4 more years of southeastern?
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 7-day high-speed service, building on the success of the limited weekday peak services introduced as a trial 2 years ago," said Trains4Deal campaigner IAN KILLBERY
DECISION BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
"Now our local rail service will be decided behind closed doors in private negotiations between the DfT and Southeastern - a regrettable development,"added joint spokesman TOM ROWLAND. "Passenger numbers have shown there is a demand for the local HS service, an aspiration which has the backing of Kent and Dover councils and is key to bringing new jobs and opportunities to the East Kent coast."
BACK TO SLOW TRAINS?
"At present Southeastern has no legal obligation to run HS trains to Deal and Sandwich beyond the period of 'pump-priming' subsidy agreed with KCC which runs out in 12 months. It would be a disaster to move backwards and have the old slow trains for 4 years . Local rail users want to see commitments on service improvements as well as a realistic fares policy. Trains4Deal will challenge our local MPs and councillors to put pressure on the negotiations to achieve a satisfactory deal in the franchise extension contract. "
"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 7-day high-speed service, building on the success of the limited weekday peak services introduced as a trial 2 years ago," said Trains4Deal campaigner IAN KILLBERY
DECISION BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
"Now our local rail service will be decided behind closed doors in private negotiations between the DfT and Southeastern - a regrettable development,"added joint spokesman TOM ROWLAND. "Passenger numbers have shown there is a demand for the local HS service, an aspiration which has the backing of Kent and Dover councils and is key to bringing new jobs and opportunities to the East Kent coast."
BACK TO SLOW TRAINS?
"At present Southeastern has no legal obligation to run HS trains to Deal and Sandwich beyond the period of 'pump-priming' subsidy agreed with KCC which runs out in 12 months. It would be a disaster to move backwards and have the old slow trains for 4 years . Local rail users want to see commitments on service improvements as well as a realistic fares policy. Trains4Deal will challenge our local MPs and councillors to put pressure on the negotiations to achieve a satisfactory deal in the franchise extension contract. "
ASSURANCE FROM SOUTHEASTERN MD
Charles Horton, MD of Southeastern
At April's Stakeholder Forum in London, Trains4deal asked Southeastern's Managing Director CHARLES HORTON what would happen when KCC's subsidy for the Deal and Sandwich HS trains ran out in March 2014.
He said that negotiations about the extension of the franchise 2014-18 with the DfT hadn't even started yet, but the the "Deal and Sandwich services would not be allowed to go by default".
This assurance was echoed by STEPHEN GASCHE from KCC.
For more background, see our page on "Franchise chaos".
He said that negotiations about the extension of the franchise 2014-18 with the DfT hadn't even started yet, but the the "Deal and Sandwich services would not be allowed to go by default".
This assurance was echoed by STEPHEN GASCHE from KCC.
For more background, see our page on "Franchise chaos".