News


downsmail.co.uk Axe falls on first-class travel


TRAINS on the Southeastern network will soon see first-class seats removed in a bid to free up more space for commuters. Themove is among several plans


laid out by rail minister Paul May- nard as tender to take over the fran- chise fromnext year begins. The next operator –whoever that


may be –will be required to remove all first-class accommodationwithin 18months of taking over in an effort to reduce overcrowding. Improved, longer andmore com-


fortable trains must also be intro- duced to allow for at least an extra 40,000 passengers a day. Fast wi-fi connectivity is also on the agenda, with all measures to be in place by the end of 2022. The franchisewill also be the first


in the country to have a joint team running day-to-day operations for track and train to cut delays and im- prove performance. MrMaynard said: “We are invest-


ing in the biggest railwaymoderni- sation for over a century. Thismarks amajor step forward in giving pas- sengers better journeys across the South East and beyond. “We’ve listened carefully to pas-


sengers and have introduced inno- vative newplans that see smoother,


Pitch violence


investigation A SATURDAY league footballer has been banned fromplaying for a decade after ‘laying out’ a referee during amatch inMaidstone. Reports suggest referee Mick


Brookeswas left ‘out cold’ follow- ing a fracas on the football field as he tried to bring order during a heated cup match between Hollingbourne FC and Lenham Wanderers.Mr Brookes (59) raised the red card after an overzealous tackle and a player was head- butted during the game at Hollingbourne’s ground inGreen- way Court Road on September 16. Mr Brookes, a referee for 33


years, was taken by ambulance to hospital for treatment as players continued to fight, a witness said. In response to the violence


shown by Hollingbourne player Brett Tupper during the Kent Re- liance Junior Cup A match, the Kent Football Association has given the player a 10-year ban likely to end the 28-year-old’s football career. The severity of the penalty – twice as long as the minimum recommended – demonstrates the dim view of such violence on the field. Richard Judd, fromtheKent FA,


refused to comment.Aspokesman forKent Police said investigations were continuing.


18 Maidstone January 2018


more comfortable journeys for pas- sengers,with new, longer trains and more space. “Southeastern will also – for the


first time – be run by a joint team fromthe operator andNetworkRail under a single director responsible


SEASON tickets for Southeastern commuters and peak time fares will rise by 3.6% from January 2 – the largest rise in five years. The price increase also applies to


unregulated fares, including off- peak tickets. Only Southeastern Ad- vance fares will remain frozen at 2017 prices. The bleak news has been de-


fended by the rail company, which states ‘nearly 97p of every pound goes back in to run and improve the network’. A Southeastern spokesman


added: “We understand that no one likes to see prices go up, especially season ticket holders. However, the government regulates annual fare


for day-to-day performance and ac- countable to passengers.” Southeastern currently delivers


640,000 passenger journeys a day, and with Thameslink and Crossrail services in the capital, the next fran- chise holderwill have a role to play


Southeastern defends fares rise


increases to meet the costs of run- ning and upkeep of Britain’s rail- ways. “Southeastern remains commit-


ted to making journeys better for passengers and has invested over £78mto improve train services and station facilities.” The new franchisee of the south-


ern rail service is expected to be an- nounced by the Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling, next autumn. Southeastern and the Stagecoach


group are among those to have ten- dered for the contract. Last year, average rail fares for


Southeastern services rose by just under 2%.


in integrating new strategies for travel across London and the south -east. Passengers will also be able to


claim ‘delay repay’ if they are de- layed for 15 minutes on their jour- ney, as opposed to the present 30-minute threshold. The Department for Transport


hadmore than 10,000 responses to a survey on the future of Southeast- ern, and insist that serviceswill con- tinue into London via the same stations. But a spokesman added: “There


will be some limited changes to services to deliver significant bene- fits for all suburban passengers, in- cluding fewer delays and a regular ‘turn up and go’ timetable. “The next train operator andNet-


workRailmust alsowork closely to- gether tomake these transformative changes happen. “Biddersmust put forward plans


for integrated joint teams between themselves and Network Rail to bring track and train closer together, cutting delays and improving oper- ations.”


Police seek duo caught on camera


CCTV images have been released of two men police want to speak to following amajor disturbance in Maidstone. Four people were injured in the


incident, which happened in Hart Street at 4.33am on Saturday, October 21. The victims all required hospital


treatment for facial injuries, and as the investigation continues, police have issued the images. Detective Constable Tony


CCTV image of the twomen police want to speak to


Hatcher said: “We are treating this as an unprovoked attack. It has left four men suffering injuries including a broken jaw as well as some serious facial wounds inflicted with a knife.


“We are very keen to speak to


either of themen pictured in these images and would urge anyone with information to contact us as soon as possible.” The first man is described as


black, aged between 25 and 30,well built, with short dark hair and wearing


a dark coloured


bomber/puffer style jacket, dark trousersand dark shoes.The second man is described aswhite,with very short, gelled slicked back hair. Anyone with information should


call Kent Police on 01622 604100, quoting reference YY/30637/17. Alternatively, contact Kent Crime- stoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.


Witnesses sought to crash on A249


A MAN has been arrested for a number of driving offences after a crash in Maidstone which left a woman fighting for her life. The incident happened just after


midnight on Saturday,December 2 when a blue convertible Peugeot left the A249 Sittingbourne Road close to the junction with Sports- field and collidedwith a tree. Thewoman, in her 20s,was taken


to a London hospital with life- threatening injuries, and remains in a serious condition.


A second woman, aged 25 and


from the Sevenoaks area, who suf- feredminor injuries,was treated at the scene andwas initially arrested in connectionwith the collision, but was later released pending further enquiries. Ahuntwas launched for the car’s


driver, who fled the scene shortly after the incident occurred. Subsequently, a man aged 28


from the Maidstone area was ar- rested on Saturday evening in con- nection with the incident, on


suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, failing to stop and driving while unfit through drinks or drugs. Officers from the Serious Colli-


sion Investigation Unit are still keen to hear from any witnesses they have not yet spoken to. Any- one who may have witnessed the collision, or saw the car in the mo- ments leading up to it, is asked to contact them on 01622 798538 or email sciu.td@kent.pnn.police.uk quoting reference DH/271/17.


Maidstone January 2018 19


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