CONTROL over Kent’s rail services should be given to a regional rail authority to stop responsibility for them being handed to London mayor Ken Livingstone, it has been suggested.

A report by the Institute of Public Policy Research – IPPR – says passengers across the south east would benefit if a south east rail authority was charged with setting timetables, regulating peak fares and setting train operating contracts.

The call comes from a coalition of county councils in the south east, chaired by Kent County Council leader Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart.

The report questions whether the London mayor, through Transport for London, should have greater influence over south east rail services when nearly one third of all journeys to and from the capital start in the south east.

Under Government plans, responsibility for setting timetables and awarding rail franchises will be handed down to local level when the Strategic Rail Authority is abolished in the autumn.

While no decisions have been made, the London mayor is lobbying for more influence.

But Julie Foley, research fellow with the IPPR, said: “Given the strong passenger rail links between London and the Greater South East, it is questionable whether responsibility for franchising services should go exclusively to the Mayor. We think responsibility for passenger services should be given to a new Greater South East Rail Authority.”

The proposals were broadly welcomed by passenger groups. Tim Nicholson of the Rail Passengers Committee for Southern England said:

“It would be completely wrong for Transport for London to have any more powers over rail services in Kent and Sussex. Whether you have a separate authority for the south east is a different matter. You cannot ignore London but we have to have proper priority given to passengers outside London.”

The report also recommends that to improve transport generally in the south east, the government should introduce national congestion charging within the next ten to 15 years, provided there is “significant investment” in transport services.

It also says pedestrians and cyclists be given greater priority through better planning and speed controls.