by Graham Tutthill

gtutthill@thekmgroup.co.uk

A new direct rail link connecting Dover with Gatwick airport is among the suggestions put forward as part of a consultation on the future of rail services in the south east.

The government is asking for views before drawing up specifications for the South Eastern franchise which is due for renewal in April 2014. The district council has written to the Department for Transport setting out a number of comments including improving the journey times to Dover Priory.

The council supports making the best use of the domestic high speed rail service to deliver value and support economic growth.

The suggestion for a new rail service between Dover and Gatwick via Ashford would link London’s second busiest airport to the UK’s second busiest cruise port and one of the world’s premier ports.

Support is also given to extend the increasing the number of high speed trains serving Deal and Sandwich so that they run all day and at weekends, rather than just as peak times Monday to Friday.

The council wants to see a reduction in passenger journey times to Thanet to boost the economic expansion of East Kent, and to support the wider East Kent economy including the Discovery Park in Sandwich

Other points raised by the council include more facilities for bikes, continued station improvements, the extension of Crossrail, simplified ticketing, and wider integration between trains and other public transport.

Cllr Nigel Collor, the council’s cabinet member for access, said: "This is an excellent opportunity for the council and its partners to help shape the future of rail services for the area, to promote accessibility, and to continue to move forward with regeneration, while supporting and bringing investors to the area. We are very pleased to have been able to respond to this important consultation."