-peak service from Dartford to Greenwich and Charlton has been restored and the proposed reduction in the peak service from Farningham Rd has been scaled back. Dr Stoate is disappointed however that the SRA is still proposing to cut off-peak service levels to Farningham Rd and to reduce the number of peak services into London from Stone Crossing, Swanscombe and Greenhithe. He has also hit out at the proposal to scrap the Dartford to Victoria service altogether. The MP has written to the SRA to ask them to think again and has also promised to raise the matter with Ministers. “Greenhithe Station lies at the heart of one of the key Thames Gateway regeneration areas; over 7,500 houses are due to be built at the Eastern Quarry site immediately to the south of the station in the next 10-15 years on top of the new developments at Waterstone Park and Ingress Park. For this level of development to be sustainable, we need to increase the level of public transport provision in the area. To reduce the service level to Greenhithe and also to Stone Crossing and Swanscombe would not only threaten the viability of this development but it would also undermine the investment which the Government has put into the Fastrack light transport project that will link the new developments with the mainline rail network,” Dr Stoate said. “I also feel that the proposal to scrap the Dartford – Victoria service is ill-judged. It is the only service that links my constituency with Victoria, Denmark Hill and Peckham Rye and many of my constituents rely on the service to get to work. The service is also well used by staff and patients of Kings College Hospital and the Maudsley Hospital in Denmark Hill.” Dr Stoate has also expressed reservations about the proposed fares for domestic services on the CTRL line from Ebbsfleet to St Pancras. “Although passengers will benefit from shorter journey times into London, I think that many people will be reluctant to pay the 35% premium for this service which the SRA is proposing on top of the cost of getting to Ebbsfleet. I think that the SRA needs to look at this again; unless the price is competitive people aren’t going to use the service on a regular basis.” |
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© 2008 Dr Howard Stoate - Member of Parliament for Dartford
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