Chelsfield: trains axed. Peak trains to be cut to just two per hour!

6.23.16pm UTC (GMT +0000) Sat 13th Mar 2004

The Strategic Rail Authority has announced shock new plans to slash rail services stopping at Chelsfield Station to just two trains an hour - compared to six an hour at the present peak.

The plans, announced in the new Integrated Kent Franchise Train Service Specification — form the basis for the new train company taking over local lines.

Deadline

Liberal Democrat London Assembly candidate Duncan Borrowman, who regularly commutes from Chelsfield, said: "If this was planned for a tube station in North London Mayor Ken would be up in arms, but he has been silent, Zone 1 Ken probably doesn't even know that Chelsfield is in Greater London.

"In a recent Focus survey conducted by the Lib Dem team, 80% of commuters from Chelsfield said that there are not enough trains at the moment, let alone that services should be cut."

Local Lib Dem leader Chris Maines said: "The deadline for responses to the plans is Friday 23rd April, so there isn't long to save the local train service.

Lib Dem mayoral candidate Simon Hughes using the already cramped local train service.

"Liberal Democrat London Mayoral candidate Simon Hughes is coming to Chelsfield to hold a public meeting, together with Lynne Featherstone - who is the Liberal Democrat Chair of Transport on the Greater London Authority. She has written to the Strategic Rail Authority asking them to come and answer concerns. For example, people I have spoken to who don't even use the trains are worried that the loss of a suitable commuter train service will damage property prices"

Three things to do

There are three things people should do to save our trains: come to the public meeting on 29th March; sign the Lib Dem petition against the cut in services; and write to the Strategic Rail Authority to let them know their views on the proposed cuts.

PUBLIC MEETING: Save Our Trains. 7.45pm, 29th March. Warren Road Primary School, Warren Road

Chair: Lynne Featherstone (Lib Dem): Chair of Transport, Greater London Authority..

Speakers: Simon Hughes MP: Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor of London. Chris Maines: Liberal Democrat Leader Bromley Council. Duncan Borrowman: Local Liberal Democrat Candidate for the London Assembly.

Plus an invited representative of the Strategic Rail Authority.

PETITION: Sign on line at http://www.bromleylibdems.org.uk/petitions.php or download a printable sheet to collect signatures from neighbours from http://www.bromleylibdems.org.uk/resources.php

Let the Strategic Rail Authority know your views: Wrte to Jackie Nixon, Strategic Rail Authority, 55 Victoria Street, London, SW1H OEU. ikfresponses@sra.gov.uk Fax: 020 7654 6010

The full 60 page document from the Strategic Rail Authority can be downloaded from http://www.bromleylibdems.org.uk/resources.php