Kent County Council are currently finalising their "Rail Action Plan for Kent" which will influence the decision-making process to award the new Integrated Kent Franchise in 2014. The current franchise operator Southeastern have continually used the existing franchise agreement to stop Deal being included into the highspeed network. The new draft proposal wording is as follows:
Connectivity at Dover Priory between Mainline from Sandwich / Deal and High Speed to St Pancras must be improved from the present 49 minute wait during off-peak periods. The extension of High Speed from Dover Priory to Ramsgate via Deal / Sandwich should also be considered for inclusion in the new franchise provided that this can be delivered with existing rolling-stock resources;
Although Charlie Elphicke MP for Deal has stated last week in the Deal & Sandwich express that his priority is to get an inclusion this year with the current franchise, it is important that any new franchise agreement stipulates Deal is served with highspeed and better mainline services. The current services Southeastern provide us with are abysmal and continue to fail to provide a reliable service.
I have written to KCC to ask for the draft to be changed and I would urge passengers from Deal to use the following link to view the draft proposal and send comments.
http://www.kent.gov.uk/roads_and_transport/getting_around/rail,_ferry_and_air_travel/rail_action_plan_consultation.aspx
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