MP PRESSES FOR RAIL IMPROVEMENTS

At the meeting, Mr Baker pressed for action on the following points:

Cutting train times between Polegate, Lewes and London by eliminating split trains at Haywards Heath, and taking advantage of the much faster acceleration of the new, faster rolling stock now in operation.

Re-configuring services to provide one fast express train every hour between Polegate, Lewes and London and one stopping train that calls at more stations.

Modifying on-train announcements to ensure that the electronic scrolling display is accurate, particularly on trains from London which currently divide en route to two destinations. Mr Baker also called for superfluous announcements to be cut.

Increasing from 2 to 3 or 4 the number of coaches on the heavily used diesel trains between Brighton & Ashford.

Rationalising rail services at Newhaven to provide one good station with proper facilities, including car parking.

Reversing the recent price hike affecting people travelling between Bishopstone and Seaford.

Tidying up the litter near Seaford and Lewes stations

Pressing for a toilet to be provided at Polegate station

Pressing for additional evening services between London Bridge and the coast

Speaking after the meeting, MrBaker said:

"I am pleased that Southern have agreed to take my suggestions forward and report back to me in due course. Local rail services have improved considerably recently but there is still definite room for improvement. We need to do more to encourage people to use the trains by making them as fast, frequent and pleasant to use as possible.

"Now that the new rolling stock is in place it is clear that there is considerable slack in the timetable and room for a significant reduction to journey times. I believe we could easily knock 10 minutes off the journey time to London. The challenge for Southern is now to do all this while at the same time looking to better the standard of the local rail services and station environments."