Green light litfor high speedrail says Amber

The MP was speaking as she held her second Rail Summit last week and welcomed the first ever Javelin train to Hastings.

At the Summit were the Rail Minister, Claire Perry MP, Ray Chapman of East Sussex Rail Alliance and representatives from Network Rail, South Eastern and Southern.

Amber commented, “The green light is well and truly lit for high speed rail to our homes.

“We heard about the commitment from various groups to help continue the momentum to get high speed rail to Hastings and Rye.

“We need to continue to show our determination to get this essential infrastructure delivered.

“All the speakers encouraged us, as the community to speak up to make our campaign clear and vocal to ensure delivery. That is why I am launching a Rail Campaign to demonstrate our support for this exciting transformation for our rail connectivity. Please go to my website and add your name.”

“It is also great to hear that after many conversations, letters and campaigning Southern have agreed in principle that the UNIZONE Rail cards will be extended to Hastings for Brighton University students.

“This is a fantastic development and I’m pleased the rail operators have listened to sense and extended it beyond Eastbourne. I will now be pressing Southern to deliver this as soon as possible.”

Amber says the high speed rail line will be an extension from Ashford International stopping at Rye, Hastings and Bexhill.

The new service will see the time to get to London cut down to 68 minutes from Hastings and under an hour from Rye.

Rye Labour candidate Sarah Owen said: “I welcome this focus on rail, something I have made a priority myself, but I’m really disappointed to hear the government minister say that high speed trains to Hastings is “far from a done deal”.

“I know this is vital to our local economy and regeneration but I really want to know when better rail links will become a reality . It’s time we heard some details.

“We need to know exactly when Network Rail and the government will start working on electrifying the Marshlink between Hastings to Ashford and where we fit in the priority list of other infrastructure projects in the Country.”