Southeastern Trains U-Turn

It is not often that rail commuters receive good news.  However, there is reason to celebrate for Longfield rail commuters this week.  Following the conclusion of a consultation exercise by Southeastern, they have announced that they will not be cutting services that stop at Longfield. 

Around eighty people attended the public meeting I organised last month, where commuters were given the chance to express their opposition to Southeastern’s proposals to cut off-peak train services at Longfield from three to two.  They also responded to the consultation exercise directly and overwhelmingly rejected Southeastern’s proposed changes to the timetable.

As a commuter myself, I am aware of the anger local people felt about this proposal. Reducing the number of trains using Longfield station would have had a serious impact on the area.  Some commuters working part-time in London expressed their fears that this cut in services would mean they wouldn’t be able to continue working.  They rely on the current timetable to make their return journey in time to collect children from school.

The proposals were designed to reduce the time that commuters from East Kent had to spend on their journey in to London. However, cutting the service in Longfield would have taken just four minutes off their journey.

I am delighted that common sense has prevailed on this issue and that commuters using Longfield station will not see a reduction in service. People were rightly angry about this proposal and they can now celebrate their success in reversing these proposals.