In February 2004 the Strategic Rail Authority published a consultation paper "Integrated Kent Franchise: Train Service Specification". This outlines their proposals for rail services in Kent when the Channel Tunnel Rail Link is completed in 2007.
They said their aims were:
They plan to make the timetable more consistent throughout the day, by having a "core" service supplemented by additional peak hour trains. In Longfield's case a core of 2 trains per hour will be supplemented by 4 trains during the 3 hours of the peak. This means that the train service will be similar to today, but with the advantage of more fast trains. Meopham will receive a similar service.
However they plan to cut services to less used stations. "These stations are where patronage is significantly less when compared to nearby stations and where the station is on a line of route which serves larger centres of population and therefore savings can be made in journey times.". Stations affected include our neighbours of Farningham Road and Sole Street. Naturally local residents there are very unhappy about this (incidently interviews with Medway commuters on Radio Kent found they did not like the prospect of stopping at Longfield!). Certainly 2 trains spread across the 3 hours of the peak is patently inadequate.
They acknowledge that people want the trains to run later in the evening, but say they cannot achieve this until they have got agreements on possession of the track for engineering works.
The service they propose for Longfield and our neighbours is thus:
Off peak
1 train per hour to/from Victoria calling at:
Bromley South, Longfield, Meopham, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and semi fast to Dover/Ramsgate.
1 train per hour to/from Victoria calling at
Bromley South, St Mary Cray, Swanley, Farningham Road, Longfield, Meopham, Sole Street, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and all stations to Dover/Ramsgate
Peak
1 train per hour to/from Victoria calling at:
Bromley South, Longfield, Meopham, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and semi fast to Dover/Ramsgate.
1 train per hour to/from Victoria calling at
Bromley South, Swanley, Longfield, Meopham, Chatham, Gillingham and all stations to Dover/Ramsgate
Supplemented by the following trains spread over the three hour peak:
2 trains from Victoria calling at:
Bromley South, St Mary Cray, Swanley, Longfield, Meopham, Chatham, Gillingham
1 train from Victoria calling at:
Bromley South, St Mary Cray, Swanley, Farningham Road, Longfield, Meopham, Sole Street, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham
1 train from Blackfriars calling at:
Bromley South, St Mary Cray, Swanley, Farningham Road, Longfield, Meopham, Sole Street, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham
Fares
From 2004 they have got the agreement of the Government to raise fares by 1% above the rate of inflation every year until 2007. However, they appear to be arguing for premium pricing in the years following the opening of Ebbsfleet.