Over the last few months I have been disappointed to receive numerous complaints with the current Southeastern Trains service. Persistently, I hear that services serving our local train stations are regularly delayed from 30 minutes to an hour, especially during peak times and often without a clear or justifiable explanation.
I understand that many are displeased with the level of compensation on offer for these delays, but also the anger around the lack of compensation for delays below 30 minutes, which occur all to often. As a regular commuter myself, I fully appreciate and share the concerns of all who have written to me or approached me on the platform at Rochester Station.
I am aware of commuter’s calls to remove the tender from Southeastern as a result of the continuing concerns and very poor service being offered at premium prices. As many may be aware, the Southeastern franchise was extended in 2014 until June 2018. This was done under the promise of a fresh start for the service provider, but it is clear that while there have been longer carriages and the use of smartcards, many essential promises have not been kept.
I have continuously raised these concerns, alongside my fellow Kent MPs, to the Managing Director of Southeastern, as well as to the Rail Minister, Claire Perry MP. On 20th January I wrote to Southeastern seeking a satisfactory response regarding how they plan to address and improve the current situation. As of this moment I have not received a response and so I will be chasing them up.
With two and a half years remaining on Southeastern’s tender, I feel that now is the time to investigate and analyse what the necessary options needed for North Kent as we move forwards. Unfortunately, as outlined by the Transport Select Committee this morning, there is not enough competition from private firms wanting to run our national rail franchises, which in some circumstances can result in poorer levels of surface. That said, I am committed to working with fellow Kent MPs and ministerial colleagues at the Department for Transport to find a solution that is best for our growing region post-2018, if not before. In the coming weeks I will be meeting Claire Perry again to discuss the growing problems we are having alongside the options we can take forward.
I will provide a further update following the next steps outlined above.