Kentish Express Ashford & District
Gatwick train link on cards
A rail service linking Gatwick and Ashford could be on the cards, it has emerged.
Kent County Council has drafted a 10-year transport action plan to put political pressure on government bosses and train operators to transform the region’s rail system by 2030.
The authority is seeking to lobby the Department for Transport (DfT) for a cross-county service to run from Canterbury West to Gatwick airport, near Crawley, via Ashford and Tonbridge stations.
Stephen Gasche, County Hall’s rail project manager, outlined his plan to extend an existing Great Western railway line - which runs from Reading to Gatwick, via Redhill - to mid and east Kent.
He said: “That would be an extraordinary benefit for the whole of south east England.”
His comments came as he spoke to councillors during a virtual public meeting of KCC’s environment and transport committee on Monday.
Mr Gasche added: “It would knit together the counties of south east England with each other and Gatwick outside Greater London.
“If we can get Transport for the South East behind this - who certainly support it in principle - the case could be made for this service to be introduced.”
However, he also warned that there are obstacles to overcome, such as having a viable business case.
Mr Gasche said they had previously lobbied the government for a train service to run from Gatwick to Ashford but were met with strong resistance from the Department for Transport due to a business case that “did not stand up”.
The case stated that the service would have produced income of 90p for every £1 cost, the KCC environment and transport committee was told.
However, regional powerhouse Transport for the South
East is believed to support the idea and its political influence stretches across 16 transport authorities in the region, spanning from Kent to Hampshire and Sussex.
An eight-week public consultation on the draft document will start on Wednesday (Sep 23).
Responses will be considered by KCC’s cabinet before it decides whether to approve it on January 25, 2021.
What do you think of the idea? Email kentishexpress@ thekmgroup.co.uk