by Alan Smith

A petition to stop a fast off-peak train service from Maidstone to Cannon Street being cut from December has been launched.

Southeastern has published its proposed timetable to take effect from December 13 and is planning to abolish off-peak fast trains from Maidstone to Cannon Street.

Managing director Charles Horton has boasted that the new timetable - by taking advantage of the opportunities from the new high speed rail link - will result in a "five per cent increase in capacity on peak services across the entire network".

But the move will increase journey times for many Maidstone and Malling commuters as they seek to connect to services from other stations. The hourly fast train presently makes the journey in around 58 minutes.

It's in stark contrast to passengers from other towns. From December, Ashford commuters will be able to reach London in just 37 minutes, while it will take just 69 minutes from Dover - faster than many services from Maidstone.

Southeastern has already received many complaints about the loss of the Cannon Street service, but has remained unmoved.

The company argues there is no business case for the service as there are, on average, fewer than the commercially viable 600 passengers per train.

It has lead to two commuters launching a campaign to keep the Cannon Street service.

Matthew Nash, from Maidstone, and Huw Whitethread, from West Malling, have launched their Keep Our Trains Campaign. The pair have met with Ann Widdecombe MP who is backing the campaign.

Mr Whitethread said: "It's surprising how few people know what's happening but if these off-peak services go, many City workers will be faced with a nightmare journey back to Maidstone.

"The only available service to commuters from Maidstone, Bearsted or West Malling will be via Victoria. That journey takes around an hour and 20 minutes compared with the Cannon Street service at less than an hour, plus we would be faced with an extra tube journey across London.

Mr Whitethread and Mr Nash want people to support their campaign by writing to their MP and by signing their online petition - 544 people have done so already.

Mr Whitethread said: "We are having a meeting with Southeastern's commercial director Vince Lucas next week, but I don't think the company will budge."

The new Southeastern timetable has yet to be approved by the Department for Transport. It is due to be signed off in July.

To join the campaign, visit www.keepourtrains.com