Kent Messenger Maidstone

MP steps up campaign to retain high-speed services

- By Tom Pyman tpyman@thekmgroup.co.uk @TomPymanKM

The Kent Messenger’s campaign to save Maidstone’s high speed rail services to London has been taken to the top of government after MP Helen Grant met with the transport secretary this week.

Mrs Grant held a one-to-one meeting with Chris Grayling in parliament on Tuesday to discuss the enormous local concern over the threats to the popular service which runs three times every morning and evening from Maidstone West to St Pancras.

So far some 1,500 people have signed our petition urging the government to retain the 52-minute service, after we revealed plans to scrap them in favour of a slower service to Abbey Wood, which is being earmarked as a key station for the incoming Crossrail route in the new south east rail franchise.

It comes amid further concerns for the much-anticipate­d Thameslink service linking Maidstone East and the city, which has been pushed back until December 2019, with some growing concerned it may never materialis­e at all after it emerged the Department for Transport asked potential franchisee­s how they would respond if the introducti­on of the service was “delayed indefinite­ly”.

Mrs Grant, who represents Maidstone and the Weald, said after the meeting: “I know that for my constituen­ts who use it this service is a crucial part of their everyday lives, getting them into work quickly and convenient­ly. Now that we have it, we simply cannot do without it.

“I made the importance of the service clear to the secretary of state and told him of my anger that it once again feels like Maidstone is being put to the back of the queue, especially in the wake of the recent delay to the city Thameslink service.

“Mr Grayling is now, without doubt, clear about the impact that this would have upon local people and has offered reassuranc­e the people of Maidstone will not be worse off under the new franchise agreement.

“I will, of course, continue to keep up the pressure on the government as the franchise process progresses.”

Visit tinyurl.com/ KMhighspee­d to sign our petition

 ?? Pictures: Matthew Walker/Andy Payton ?? Helen Grant MP met with Transport secretary Chris Grayling to discuss high speed rail services
Pictures: Matthew Walker/Andy Payton Helen Grant MP met with Transport secretary Chris Grayling to discuss high speed rail services
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