by Alan Watkins

awatkins@tehkmgroup.co.uk

Campaigners have won the battle to save off- peak train services through north Kent.

SouthEastern had proposed scrapping off-peak stops through Longfield, Meopham and other smaller stations to speed up trains between East Kent and London. It would have saved four minutes on overall journey times.

Last month Dartford MP Gareth Johnson (Con) organised a public meeting in Longfield attended by Mike Gibson from SouthEastern.

The train firm has now announced they will not be recommending any changes to the services stopping at Longfield and Meopham Stations.

Mr Johnson said he was delighted. “Reducing the number of trains using Longfield Station would have had a serious impact on the local area. As someone who commutes in to London from Longfield, I know that local commuters were very angry about this proposal. This is a case of people power winning the day,” he said.

Cllr Jeremy Kite (Con), council leader at Dartford, said: “It seems commonsense has prevailed.”

He congratulated Mr Johnson and the Gravesham MP, Adam Holloway (Con) on their campaign.

The current off peak service of three trains an hour (two fast and one slow) will remain unchanged.