Lifeline for Chelsfield commuters?

4.56.44pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 30th Apr 2004

The London Assembly Liberal Democrats have welcomed the news that the Strategic Rail Authority is to consider having a greater number of trains stopping at Chelsfield Station than originally proposed in its consultation document.

Richard Bowker, Chair of the SRA, wrote to Graham Tope in response to the case the Liberal Democrats made against the severe cuts in service at Chelsfield and changes to destinations for the Hayes line that had been proposed in the Integrated Kent Franchise document.

Mr Bowker admitted that the SRA's proposal of two trains per hour at Chelsfield "will not satisfy all existing users" and he will consider further stops. The SRA are also looking at specifying services from Hayes to both Cannon Street and Charing Cross on weekdays.

Graham Tope said: "The London Assembly Liberal Democrats are pleased to hear from Richard Bowker that he will consider further stops by trains at Chelsfield Station once the SRA has received the final responses to the consultation.

"However the proof of the pudding is in the eating. We'll believe that the SRA has listened to the powerful case made by the Liberal Democrats against the cuts in rail service when we actually see the new franchise specifications."