After a decision by Labour peer Lord Adonis to uphold the cuts in services in December 2009, pressure group MARUG (Maidstone Area Rail Users Group) is still challenging the minister's decision. They have had a more detailed response about this decision and say that the reasons given are very poor indeed. Chairman of MARUG Laura Cloke said in the local press recently "The service we've received in the last three weeks has been the worst in my commuting experience".
Prospective MP Helen Grant has been a supporter of the campaign from the start, after being invited to become involved by KeepOurTrains campaign organiser Huw Whitethread. All of the local MP's whose constituencies are affected are leading the campaign, including Ann Widdecombe. They will be challenging Chris Mole on his decision and MARUG will be writing a response. Campaigners are asking rail users to help support the cause by writing to Chris Mole MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department for Transport, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DR. Users are also being urged to register their journey experiences on the MARUG website at:
http://www.marug.org/your-journey-experiences.html