Member of Parliament for Beckenham Bob Stewart is supporting a campaign lead by local Councillors from across the Beckenham constituency in calling on Southeastern Railways to reverse the decision to remove services to Cannon Street from the Hayes (Mid-Kent) line from the 11th December 2022.
In September, Southeastern published their new timetable to take effect from December which included a number of changes across the area. Bob Stewart described the changes as a “mixed bag” for the area. Campaigners welcomed news that the Beckenham Junction to London Blackfriars service would be reinstated as part of the changes but were disappointed by the loss of the Cannon Street trains on the other line.
The removal of the Cannon Street services is to reduce use of a busy junction outside of Lewisham, so that more services can be provided to other areas. However, local Councillors from wards along the Hayes line are frustrated that their residents are losing services with no acknowledgement of the inconvenience and without consultation.
Bob is supporting a petition which has been set up by Councillors for Hayes & Coney Hall and Kelsey & Eden Park Ward, as well as Councillor Mark Brock (West Wickham) and Michael Tickner (Beckenham Town & Copers Cope). The petition calls on Southeastern to reverse the decision to remove the Cannon Street Service.
Bob said:
“These timetable changes are a real mixed bag of news. On one hand I am delighted the long-running campaign to restore the Blackfriars service has been successful but am disappointed in the removal of the Cannon Street trains. Many people have bought or rented homes to live on the line and to have that direct access to the City. Removing the link will have a ripple affect and lead to more crowded journeys on buses and other train services. The Councillors campaigning to have this removal reversed have my fully support and I encourage residents to sign their petition to show Southeastern the strength of feeling on this”.
Sign the petition at BeckenhamConservatives.com/Save-Our-Trains.
