Rail action group criticises Route Utilisation Strategies

The two studies or Route Utilisation Strategies (RUS) - one for Kent and another for the Sussex Coast - form the blueprint for planning local train services over the next decade.

Developed in conjunction with the South London RUS, Kent RUS and Freight RUS, Network Rail say the Sussex RUS covers the Brighton main line into Victoria, London Bridge and Blackfriars.

In addition, it includes routes along the West and East Coastway (between Havant and Bexhill) the Arun Valley line (between Arundel and Three Bridges) and service operating on the North Downs line (between Reading and Gatwick Airport).

But BRAG say the area names are misleading because the boundary between Sussex and Kent areas lie well inside Sussex at the Bo Peep Junction in St Leonards, and local rail services operate across both areas.

Rail groups in East Sussex have also complained that the studies concentrate on regeneration areas in Kent, and Brighton, respectively and ignore Bexhill, Hastings and Eastbourne.

BRAG Chairman, Hugh Sharp, said Bexhill and Hastings appeared

"peripheral" to both strategies:

"Much is missing from the Route Utilisation strategies.

The Kent RUS completely ignores the projected population growth in Bexhill and Hastings as a result of new housing associated with the planned Bexhill to Hastings Link Road.

"This growth is likely to be significant, taking the combined population of the towns to around 150,000 by 2026. The majority of this population is likely to be economically active and much of it will commute to London, Ashford, Brighton or the Thames Gateway.

"Despite this there is also no holistic view of the Coastway and Marshlink service between Brighton and Ashford, no analysis of potential pressure on the main Hastings '“ Tonbridge line (particularly at Battle and Crowhurst stations) and no significant proposals to improve services on any of the three rail routes out of 1066 Country or to speed-up the Victoria service."

He added: "The Sussex RUS repeats the mistake of another study five years ago by focussing on Brighton to the detriment of everywhere else. Brighton currently has seven trains an hour to London, none of which divide en route and often run short with as few as four carriages. Eastbourne has just two trains an hour to Victoria, and Bexhill and Hastings only have one.

"These trains attach and divide at Haywards Heath with other trains from West Sussex, which takes extra time, and they are often overcrowded despite being up to twelve carriages long by the time they reach London. The whole procedure is confusing for passengers and trains are often cancelled or subject to delays when one of the portions goes awry.

"Despite this, the local train operator Southern has plans to run an eighth train every hour between London and Brighton from next year, but no plans to improve services to Eastbourne and Hastings. We think this is inequitable."

However, a spokesman for Network Rail said that final decisions on the routes have yet to be made and they have "absolutely no predetermined agenda" and are "still considering responses", adding:

"Network Rail have a thirty year vision to work too and we want to improve the railway for the maximum number of people possible. We need to identify current trends, and future trends, and make recommendations to fill those gaps."

Fiona Taylor, Network Rail's route director for Sussex said it's vital that they have a clear strategy for the future:

"Four out of five commuters travelling into London from Sussex travel by train. The Sussex route currently carries around 146m passengers a year. This is expected to continue to grow, so it is vital we have a clear strategy for the future. Capacity is at the top of our agenda, but we are also putting a lot of effort into making the railway more accessible and reliable to continue improving passenger journeys."

The Kent consultation period closed on July 23rd with the Sussex consultation period closing on 21st August. The outcome and final decisions will be published in 2009 and 2010.

Full details of RUS can be viewed on Network Rails website at: www.networkrail.co.uk or for further information on BRAG: www.bexhillrailaction.org.uk