MAKING THE CASE FOR RAIL IN THE FENS LOCAL ACTION

a Wisbech Rail Summit at the if new housing can be built for London and South East House of Commons on 11 March the people who will use the line, which drew together all those and if the costs, particularly on By Roger Blake involved in making the case for the line’s many level crossings, [email protected] reopening, including Railfuture can be kept to reasonable levels. ■ ■ rail summit and Transport Minister Stephen Other issues remain to be Hammond. This provided new resolved, such as the timing of impetus for the scheme and dem- funding to complete planning onstrated the number of serious by , but he is on the players supporting it. case and has already discussed He remains concerned that the this with Cabinet Offi ce minister cost of transport projects remains Greg Clarke. too high and subject to too many Stephen Barclay’s thoughtful planning stages, each involving and strategic approach has built use of expensive consultants. a strong case for Wisbech, and “There is a need for an honest we will see passenger trains debate, rather than a sham con- there, perhaps as early as con- sultation,” he said. He believes trol period six (2019-24). This is people should be off ered a choice a textbook case on how to tackle of what might be achieved, reopenings, but you cannot take together with an understanding anything for granted and we all At a rail summit in March, Railfuture presented local MP of its costs or requirements. The need to continue to make the case with a model Javelin train, donated by Hornby Wisbech rail link will work only until the trains start running. Hobbies of Margate. Ms Rudd is seen in our picture with Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin and Greg Barker, MP for Bexhill. Mr McLoughlin confi rmed that the high speed AND IN SUSSEX BY THE SEA train service from London St Pancras to Ashford will be extended to Hastings and Bexhill soon after 2020. There is Rail Summit Two: Hastings of publishing it. We will continue a business case for the upgrading of the Marsh Link route via Rye which will clip 10 minutes off the Hastings-Ashford By Chris Page to work in partnership with journey, while also giving a service to St Pancras in just over [email protected] , and Brighton an hour. Ms Rudd presented Mr McLoughlin with a painting Journey times between Hast- and Hove, and the local enter- of a Javelin train at Hastings. Railfuture commissioned the ings and London will be slashed prise partnership, to ensure that picture from artist Mike Turner (see back page). The good when new trains capable of 140 this promise is delivered and to news for Hastings and Bexhill is a campaign success for mph are introduced in little more achieve East Sussex’s second pri- local rail groups including Railfuture-affi liated Marsh Link than fi ve years time. ority of electrifying the Uckfi eld Action Group and St Leonards & Hastings Rail Improvement line and reopening from Uckfi eld Programme. Transport Secretary Patrick to Lewes, enabling through ser- Read more at www.railfuture.org.uk/Marshlink McLoughlin made the announce- vices from London via the Weald ment at a Hastings Rail Summit to Brighton and Sussex coast des- ■ ■ New trains as Overground takes over West Anglia convened by Amber Rudd MP in tinations.” March. Transport for London has announced an order for 39 new Railfuture and the St Leonards trains to follow its takeover of 24 stations on West Anglia’s “We are now fi rmly on the jour- and Hastings Rail Improvement routes to Enfi eld Town/Cheshunt and Chingford from ney to vastly improved rail travel Programme, a member of the 31 May next year. Eight of the new four-car trains will be for to and from Hastings” said Ms East Sussex Rail Alliance of local the Gospel Oak-Barking route. This Overground expansion Rudd, MP for Hastings and Rye, rail user groups, have been cam- will be a milestone in the devolution of rail services in the who has spearheaded the cam- paigning for electrifi cation of the capital, advocated by Railfuture campaigners. The former paign to upgrade rail services whole Marshlink between Hast- Silverlink Metro network has been transformed since it and revitalise the local economy. ings and Ashford International. was taken over by TfL in 2007. We will recommend that the Network Rail’s route managing Currently electrifi ed track from Overground takes over South Eastern Metro services at the next opportunity in 2018. The end of the Greater Thameslink director for the South East, Dave Hastings to Ashford reaches only management contract in 2021 will open up similar prospects Ward, committed to developing as far as Ore, the fi rst station. for inner Great Northern and Southern services. the project during the coming Network Rail plans to electrify investment period and to build- the line between Ore and Ash- ■ ■ Step at a time for Uckfi eld-Lewes reopening ing the partnership with stake- ford, raise the maximum speed, One year ago Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin visited holders needed to deliver the extend the loop at Rye, and project soon after 2019. Lewes to see local MP Norman Baker and announce a review remodel the western junctions “to examine if reopening the Lewes-Uckfi eld railway line High-speed Javelin trains run- at Ashford to create a connection will meet the demand for the future growth in rail travel”. ning between London St Pancras between the Marshlink line and Network Rail’s report has been published and its Sussex and Bexhill via Ashford Inter- High Speed One. Route Study is now expected as a consultation draft this national will achieve a journey The prolonged closure of the autumn, which will be a step towards identifying schemes for time between London St Pan- Tonbridge line has highlighted the next control period, 2019-24. Railfuture will continue to cras and Hastings of 68 minutes, the limitations of that route for advocate the benefi ts of reopening Uckfi eld-Lewes, for East compared to over 100 minutes much improvement, whereas the Sussex economic activity and connectivity, communities and via Tonbridge in the peak today. planned upgrade of the Marsh- colleges, and London commuters. The new service for Hastings and link route for a new Javelin ser- More information: www.railfuture.org.uk/Uckfi eld+Lewes Bexhill will also reduce crowding ELY STANDARD Picture by courtesy of the ELY vice has a strong business case. on the line through Tunbridge ■ ■ Women will be stars of Railfuture conference Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks. This summit is an example of good campaigning practice, Our branch is organising the 1 November national Railfuture Railfuture director Roger Blake exemplifi ed by creating a memo- conference in London around the theme “A successful said: “This is a phenomenal suc- rable media image which can be railway: meeting the challenge”. We plan to have an all-female cess for East Sussex, which will platform of speakers. A fl ier is included with this Railwatch. associated with the long-term Book now at www.railfuture.org.uk/conferences stimulate economic growth in campaign. Hastings. With our support, the county council has secured the See www.railfuture.org.uk/arti- ■ ■ Stay up to date with our campaign activity at fi rst of two priorities in its new cle1456-High-Speed-Hastings www.railfuture.org.uk/London+and+South+East rail action plan within six months Local Action: See column right 14 railwatch July 2014 Twitter: @railfuture www.railfuture.org.uk ◆◆◆◆ Rail User Express can be downloaded from the Railfuture website railwatch July 2014 15

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