Southeastern contract extended
The bidding contest to select who will run rail services across Kent after November has been cancelled, the government has announced.
Instead, the existing operator, Southeastern, has had its contract extended until April next year. The agreement has already been prolonged once, it should have ended in June.
The decision will have a bearing on the future of Maidstone and Snodland’s high speed trains to London - which could have been scrapped under the new franchise agreement. A Department for Transport spokesman said: “The decision to cancel follows significant concerns that continuing the competition process would lead to additional costs, with no certainty that it would deliver the envisaged benefits for passengers in a timely fashion.
“The department will use this period to ensure the recommendations of the Williams Review can be implemented.”
The Williams Review, the first serious assessment of the franchise system since it was brought in 20 years ago, is expected to recommend fundamental changes to the process when it reports back in September.
Maidstone transport campaigner, James Willis, said: “The government’s rail policy is in chaos. The extension is good news for Maidstone because it means our high speed services are secure for a little longer, but it means we have to wait for concessions we had hoped to achieve from the new franchisee.” Among those was extra finanMeet the latest additions to the long list of animal attractions at Kent Life.
The farm park in Sandling has recently seen the arrival of four baby meerkats.
The youngsters are now about three weeks old but staff are still waiting to see if they are boys or girls.
Owner Mollie King said they were doing well. Once their sex has been identified, the public will have the chance to name each of them.
If you want the chance to get up close to the little critters, Kent Life will be holding ‘Meet the Meerkat’ sessions. For details go to kentlife.org.uk. cial support for the Medway Valley Rail Partnership.
Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant said: “I am vexed by yet another delay to the awarding of the next train operator franchise for the South East. Hopefully the Williams Review will justify this decision and provide commuters with a better solution. My principal concern remains the retention of our existing high speed service.”