County transport chiefs have urged the government to “commit” to train services at smaller stations between Ashford and Tonbridge.

They fear proposals that could reduce services at what are considered “less well used” stations will mean passengers and commuters from villages along certain lines stranded.

Kent County Council has flagged up its reservations in its response to the Department for Transport’s (DfT) consultation on changes to the rail network, which will end in less than two weeks.

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The issue of rail services has become a key domestic issue in the election campaign, with Labour saying it will renationalise them.

One of the options being explored by the DfT is reducing services to stations that are considered “less well used”.

During its consultation over what the franchise for the area should include, the DfT has used the service between Tonbridge and Ashford as an example of where this could happen.

That has sparked a campaign to ensure that services stopping at local towns and village stations, with more than 11,000 people signing a petition to Parliament urging they be maintained.

In its response, KCC said: “The Ashford to London via Tonbridge service would need to retain its current stopping pattern to reflect the growth in demand at intermediate stations on this route.

“There is considerable housing development underway or planned at Paddock Wood, Marden, Staplehurst, Headcorn and Pluckley, which will require the continuation of the present service levels in both peak and off-peak periods.

“Therefore the new franchise should commit to these service levels without any change in either the frequency or the stopping pattern on this section of route.

“As Ashford and most East Kent stations already have a High Speed service, there is in any event less imperative to speed up this Mainline route.”

The issue of the new franchise is expected to feature in a rail summit tonight at Kent County Council.

The consultation is also looking to find the next operator when Southeastern’s franchise ends in December next year.