The Rt Hon Heidi Alexander
Secretary of State for Transport
Department for Transport
Great Minster House
33 Horseferry Road
SW1P4DR

Dear Heidi Alexander,

Cuts to Thameslink services in Bexley

I am writing to you regarding reports of cuts to Thameslink services calling at Bexley stations on the Luton to Rainham line over the summer months.

It is disappointing that there has been no formal communication or notice from the newly nationalised Govia Thameslink Railway operator to Bexley Council regarding this decision. This lack of engagement and consideration of our borough is especially unacceptable given that the timetable will halve these services to one train per hour.

Firstly, the rail cuts will affect passengers travelling to and from Bexley. The Thameslink service directly connects Slade Green and Abbey Wood stations in the London Borough of Bexley to the Medway towns and Luton. While Southeastern will continue to serve these two stations, residents travelling beyond central London and further into Medway will face longer journeys.

Secondly, there will undoubtedly be additional impacts on congestion and illegal parking in Bexley following this decision, given the popularity of the Elizabeth Line. It is imperative that we improve public transport connections to Abbey Wood so that more people can access the station without driving, given the limited car parking capacity and parking pressures on nearby residential streets.

Bexley residents will be disappointed that the first act following the Government's decision to nationalise Govia Thameslink Railway will be to slash services serving our borough. Residents had hoped that the Thameslink service might be brought to additional local stations, such as Belvedere and Erith.

Finally, given the challenges faced by retail, leisure and hospitality businesses across Greater London, the decision to cut train services in the summer is precisely the wrong move to attract visitors to support the capital's economy. Bexley's strategy for economic growth, in part, lies in our frequent and reliable public transport links between London and Kent. Thameslink forms part of that offer, and as such, we oppose cuts to its services.

I urge you to reconsider the decision to halve Thameslink services between Luton and Rainham, serving Bexley stations, this summer. I also ask for assurances that there is no plan to permanently cut these services, and for the Department for Transport to outline its plans to invest in this line to better connect this corridor.

Given the impact of this decision and also the potential to secure economic growth by investing in our transport infrastructure, including improvements to Thameslink services, the expansion of the DLR into our borough, and the extension of the Elizabeth Line to Ebbsfleet, I would welcome a meeting to discuss these matters further. 

I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely
Cameron Smith
Deputy Leader of Bexley Council
Cabinet Member for Economic Growth and Infrastructure