BRAG calls for faster rail link to London

BRAG carried out a consultation exercise with local residents last autumn through the Bexhill Observer.

The current service is run by Southern a joint venture between the Go-Ahead Bus Group and French railways. The franchise will go out to tender towards the end of this year and the new contract will begin in September 2009 and last for seven years.

Peter Parker, deputy chairman said: "Two messages that come through loud and clear are that the journey time from Bexhill to London is far too long; and that more seats are needed on the Brighton to Ashford service, which is currently operated with just two carriage trains.

"The problems of the London service are well-known to Bexhill rail travellers: too much time standing still at Eastbourne and Haywards Heath dividing and attaching carriages.

"We would like to see an hourly service to London that doesn't do this, with a target journey time of 100 minutes off-peak.

"As for the Brighton-Ashford service, overcrowding is a problem on certain trains in the rush hour on the Brighton-Hastings corridor. We also believe that demand for this service is likely to grow substantially next year when new high speed connections begin from Ashford to St Pancras.

"It is important that the new franchise continues to provide both value for money for the taxpayer, and a good quality service for customers. BRAG does not want to see a repeat of mistakes in previous franchise rounds where contracts have been awarded on the basis of unrealistic bids, and which has soon led to deterioration in service quality and increases in fares

"Although infrastructure upgrades are not part of the franchising process, this issue cannot be separated from service provision.

"BRAG wishes to see a business plan formulated to upgrade infrastructure on the East Coastway and Marshlink. This has suffered decades of under-investment but is the key to improving reliability and providing more services. We would like to see a commitment to look at projects such as the Willingdon Chord, a new piece of track which would allow certain fast services to avoid going into Eastbourne, and for new stations at Stone Cross, Glyne Gap and St Leonards West Marina to be evaluated."

BRAG's submission will be available to view online on at www.bexhillrailaction.org.uk. Members of the public can also comment directly to the Department for Transport via the following email address: [email protected] or by post to South Central, DfT Rail, Zone 5/28, Great Minster Street, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR

In the coming months, BRAG will be hosting a number of meetings locally with franchise bidders, with the dates to be publicised in the Bexhill Observer.