Most 14-year-olds are more interested in video games or going out with friends than getting involved in local matters.

But when Henry Hurley was stuck in traffic on his school bus – which he says is a daily occurrence – he decided to petition the government for a new train line for the Island, linking Leysdown with Sheerness.

The Fulston Manor School pupil started the petition two weeks ago and needs 10,000 signatures for the government to respond.

At 100,000 signatures, the petition will be considered for debate in parliament.

Henry, from Warden, said: “The Isle of Sheppey has recently seen a huge development at Neats Court in Queenborough, and the Island itself just seems to be growing, but the infrastructure has not been developed to allow residents and visitors from Leysdown and Warden to access it.

“If there was a train, with multiple stops across the Island, people would access shops at Neats Courts, and other areas, much easier and provide more business.”

The Year 10 pupil added: “On a normal day, it takes me an hour and a half to get to school – it’s a bus journey to Sheerness, then a train to Sittingbourne – but it’s difficult to get anywhere from Warden.”

Henry has put together a route and stops for the proposed train, serving Leysdown, Eastchurch, Kingsborough Manor, The Leas and Sheerness.

He added: “It would get people moving about more and we would see more residents and holiday makers visiting other areas of the Island

“It would be great for people who can’t drive or are fed up with getting stuck in traffic.

“People might just want to have a ride on the train from Leysdown to Sheerness in the summer too.”

The teenager, who thinks it would help tackle the traffic problems on the Lower Road, Minster, has contacted Southeastern with his idea but has not yet had a response.

“I haven’t thought about pricing or anything like that yet, I just wanted to get the idea out there and get people to back it.”

To sign the petition, click here.