Rt Hon David Evennett, Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Bexleyheath and Crayford, has been campaigning against the example given in the South Eastern Franchise Consultation to reduce the number of terminals on the Bexleyheath line.

Mr Evennett has supported the Keep Bexley on Track campaign, completed the online survey for the consultation, and made a number of representations to the Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Chris Grayling. He has now received a letter from the Transport Secretary assuring him that there are no proposals to reduce or change specific services. The letter stated:

Thank you for your letter of 25 April 2017, about the South Eastern franchise consultation.

I am glad that you have responded to the consultation, and for your support for closer working between Network Rail and the train operating companies in the interest of a more efficient, integrated service.

To be clear, we are not proposing to reduce or change specific services.

The public consultation will end on 23 May 2017, after which the Department for Transport will analyse each response. The conclusions will be published in the Autumn in a Stakeholder Response document. I encourage your constituents to take part in the consultation process, if they have not already done so, t help shape and improve services on the South Eastern network in the years to come.

Mr Evennett commented: "I have campaigned on this matter and have made my views explicitly clear; the suggestion to reduce the number of London terminals available on the Bexleyheath line is unacceptable and would be detrimental to local residents."

"I am therefore pleased that the Secretary of State for Transport has now clarified this matter and given assurances that there are no proposals to reduce or change specific services."