Locate in Kent, the county’s investment promotion agency, has welcomed the news that high-speed rail services to Sandwich and Deal are to continue until October 2014.
The Department for Transport announced today (Wednesday) that it was extending rail operator Southeastern’s franchise to run the route by six months. It added that it was developing plans to continue the route beyond that until it awards the next full franchise in 2018.
Paul Wookey, Chief Executive of Locate in Kent, said: “At a time when we are seeing growing interest from companies in locating to East Kent, this is welcome news.
“East Kent now attracts more inquiries from companies than any other area of the county and is an area we are promoting heavily to companies looking to relocate to or within the county.
“While sites such as Discovery Park at Sandwich have a compelling offer, as witnessed by a number of investment announcements there in recent weeks, high-speed rail links to London are vitally important to the area’s continued regeneration.”