Safety problem hits commuters

Rail services on the Uckfield to Oxted line have been disrupted this week because of problems with the installation of a warning system.

A deadline for fitting the system to the diesel trains was March 31 and without it they are not allowed on to main lines. Direct services from Uckfield to London and back have been cancelled.

Ian Nottage, a town councillor and member of the Uckfield Railway Line Parishes Committee, said he was unhappy that more warning wasn't give to commuters about the problem and that extra trains were not being run from Oxted to East Croydon so that Uckfield line passengers did not have to squeeze on to already full East Grinstead line trains.

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'I understand the need for a safer railway with the train protection warning system and the technical problems involved in fitting safety devices to the old Uckfield line stock, but I do feel that there could have been better communications with passengers,' said Mr Nottage.

The reduced service was due to run between Tuesday and today (Friday, April 4). It meant the cancellation of the 6.27am Uckfield to East Croydon, 7.27am Uckfield to Victoria and 6.27pm Uckfield to East Croydon services. The 6.56am Uckfield to London Bridge and the noon, 9pm and 10pm Uckfield to East Croydon services all terminated at Oxted.

Also cancelled were the 5.26am and 6.12am trains from East Croydon to Uckfield, the 5.10pm London Bridge to Uckfield and the 6.01pm Victoria to Uckfield train; the 12.48 East Croydon to Uckfield train started at Oxted at 1.04pm.

South Central apologised for the inconvenience caused to passengers and said it was working to resolve the technical problems.

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