Representatives from the Maidstone Area Rail Users Group will be pressing to keep the Maidstone East to Cannon Street service at a meeting with Southeastern.

Chairman Laura Cloke has been invited to a meeting to discuss the proposed changes to the train timetables due to come into effect in December.

She said: "The services are well used despite not arriving in or leaving London at the high peak time of travel, as our recent survey discovered.

"Our findings showed very clearly that the previous understanding of the use of the line was wrong and needs to be urgently reviewed."

Miss Cloke has been promised the chance to present Maidstone rail users’ views to Charles Horton, MD of Southeastern, at the meeting in Gillingham on Monday.

The train company, which originally proposed scrapping the Cannon Street service altogether, has now submitted a proposal to the Department of Transport to keep a revised service, if it were to receive more cash.

An answer is expected from the Government in October.

Miss Cloke said: "I shall also be representing the Malling Rail Users group at the meeting and you can rest assured I shall be pressing the case for better services for all our local commuters."