Deal’s MP Gwyn Prosser is backing the quickly-growing Trains4Deal campaign and due to meet Lord Adonis Secretary of Transport.

The action group was set up after a public meeting earlier in January and members are calling for fast trains to stop in the town and also improvements in timetables.

Javelin services from London end in Dover, although two pass through Deal Railway Station from Ramsgate early in the morning.

Mr Prosser said: “The high speed trains are great news for east Kent but Deal is missing out and that’s why I have pestered the train operators and met with Southeastern’s chief executive Charles Horton to press the case for Deal.

“He told me that no changes were possible in the current timetables which end in May but he agreed to review all the train times and see what could be done to improve matters.

“He suggested the possibility of a shuttle train service between Deal and Dover linked to the Javelin timetable as a short term solution.”

Mr Prosser said that he would be promoting the Trains4Deal.com campaign, which he described as excellent.

He added: “I’ll be telling Lord Adonis to tell Southeastern to cut out one of the unnecessary high speed train stops in Folkestone and replace it with a very necessary high-speed stop in Deal.”

The campaign website has been created by one of the campaigners Tom Rowland and includes a link petition to the Prime Minister, where it is possible to see how many other people have signed the list.

* For more political reactions to the Trains4Deal campaign read the latest edition of the East Kent Mercury.