Government must ACT for Kent Rail Users

HUGH ROBERTSON OBTAINS FIGURES BEHIND RAIL SERVICE CUTS

Hugh Robertson has today obtained the passenger usage data that underpins the Strategic Rail Authority’s consultation document on the Integrated Kent Franchise. The SRA had previously refused to release the data which Hugh obtained by questioning the Secretary of State for Transport in Parliament.

The figures, which are expressed as passenger journeys per day, use data compiled for the year ending March 2003. They are based on ticket sales which either start, finish or interchange at the stations concerned. The figures are:-

Lenham 459

Harrietsham 180

Hollingbourne 105

In the Town of Faversham: 5205

Selling: 173

Hugh said: “I am currently trying to discover whether these figures include season ticket holders who use these stations. Clearly, if they do not, as I suspect, then the usage figures will be considerably higher.

“Furthermore, I suspect that there are a considerable number of passengers who only join the train for a few stations who do not buy a ticket. This clearly needs to be stopped but it does not mean that they do not need the service.

“It is now absolutely vital that we use these figures to construct a cast iron case to retain our much needed rail service.”