Thanks very much, P (Stavely). This is the first comprehensible and coherent account I have read of the real reason for the withdrawal of our Charing + services.

Two questions occur to me:

-Was there any public consultation on the decision you say was taken two years ago to give all the extra capacity to South-Eastern and to allow all their trains (including off-peak) to stop at LB, and on the implications for our services to Ch+?

- the Minister said in the debate on 5 February

'Because of the provision of the additional
trains, no spare capacity exists to allow Southern services
to operate into Charing Cross. Southeastern and Southern
have worked hard to identify a solution to the problem
that would allow those trains to be accommodated
through London Bridge. It has been unable to find a
timetable solution, but it remains an aspiration of Southern
to operate services through to Charing Cross. The
Government have said that if in future Southern and
Southeastern can find a way to extend services, which
we agree is desirable, we will not stand in the way of the
operators. I have asked officials to ensure that that
option continues to be considered.'

I assume that the only way that this 'aspiration' could be realised in practice would be if South-Eastern were not allowed to stop all their trains at LB?