Southeastern Rail increase services to coastal towns to boost business

They have increased the number of trains due to the heat and to give people easier access to seaside towns.

Transcript

00:00With the wet weather seemingly behind us and heat on the horizon, it's little surprise

00:04that people want to get down to the beach.

00:07Southeastern Railways have responded with additional services between London Bridge

00:10and Ramsgate, allowing for direct links to the coast.

00:14Southeastern Railways have responded with additional services between London Bridge

00:17and Ramsgate, allowing for direct links to the coast.

00:20Towns like Whitstable, Herne Bay, Margate and Broadstairs will become part of the permanent

00:242.5 hour trip across the coast.

00:27The choice by Southeastern was intended to be a boost to the southeast's tourism industry,

00:31which they've already provided in part with extra late night services from Margate to

00:35support music events over the summer.

00:38One of our trains going down towards the coast can carry about 800 passengers.

00:42Not only does that support local businesses, it also takes a lot of cars off the roads.

00:46We know that with Operation Brock and people heading down to the port of Dover, it can

00:51be a bit of a nightmare to drive around and to travel down to the coast by car, but travelling

00:56by train, air conditioning, which is really important for a day like this, and like I

01:00say, if we're taking some cars off the roads, we're supporting the environment as well.

01:04With the main route to these coastal towns currently being the M2 and A299 motorways,

01:09which can be prone to traffic and roadworks, the new trains hope to ease the pressure,

01:13both on the roads and the environment.

01:17In Whitstable, where the oyster trade reigns supreme and people flock to the ocean when

01:21the sun comes out, local businesses seem excited at the prospect.

01:25Everyone loves coming down, especially from when I've driven back from my dad's house

01:30back into Whitstable, the motorway really builds up and then the town gets very busy,

01:35the beach is very busy.

01:36I think for the pub, it'll do very well.

01:39It'll bring more of an incentive for people to come, knowing they're going to be running

01:42more frequently.

01:43So yeah, I think that'll definitely improve tourism, hopefully make it busier, and bring

01:49a bit more business for the new inn.

01:50The new inn is just one of the many local businesses that require high foot traffic around

01:55the area to turn a profit, so many hope the coming heatwave will boost tourism along

01:59the coast.

02:00Get out as much as possible, enjoy the breeze, the sea breeze.

02:07People with kids maybe who are off, yeah, I think so, probably more than a regular Tuesday.

02:14The schools are on holiday, it's a wonderful opportunity for them to use these first really

02:19summer days for this year.

02:21The poor weather so far this summer and the upcoming heatwaves may mean the additional

02:25trains allow businesses along Kent's coast to capitalise fully on the good weather.

02:29Finn McDermid for KMTV.