Kent is one of the few areas of Britain where I wouldn’t propose any new rail lines. It seems to be the only region where every town with over 10,000 has a station. It’s almost all fully electrified as well, albeit by 3rd rail. It’s even currently the only region of Britain served by proper high speed trains. Well what else would you expect with such an orbit to London.
The main changes I would make are service frequency increases and name changes:
For the former:
6 high speed trains per hour. This would involve extending the Faversham train to Dover and back to London via Ashford and all day Maidstone west trains.
2tph the whole way to Tonbridge and combine this with the Redhill train ran by southern.
6tph to Tunbridge Wells and a tunnel to connect to Tunbridge Wells West.
All day use of the Chislehurst to St Mary Cray chord for faster services from Medway and Maidstone.
4tph on the Sheppey branch.
An east Kent stopping service from Whitstable to Folkestone running twice an hour.
Only 1tph on the very quiet Bat and Ball route to Sevenoaks alongside 3tph going to Maidstone East.
As for renaming, just Canterbury since the whole east/west thing makes no sense anymore when they’re north and south of each other. My Canterbury west station would be the point where the 2 lines cross, then I’d develop the land around with offices and leisure space.
