Winners and losers in Rye rail shake-up

Following extensive passenger consultation it has been decided to abandon planned changes to the Ashford to Brighton express service.

But while this will be welcome news to some it is a bitter blow to Rye commuters who are still left facing poor connections and long delays at Ashford.

The timetable means that Rye commuters arriving from London into Ashford have no time to make the Rye connection and are stranded for an extra half an hour.

The proposed changes also included talk of additional stops at the smaller stations on the Rye line, such as Winchelsea and Three Oaks where services have dwindled to be almost non-existant, leaving many rural residents islolated.

A life-line remains for the smaller stations with Southern saying it is still looking at introducing more stops.

A spokesman for Southern Railway said: "When analysed, responses to the survey showed that some key stakeholders had serious reservations about the merits of the scheme and that a significant overall net benefit could not be demonstrated.

"Following analysis of the responses Southern felt it only right to recommend that the changes not be implemented. The Secretary of State has agreed with this view.

"While this will mean that some of the potential passenger gains from the changes will be lost, it will mean that the direct coastway link from Brighton, Lewes, Eastbourne and Hastings to Ashford, and the high-speed and international services, will be maintained.

Southern is also talking to the DfT about a plan to deliver additional stops for Three Oaks and Winchelsea as part of the December 2010 timetable change. They say this is one proposal within the consultation that may be delivered.

David Scorey, Southern's Franchise Improvement Director, said: "I would like to thank people for their help with this consultation. Although the outcome is not the one we envisaged, I think it shows how powerful public consultation can be.

"I know some people will be disappointed with this outcome, but having consulted with stakeholders and passengers we felt it was only right to take all views into account when making our final recommendation.

"Some of the most ardent supporters of the changes were the residents of Three Oaks and Winchelsea, and we hope to still deliver them an improved service."

Monika Betson, of the Three Oaks and Wicnelsea Rail Action Group, said: "John Spencer and I will continue negotiations with Southern for additional stops in the timetable to Three Oaks and Winchelsea.

"Three Oaks and Winchelsea desperately need access to public transport and to encourage tourism to the area which has been lost since the severe reduction in the rail services to the area."

Stuart Harland – chairman of the Marshlink Action Group, said: "Wr see some advantages and some disadvantages in the Consultation proposals - we await details of the new December timetable with some trepidation because the proposal included many aspects that were positive for Rye passengers.

"The main disadvantage of the proposals was the loss of the direct express service from Ashford to Brighton. We trust, this direct connection will now be retained.

"The main advantage of the proposals was that MarshLink train times were able to be determined by arrival and departure times of trains from Ashford to improve connections there. Train times can be expected, as now, to be scheduled to fit the available slots in Brighton and I fear that we will not have the good connections that were planned.

"I was pleased to see included in the announcement from Southern that they "hope to still deliver (Three Oaks and Winchelsea] an improved service" but we await the details on this. There was no comment on Doleham which we will be pursuing.

"I think it should be said that this seems to be a good example of Southern Railways listening to its customers because, speaking to many groups and individuals about the proposals, there did seem to be a negative response."