YOUR help is needed to convince rail bosses that Maidstone and West Malling need improved train services.This week we launch a petition in support of a campaign by Maidstone Borough Council, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council and Kent County Council for better links to London. Reporter asked transport experts from the three councils to be the first to put pen to paper at Maidstone East station.

A CAMPAIGN to improve train services to Maidstone and West Malling needs your support.

Kent Online's sister newspaper, the Kent Messenger, has this week launched a petition backing our Fast Track to London campaign.

It is calling for faster services to a wider range of London stations and the introduction of clean, modern rolling stock.

And we want everyone to sign up--whether they are regular commuters or occasional day-trippers.

The peitition will be available from today (Friday) at the Kent Messenger office in Middle Row, Maidstone and at newsagents across the area.

It will be presented to the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA)in the new year as part of a portfolio of letters and articles , along with a report commissioned by Maidstone Borough Council, Kent County Council and Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council.

The councils are on the brink of appointing the consultant and agreeing the brief for the report, which is intended to convince the SRA of the economic need for better rail services to Maidstone and West Malling.

The first names were put on the petition at Maidstone East station on Tuesday by Cllr Richard King (Con) of KCC, Cllr Malcolm Robertson (Lib Dem) of Maidstone Borough Council and Kent Messenger senior editor Ron Green.

Cllr King, KCC’s cabinet member for strategic planning, said: “If your readers can support the petition and put their names to paper it will help a great deal to move this campaign forward.

“It is very important for a fast and improved service, not just for Maidstone but also West Malling which serves Kings Hill.”

Cllr Robertson, the borough council’s transport and environment cabinet member, said pressure has to be put on the Government to fund a domestic Eurostar service.

That would mean that Kent would benefit from high-speed links on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL).

There would also be the chance to run extra trains on the domestic rail network once the Eurostar stops using it and moves full-time onto the CTRL.

Cllr Robertson said: “The Government always promised that Kent would benefit from the CTRL. It is important that we pressure the Government to come up with the goods.

“They need to come up with the money to make the CTRL domestic services work.”

He added: “Maidstone is becoming more important as a regional shopping centre and people are already coming from miles around. We have plans for a new Maidstone East station and we need quality services to complement it.”

KM senior editor Ron Green said: “The time is right to galvanise public opinion about this issue. The high speed rail link is one thing, but good domestic rail links between Kent, the county town and the capital are absolutely essential for the future well-being of the area.”

Cllr Matthew Balfour (Con), Tonbridge and Malling council's cabinet member for planning and transport, added his support to the campaign at West Malling station.

He said: "We have a rapidly expanding business centre in Kings Hill which needs better communications with London and the rest of the country."

You can sign the petition online at the Fast Track campaign website: http://www.digitalmaidstone.co.uk/fastrack .