EARLY morning commuters were today promised a better train service if proposals to use the Channel Tunnel Rail Link domestic service in Medway are given the go ahead.

Members of Medway Roller Dance Club handed out leaflets to commuters at Gillingham station this morning explaining why Medway Council believes the rail service must come to Medway.

Eurostar trains currently travel through Ashford. By 2007 the high speed trains will stop in Ebbsfleet near Gravesend and Stratford in London before arriving at St Pancras in north London.

Medway Council is campaigning to have the service stop in Medway and has pointed out there will be an opportunity to slot the domestic service between those of Eurostar.

Trains from London will be able to leave the high-speed line at Ebbsfleet and use the existing lines to Medway.

The new and improved service would mean Medway commuters would see an additional four trains every four hours running at peak times and two at off peak times.

Passengers would also have the option of travelling beyond Cannon Street and Victoria and into St Pancras.

One of the problems facing commuters is the lack of seats. Medway Council has promised the additional trains would provide an extra 2,500 seats to train users.

Dr Richard Simmons, Medway's director of development and environment, believes the improvements are long overdue.

He said: “Our train services are very poor and our commuters deserve a better rail service. The proposal is to take the trains beyond Medway.”