Plans to bring Dartford in the London transport system slammed
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by Jamie Bullen
Plans to make Dartford railway station part of London’s
transport network have been blasted by politicians who are worried
the town could lose its identity.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson said he wanted to extend Transport
for London further afield as part of plans to save £100 million
over 20 years.
He has asked the government to give him power to franchise
suburban railways which he says will provide more reliable
services, cleaner stations and simpler fares.
The move could see private rail companies, such as Southeastern,
adopt the same model used by Transport for London.
However, MP Gareth Johnson has already written to Mr Johnson
opposing the extension of London’s rail network.
He said he fears Dartford will lose its status as a Kent
town.
He said: “I’m very much against these plans. It means the Mayor
of London will be running services in Dartford but not be
accountable to them.
“We don’t want London taking over Dartford. I want to protect
Dartford’s Kentish character.
“The Mayor of London does not have control over services people
in Dartford use. He could change the quality of services; he should
not have the type of power and influence in Dartford.”
Council leader Jeremy Kite welcomed the idea if it meant lower
fares for commuters, but raised concerns at the proposals.
He said: “Anything that can be done to make
commuters' life better should be welcomed. It seems illogical to me
that on the tube you can travel to places for the same amount of
money that are further out than Dartford.”
“However, we need to caution against becoming an expansion of
London. If you ask people whether their origins are from London or
Kent, most will say Kent.”
Cllr Kite added that issues such as policing and insurance costs
of homes and cars could be affected if Dartford came under
Transport for London’s control.
A spokesman for the Association of Train Operating Companies
said: “Devolving powers over rail from Whitehall to local bodies
works well in a number of different parts of Great Britain and is
something that is being considered.”
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Wednesday, February 08 2012
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