Longer Southern trains for Lewes passengers welcomed

From May, Govia Thameslink Railway is changing its timetables for two years to make space for a massive upgrade to Gatwick Airport Railway Station to relieve crowding, improve accessibility and reduce delays.

Network Rail’s building work will put platforms out of use and mean speed restrictions for trains passing through the worksite, all of which means fewer services can run.

The changes will mean the Eastbourne via Lewes service will no longer connect to other trains at Haywards Heath.

These Southern services will operate with longer eight-carriage trains throughout most of the day, providing twice as much space on board.

Meanwhile there will be extra stops at Wivelsfield and Cooksbridge.

Maria Caulfield, MP for Lewes, said “Residents have been telling me for months that far too many services from Lewes to London are four carriages, which is simply not enough to cope with the number of passengers using the line. I have been calling on Southern and GTR to reinstate the service to eight carriages from Lewes and I am pleased that this will now be the case from May.

“With the separation of the East Coastway and West Coastway services our line will no longer be impacted by events on the West Coastway as they are now.

“I am also pleased to see the increased services for our rural communities in Wivelsfield and Cooksbridge, as well as the retention of a direct service from Seaford to London.”

In order to accommodate the dedicated East and West Coastway services, GTR is scrapping off-peak Southern services from Brighton to London Victoria.

This was a point picked up by Green district councillor Sean Macleod on Twitter as he argued it would lead to extra footfall through Lewes.

Ms Caulfied responded: “Sean I have been lobbying to end short formation trains for 18 months and had public meetings with residents and GTR on this. As a Green councillor I thought you would welcome extra rail services?”

Cllr Macleod replied: “I welcome them of course I do, but this has nothing to do with your lobbying and you know it. From May off-peak services from Brighton to London Victoria stop. That stock is just being placed onto the Lewes line as footfall will [increase] this isn’t your win Maria.”