Newhaven rail summit

HEADS will be knocked together to ensure the improvement of Newhaven rail services says local MP Norman Baker.

A rail summit, organised by Mr Baker and the Newhaven Economic Partnership, is to be held at the Denton Island Business and Training Centre on Monday.

Its aim is to bring the various rail bodies together and agree a way forward to improve passenger and freight traffic through the town.

Mr Baker said: 'There is considerable agreement across the rail industry on what needs to be done in Newhaven.

'What has been lacking is someone to take the lead. The aim of the summit is to knock heads together and get things moving.'

The MP is calling for:

l Newhaven's three stations to be merged into one.

l Modern facilities and adequate car parking.

l A direct service between Newhaven and London to be reinstated via the reopened Lewes-Uckfield line.

l The increased movement of freight through Newhaven.

He added: 'Newhaven has potential to transport a great deal more freight by rail. Railway lines run direct to the quayside but no freight is currently moved through the port by rail, despite close links with Dieppe. We must make use of this existing infrastructure.

'The town could become a key player in the Government's transport plan for Sussex and the South East and the rail summit provides a welcome opportunity to put together a plan for the future of Newhaven's railways.

Those attending the summit are due to include representatives of The Strategic Rail Authority, Railtrack, Network Rail, English, Welsh and Scottish Railways (EWS), South Central Trains, East Sussex County Council, Lewes District Council, Seine-Maritime Region and possibly Transport Minister David Jamieson.