Rail groups respond to rail improvement studies

COMMUTER groups still feel the Bexhill area is getting a raw deal following the publication of two reports by Network Rail.

These reports, known as Route Utilisation Strategies (RUS), outline service patterns and priorities for investment in the rail network in Kent and Sussex over the next 10 years.

The draft documentswere last year criticised by commuter groups for not acknowledging projected population growth in Hastings, Bexhill and Eastbourne.

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With the final blueprint now published, rail users are now concerned over plans to axe through services between Hastings and Cannon Streetin 2014.

Ray Chapman of St Leonards and Hastings Rail Improvement Project (SHRIMP) said: "The withdrawal of the Cannon Street service - our direct service to the City of London - is very bad news for Hastings and Rother district.

"This link is vital for the local economy.

"Essentially this is coming about because of the Thameslink programme, which will run new longer trains from north of the Thames as far as Tunbridge Wells. The trains will not be able to run on to Hastings because the power systems have not been upgraded. This follows on from an earlier announcement that Thameslink trains would also not be running to Eastbourne.

"We are not going to accept this, and will continue to lobby the Department for Transport.

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"The rail authorities need to operate the Thameslink trains to Hastings in the peak hours, offering an improved link into the heart of the city for local commuters to Blackfriars, City Thameslink Station at Holborn, Farringdon and King Cross/St Pancras."

Network Rail haspromised to invest in track and signalling upgrades on the Coastway route between Lewes and Ashford, which should enable higher speeds and shorter journey times.

Hugh Sharp,chairman of Bexhill Rail Action Group (BRAG) said this was a step in the right direction.

"BRAG's only concern about this is the long lead-in time '“ seemingly not until 2014 and beyond. Some of the speed limits on the Marshlink have been in place for more than 15 years.

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"Nobody knows what the economic outlook will be over the next few years and what excuses will be made to cancel or defer investment.

"We are also disappointed that other more immediate possibilities to improve journey times to London, such as ending the practice of attaching and dividing trains at Haywards Heath are ruledout in the near future."

Belinda Fordham, chair of the East Coastway Commuter Group said:"There is nothing new or substantial in any of these studies. Commuters travelling from East Sussex to London get a raw deal. Other than a bit of tweaking with the timetable there is nothing new for us.

"We need more trains, faster trains and longer trains. The Sussex RUS is too focused on Brighton and Gatwick - to the detriment of everywhere else - while the Kent RUS doesn't look beyond Tunbridge Wells or Ashford!"

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Watchdog Passenger Focus spoke to more than 3,000 passengers to find out their views of rail services.

Manager Sharon Hedges said she welcomed industry recommendations on how the Sussex rail network should be improved to meet the needs of passengers for the next 30 years.

"This report echoes what passengers have told us '“ more trains and more seats on services that run on time are desperately needed."

For further information visit the websites at: www.networkrail.co.uk, www.passengerfocus.org.uk, or 1066shrimprail.org.uk

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