Tory London Mayor, Boris Johnson

Mayor of London wants to take control of Dartford and Sevenoaks train lines

Plans by London mayor Boris Johnson to take over some of Kent’s train routes could result in higher fares and slower services.

That’s the fear of Sevenoaks MP Michael Fallon who this week met with Transport for London officials to discuss the proposals.

Mr Johnson believes he could provide faster and cheaper services in the Dartford and Sevenoaks routes to the capital that will better connect with the London underground system and Docklands Light Railway.

But Mr Fallon said he is mainly concerned if that the proposals are agreed, fares could go up dramatically as it’s down to the London mayor to set the prices – and yet people of those parts of Kent who will have the pay any increases have no way of voting for or against the mayor in elections.

The fares being set by someone the people of Kent have no control over is simply unfair, he said.

And Mr Fallon also wanted assurances non-stop commuter services on the lines will not be touched.

He said: “My concerns are ending up with a slower service for commuters, but above all this could mean the mayor may set higher fares, and out in Sevenoaks we cannot vote for the mayor.”

Following the private meeting with TfL’s deputy chairman Daniel Moylan, the MP said he was told the non-stop services were safe, at least for now.

However, on the subject of fares, whil it’s true the mayor can set the level, he can be over-ruled by the secretary of state, and she is next on Mr Fallon’s list for a meeting.

Mr Fallon said: “They have reassured me services will not be slower for commuters. However, they did not reassure me about fares.

“A future mayor, not Boris, but a future mayor could ramp up fares and use that money to subsidise those inside London.

“We wouldn’t have any control over that because we don’t vote for the mayor. TfL said they would have to go away and think of some protocol to be written in to any new franchise that would protect areas outside London like Sevenoaks and Dartford from increases above what the rest of London would pay.

“Having the secretary of state for transport being able to over rule the mayor is not a safeguard. You could have a high-spending Labour mayor and a high-spending Labour secretary of state that might decided these are affluent people and they ought to pay more to help people in Hackney or Stoke Newington or wherever.

“There is safeguard there making this an issue, and they need to address it.”

Under the mayor’s plans, responsibility for stations and services in several areas, including Southeastern’s routes between London and the Kent towns, would come under the remit of his office and Transport for London.

Mr Johnson has already upset many in Kent with his desire to see another London airport built in the county, but now he wants control over some trains too. He said: “We think that with greater co-operation and integration we could deliver better services for the passengers, safer stations and less fare-dodging.”

And he added in his report called The Mayor’s Rail Vision, he said: “The lack of a coherent vision is a barrier to investment.”