Hugh WINS fight to keep Station

HUGH ROBERTSON WINS COMMITMENT FROM SRA TO LOOK AGAIN AT PLANS TO CLOSE HOLLINGBOURNE STATION

Hugh Robertson today secured the agreement of the SRA to look again at plans to close Hollingbourne Station during the day. The plans were announced in the latest documents from the Strategic Rail Authority that restores the day trains to Harrietsham and Lenham but confirms the decision to close Hollingbourne station to trains outside the peak periods (0700-0959 and 1600-1859).

The SRA told Hugh that the decision had been taken because of the low usage figures at the station. The usage figures were based on ticket sales, including season tickets, which show Hollingbourne as the station of origin or destination. The SRA agreed to release the figures to Hugh.

Hugh argued that Hollingbourne had been adversely affected by CTRL and the M20 so to lose its own station during the day would be grossly unfair. The time saving involved with the non stopping at Hollingbourne was only 2 minutes so it should be restored.

Hugh said: “The latest round of proposals still represent a cut in services in order to accommodate the new high speed link. It is particularly unfair that Hollingbourne, a village that has suffered enormously as a result of the CTRL and the M20, was singled out to lose its daytime service.

“I am encouraged by the SRA’s decision to reinstate the daytime service to Lenham and Harietsham and pleased that, following my meeting; they will look again at proposals to close Hollingbourne.

However, there is a great deal further to go. The key message that comes out of all of my three meetings is that we must keep up the passenger numbers up if we want to retain the service – and I would encourage everyone to bear this in mind when planning their journeys.”