Bexley Council leader backs plans to give Boris control of rail services (From This Is Local London)

Bexley Council leader backs plans to give Boris control of rail services

7:10am Saturday 28th January 2012 in News By Alan Woods

BEXLEY Council’s leader is calling on the government to give the Mayor of London responsibility to make decisions about the capital’s rail services.

The government has indicated it is looking for more flexible ways to franchise the railways when contracts need renewing and Boris Johnson has said he wants more control.

Councillor Teresa O’Neill has written to the Secretary of State for Transport, Justine Greening MP, backing the move.

She said: “Because Bexley is one of the few London boroughs not on the Underground, thousands of our residents rely on overground rail services for their daily commute.

“The services to Bexley stations are a frequent cause of complaint and I believe the Mayor of London could make them better using the experience he has gained with the London Underground.”

o Routes serving Bexley homeowners affected by any change would be Southeastern services from Victoria, Charing Cross and Canon Street to Dartford.

The contract for these journeys will be re-let in 2014.