Railfare campaign goes to Parliament

A CAMPAIGN launched last week by Lewes MP Norman Baker for a cut in East Sussex rail fares has reached Parliament.

The LibDem on Wednesday tabled a motion to the House calling for GoVia, the train operator, and the Strategic Rail Authority to work together to secure cuts in peak fares on the routes between Polegate and Lewes, and Seaford and Lewes.

In addition, Mr Baker has written to GoVia, the SRA and the Transport Secretary Stephen Byers, pressing his views.

And he has secured a debate in the House of Commons on rail services in East Sussex which will take place on Wednesday.

Said Mr Baker: The campaign is building up a head of steam.

It makes obvious common sense to cut rail fares along these lines economically, environmentally and socially.

As well as benefiting rail users, it would help road users too by easing congestion on the parallel A27 and A26, and on parking spaces in Lewes.

Mr Baker s early day motion notes that the peak return rail fare between Polegate and Lewes is 6.50 and that between Seaford and Lewes 5.

It further notes that the equivalent cost of petrol for the same journeys by road is little more than 2 but observes that most trains on these routes run with considerable spare capacity while heavy congestion can be found in peak hours on the parallel roads.

The motion further believes that many local people would use the train, which runs town centre to town centre on a frequent and reliable basis, if peak fares were cut .

It calls on the South Coast Multi-Modal Study to consider the role reduced fares along these corridors might have in reducing road congestion, thereby making better use of existing infrastructure and obviating the need for very expensive and environmentally damaging road schemes .