KENT rail users could lose out under plans that could hand London Mayor Ken Livingstone a greater say over services to and from the capital.

County transport chiefs have warned that the proposals could lead to journey times from Kent taking longer because trains might be forced to make additional stops in London.They might also mean services from Kent disappearing altogether.

Under the shake-up, which Kent County Council is formally objecting to, the mayor would be able to take decisions about services which extend into parts of north and west Kent, including reductions in train frequency if it enhanced mainline services within the London boundary.

Cllr Graham Gibbens (Con), KCC’s cabinet member for regeneration, said commuters from all parts of the county might suffer, with lines from Kent into London playing second fiddle.

He said: "What we are looking at here is the prospect of additional stops and additional lines being put into central London just within the Mayor’s area, which is already widely-congested.

"It is not realistic and does not best serve the interests of Kent. People travel into London from all parts of Kent and they could all suffer if their trains are forced to make extra stops in London or additional services are introduced into London."

KCC has also questioned the logic of the mayor having the power to reduce services and share any savings with local councils, saying commuting to and from London continues to increase.

If the package of proposals are agreed, the mayor’s powers would extend to services between Dartford and Charing Cross and Cannon Street and services between Sevenoaks and Blackfriars via Swanley, passing through Bat and Ball, Otford, Shoreham, Eynsford and Swanley.

Public consultation on the changes ends this month, with a decision expected in the summer.