MP pushes for improved rail links between Eastbourne, London, and Ashford

Caroline Ansell says she will lobby ministers to help fund a rail link and improved services between Eastbourne to Ashford and East London – a move she says will increase jobs and opportunities for the town.

The extension to the High Speed 1 service to Eastbourne would connect the town with the growth corridor of Ebbsfleet where the London Resort is due to create 30,000 jobs and then wider rail links to North European destinations like France and Belgium.

Improved London services towards Stratford International would allow better access to Eastbourne for the East London Boroughs, opening up the town to a further one million potential tourists.

Mrs Ansell recently received a briefing on the wider South Coast Mainline proposals, including the extension to Eastbourne that could be delivered within this decade.

She said, “These are exciting plans to level up our rail infrastructure and a unique public/private funding partnership opportunity.”

“If finance can be found, it will be a really smart investment in our town’s public transport and do much to drive Eastbourne as the area’s premier coastal staycation destination.

“I do believe this is a real opportunity to make Eastbourne an even better place for business and visitors to come to, and for people to live here if this extension can be built.

“I was told the idea is financially feasible and there is a great team behind it, but clearly there is a case to win and a way to go until spades are in the ground as this is a multi-million-pound project.”

The MP says she will now speak to Department for Transport and Treasury ministers to see how much money is available to see this idea into reality.

Match-funding will be needed from the private sector too, she says, but the release of government cash is the ‘key’ to get the plan rolling.

Two men injured in fight outside Eastbourne shop