Greg slams rail cut proposals in Westminster debate
BEXHILL and Battle MP Greg Barker has spoken out against rail network's plans to axe train connections between Hastings and London Cannon Street, in a debate at the House of Commons.
Greg secured the debate at Westminster on 24th February following a failure by Labour Ministers to guarantee that the essential commuter services will be retained.
The planned cuts to services, outlined in the Kent Rail Utilisation Strategy (RUS) published at the end of January, include the removal of the Cannon Street service during peak hours to make way for the new Thameslink trains which terminate at Tunbridge Wells.
The Thameslink trains cannot travel south of Tunbridge Wells because of constraints in the power supply.
If the RUS proposals go ahead passengers at Battle, Crowhurst, Robertsbridge, Stonegate, and Etchingham face large cuts to their peak service without any replacement or real alternative.
In addition the Hastings to Charing Cross trains would no longer have four extra cars added at Tunbridge resulting in significant over-crowding on an already busy service.
Greg believes the effects of losing the direct service into the City for local commuters would be "considerable in an area where commuters and their families play a large role in the life of the villages and towns along the rail line."
Speaking in the House of Commons Greg said:
"Once again our local rail service is under threat and Labour ministers seem hell bent on colluding in the downgrading of the service. I want to make it clear to the minister and his Labour colleagues that local people will not accept these cuts.
"This is another example of appalling mismanagement of our local train service."
To view the debate in more detail click on the following link:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm100224/halltext/100224h0009.htm#10022465000004
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Monday 28 May 2012
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