COUNCIL chiefs and passenger groups were able to put their views on the future of rail services in Kent to the man at the top during a meeting today.

Richard Bowker, chief executive of the Strategic Rail Authority, spoke and answered questions for over an hour at County Hall, Maidstone.

The meeting was held in private with only representatives from KCC, local authorities, parish councils and the South East of England Passengers Committee, which make up the Kent Rail Forum, allowed inside.

Speaking after the meeting Mr Bowker said that he had been delighted to have had the opportunity to put across the SRA's views and to listen.

He said: "It was a very constructive and open and cordial meeting where people were able to express their views and hopefully see where we have been trying to come from.

"The important message to get out is that this is a consultation process and it is important to get this right.

"I am absolutely delighted it has been engaged with in the way it has. We have taken away a lot of key points."