Campaigners for a full seven-day high speed train service between Deal and London have had their hopes dashed, as a new franchise is set to be delayed. That’s the view from Trains4Deal, an action group set up in January 2010 which succeeded in helping to bring the limited weekday peak service to the town.
Ian Killbery, who has been with the pressure group since it started, said: “The government has 12 months to negotiate an extension to Southeastern’s franchise, which will now last until June 2018.
“Only then will the present operator face direct competition from rival bidders.
“This is a blow to rail-users in Deal and Sandwich, who were looking forward to a new franchise next year which was hoped to bring in a full seven-day high-speed service, building on the success of the limited weekday peak services introduced as a trial two years ago.”
Deal MP Charlie Elphicke said he was deeply disappointed by the delay as he wanted to see Deal get an all-day fast train.
He added: “Given the success of the commuting service, I will be pressing ministers to enable an all-day fast train to happen even if the franchise is extended."
See this week's East Kent Mercury for the full story.