Four of Medway’s mainline stations are being considered for improvements in the wake of political investigations into rail changes planned for a year’s time.

As well as the high speed services to St Pancras being introduced in December 2009, there will be more trains to London stations, although there will be a loss of some slow trains to Victoria.

Strood station has Government funds for lifts and a footbridge to be built by 2011, while Chatham is to get urgently needed parking by the time the Javelin-operated services to St Pancras begin, and lifts by 2014.

But a new station for Rochester is now being considered.

It is planned as a turning point for some high speed domestic services (CTRL-DS). But it is not big enough and cannot be extended.

One possibility, not mentioned in the report, is to combine Rochester and Strood to provide a junction station between the North Kent, St Pancras/Cannon Street and Medway Valley lines.

Investigations are also under way to see whether the freight route to the Isle of Grain can be upgraded, possibly for passenger trains.

Gillingham, which got another £1.5 million to improve the access as part of high street improvements, is to have a facelift.

Strood will get lifts, the footbridge, waiting rooms, shelters and seating.