Oyster Card at Dartford Train Station

by Lizzie Massey

lmassey@thekmgroup.co.uk

Cheaper tickets, extra trains and more services that run on time are just some of the things Dartford commuters could look forward to, if Transport for London gets its way.

Currently trains between Dartford and London are the responsibility of the government’s Department for Transport, with the services run by Southeastern.

The existing Southeastern franchise comes to an end next March and TfL wants to take over the government’s role.

It will still appoint a train operator to run rail services on its behalf, but believes it does a better job of managing them than the government.

As well as money-saving and easier journeys, rail passengers could also look forward to a new-look station and trains, which will be emblazoned in bright orange.

Geoff Hobbs, head of rail planning at TfL Rail and Underground, said: “At the moment train operators working for the government department do not really pay if they have a poor performance.

“We will incentivise the operator to concentrate more on running the trains on time by paying them according to how reliable its trains are – and dishing out financial penalties for every minute they’re late.”

The other benefits being promised to the people of Dartford include:

• Fares will not increase – they will be the same price or cheaper.
• Dartford will become a part of the Oyster card network, giving passengers the chance to use the plastic top-up smart card, instead of paper tickets, which can be used on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and most National Rail services in London.
• A rise in the number of trains running. Services to Victoria, Charing Cross and Cannon Street will increase from running every 30 minutes but not every day, to running every day at least every 30 minutes, and more frequently on some days.
• A refurbished station, with more electronic information screens, extra ticket barriers, cycle racks and CCTV.
• An increase in the number of customer service and cleaning staff.
• Services run by other franchises through Dartford will be unaffected.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has dubbed TfL services as “the highest performing and most popular” in the capital.

The existing Southeastern franchise comes to an end on March 21, 2014.

Usually, companies know two years in advance of any change in operator, but that deadline has already passed and a decision needs to be made soon.

Proposals to incorporate Dartford into the London rail network are still being mulled over by the Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin, who will be listening to the views of local councillors, council leaders and MPs before making a decision on whether the government will forfeit control to the private company.

Dartford should know whether it will be the new pearl in the Oyster card club in just two months.

If plans are approved, the first services could run from May 2015.