Economy

Bexley’s Council Leader makes case for Thameslink to stop at Erith and Belvedere

Bexley’s Council Leader is pushing for Thameslink rail services to stop at Belvedere and Erith, as well as the existing stops at Slade Green and Abbey Wood.

The service runs between Rainham in Kent and Luton, with stops including London Bridge, London Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon, St Pancras International and Luton Airport.

Trains run twice an hour in each direction.

“Thameslink is particularly important to Bexley because of the limited travel options available to our residents,” said Councillor Teresa O’Neill OBE. “The infrastructure is in place and the change would be relatively easy to make. I have contacted Tom Moran, the managing director of Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), to ask for the extra stops, explaining that they would create new opportunities and make life easier for local people.”

Councillor O’Neill also recently met with Jenny Saunders & Patrick Ledbury from GTR, to make the case for the extra stops.

If GTR agree the proposal, the need to change the timetable means that it may take some time to implement

Major government backed transport study launched

An important new study looking at transport improvements to support growth and regeneration in the corridor between Abbey Wood and Ebbsfleet has been launched.

Funded by the Ministry for Housing and Local Government (MHCLG), who have pledged up to £4.85m, the work will be overseen by the C2E Partnership, comprising Kent County Council, the boroughs of Bexley, Dartford and Gravesham, Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, The Thames Gateway Kent Partnership, the Greater London Authority and Network Rail. These organisations have been working since 2015 on proposals to improve transport links within the sub region to support much needed new homes and jobs and more sustainable travel patterns.

In June 2018 the Partnership secured the backing of the Thames Estuary 2050 Growth Commission. In response to the Growth Commission’s report, MHCLG committed funding to explore and build a business case for enhancing transport links in the area subject to suitable housing ambition.

Since January, the Partnership has been engaging with government to develop the detailed scope of the study and procure the delivery team. All the main consultants are now in place and are about to launch a broad programme of research and analysis to detail the transport and development challenges within the area, identify possible transport improvement options, understand how these options can support further housing and jobs growth both within the study area and beyond and consider what potential mechanisms could help fund any improvements. The work will include analysis of a range of transport interventions, engagement with local stakeholders and two phases of public consultation, later this year and again in the new year.

Councillor Teresa O’Neill OBE, Leader of the London Borough of Bexley and Chairman of the Partnerships Local Authority Board said: