Consultation on improving local rail services (From This Is Local London)

Old Bexley and Sidcup MP urges Southeastern train passengers to get involved with the consultation

11:07am Tuesday 3rd July 2012 in Where I Live By Kelly Smale

OLD Bexley and Sidcup MP James Brokenshire is urging Southeastern train passengers to get involved with a public consultation on rail services.

The consultation, which has been launched by the Department for Transport, seeks views on a range of issues including service improvements, passenger experience, security, stations and car parking.

It is the first stage in the process to award a new contract to run rail services on the South Eastern Network from April 2014.

Mr Brokenshire met with Mayor of London Boris Johnson last week to discuss the role the Mayor could have to drive improvements in reliability and performance on Metro services in south-east London.

Mr Brokenshire said: "I know that many users of Southeastern trains simply aren’t satisfied with the service they currently receive.

"This consultation provides an important opportunity for passengers to have their say and to consider how we can drive much needed improvements through the award of the new franchise.

"I’m also keen to explore what benefits could be delivered if Transport for London and the Mayor had a more direct role in the running of local rail services."

Launching the consultation Rail Minister Theresa Villiers said: "Before we let this franchise, we want to make sure we make the right decisions to maximise the benefits passengers get from it.

"This consultation sets out a range of standards we expect any new operator to deliver as a matter of course, including improvements to stations, rolling out smart ticketing technology, better passenger information and good levels of punctuality.

"But we also want passengers and anyone else with an interest in the railways to tell us about other ways services could be improved."

Comments should be received by the Department of Transport by September 13.

For more information, visit dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2012-29/