More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Five proposals aimed at improving public transport in north Kent have been tabled including plans to extend Crossrail to Ebbsfleet.
The C2E Partnership, which includes both Dartford and Gravesham councils, has launched a consultation on new options for faster services connecting Ebbsfleet to the two towns.
Plans include three options to extend the Elizabeth Line from its current planned stop at Abbey Wood towards Dartford.
There are also upgrades to the existing rail network and a new "bus rapid transit" scheme proposed , which would join up south east London with the existing Fastrack service from Dartford to Ebbsfleet and Gravesend.
The C2E Partnership, which was set up in 2016, says the proposals will improve connections into London and to other parts of Kent.
It also seeks to make journeys by public transport quicker and more attractive and reduce the need for trips by car.
The plans were given a boost last year after it was revealed nearly £5m had been set to explore options to improve the rail network and extend Crossrail to Kent, as part of a major new study.
Kent is currently the only one of the Home Counties not served by Crossrail 1 or 2, known as the Elizabeth Line, on the London Underground map.
Early plans for the £18m rail project, which was originally due to open in 2018, had included running the line out towards Gravesend.
But this was later curbed and a review in 2004 recommended instead stopping at Abbey Wood.
Gravesham and Dartford council leaders John Burden and Jeremy Kite have long called for Crossrail to be extended into north Kent.
And now Cllr Kite says the partnership is at a stage where they would like to know residents' views about the five potential options.
“Three of the options are for extending the Elizabeth Line from its current planned terminus at Abbey Wood towards Dartford and Ebbsfleet," he said.
"One is to improve existing rail services to connect into the Elizabeth Line at Abbey Wood and one is to provide a new bus rapid transit, building on the Fastrack network in Kent.
“By giving their views, residents can influence which options are taken forward for further development.
"So I encourage everyone to have their say by visiting the consultation link before it closes on February 25.”
There will be a further opportunity to submit views later in 2021, when the number of options under consideration will have reduced and further detail is available on each option.
Click here to have your say on the current proposals.
