Paul Clark, MP for Gillingham, has criticised the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) for failing to link Medway to proposed domestic services on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.

He said the SRA showed "lack of understanding and foresight on the importance of Medway."

The SRA indicated its proposal to run CTRL Domestic Services in North Kent only to Gravesend when it appeared before the joint KCC/Medway CTRL Select Committee.

Mr Clark a member of the All Party Parliamentary Rail Group and heavily involved in the Thames Gateway regeneration project, said: "This proposal for CTRL Domestic Services to run only to Gravesend is total nonsense.

"It shows a clear lack of understanding of the current position of rail traffic flows to and from Medway and London and the misery endured by so many commuters today."

The SRA had shown no forward thinking and failed to link its role to the work of other Government departments and partners in North Kent.

"Medway is the largest conurbation, the 'city' of Thames Gateway and yet it will be denied decent rail connections fit for the 21st century," he said.

Mr Clark said he would meet Transport Secretary Alistair Darling to discuss the SRA's decision.