CONNEX rail chief Olivier Brousse is due to meet commuter watchdogs in Tonbridge this week to answer their concerns about poor performance.

Tonbridge and Malling Tory MP Sir John Stanley is also due to attend the meeting, the AGM of the Tonbridge and District Railway Travellers' Association. The association represents rail travellers in Tonbridge, Hildenborough and Paddock Wood.

A spokesman said: "The past few months have seen some of the worst train performance in recent history. Earlier this year we were prompted to write in the strongest possible terms to M. Brousse about the deplorable conditions being suffered by commuters."

The meeting, at 7.30pm on Thursday (May 22) at the Angel Centre, Tonbridge, is open to all 450 members of the association.

Its chairman, Lionel Shields, is standing down after many years' service and is due to be succeeded by John Reynolds. Mr Shields said: "I am sorry to be handing over to at a time of much activity within the association because of Connex's continued poor performance.

"But John knows the railway world well and I know he can count on the same very valued support from the committee and members that I have received."