THE COUNTY has been promised an exciting new era of rail travel after Govia was given the green light to run its trains.

Govia, the operator of Southern and Thameslink services, upset the odds to win the Integrated Kent Franchise and the Croydon-based group will take over from South Eastern Trains on April 1.

The wholly-owned subsidiary London & South Eastern Railway (LSER), it has signed an agreement with the Department for Transport to operate the franchise for the next eight years.

Govia has pledged to invest £89million in rolling stock improvements, stations, ticket machines, car parks, Internet access on trains and other areas. It says it will put reliability, punctuality, safety and security at the heart of its operation.

But there will be a price to pay for passengers. Under a formula set by the Government, they will be charged higher fares which will rise by three per cent above the rate of inflation. There will also be a 30 per cent premium for passenger using high-speed services from 2009.

The Government's decision was a blow to its three rivals, especially GNER/MTR, which had been regarded as the front-runner. Other disappointed bidders were Danish State Railways/Stagecoach, and First Group.

GNER chief executive Christopher Garnett said: “We are very disappointed not to have won, as we thought we had submitted a very strong and credible bid."

The new franchise will start from April 1 next year and run until March 31, 2012. There is an automatic two-year extension if performance targets are met. The company will operate commuter trains, Kent coast services and the new Hitachi high-speed trains due to come into service in 2009.

Keith Ludeman, Govia’s chief executive, said: "I’m absolutely certain we can deliver. I’m totally committed to making this railway one that everyone in Kent can be proud of.

"I firmly believe that we are entering an exciting new era of rail travel in Kent. The high-speed link will be a fantastic success and we will work hard to make sure that’s the case."

The introduction of high speed service would "revitalise the railway in this part of the country".

He added: "We are sure it will contribute significantly to the growth that Kent is set to enjoy over the next 10 years. LSER will help shape and support that growth during the course of the franchise and deliver a growing railway for a growing region."

GOVIA'S PLEDGES:

* New depots in Ramsgate and Ashford.
* Extra services to ease overcrowding in the busy peak periods from December 2006.
* A major timetable overhaul in December 2007, to improve punctuality and deliver more services.
* Nine out of 10 trains to be on time within three years, rising to 15 out of 16 by 2014.
* Invest £18.1million on upgrading trains, including new seat covers, toilets and audio visual passenger information on Networker trains.
* 20 per cent reduction in cancellations due to vandalism.
* A £17.6million programme to install modern CCTV on the entire train fleet.
* A £5.5million station improvement scheme, with help points, better accessibility and customer information systems, upgraded car parks, and more CCTV.
* Repainting all stations within three years.
* Removal of graffiti from trains and stations within 24 hours of it being reported.
* Target of Investors in People status by 2009, with 35 per cent of workforce to have an NVQ qualification by the same date.
* A new Stakeholder Advisory Board.
* The installation of wireless broadband Internet access equipment on long-distance trains.
* New automated ticket gates at Ashford, Canterbury West and Gravesend.
* £1.8million investment in new ticket machines.
* SNCF support in the planning and introduction of high speed domestic services from 2009.

* North Thanet MP Roger Gale told kmfm that he welcomed the news...