NEWS ARCHIVE 2005

Darling holds up train improvements

8 November, 2005

Alistair Darling, the Secretary of State for Transport has been sitting on a strategy to improve the Brighton Main Line for more than a year now with no sign that the recommendations will be implemented.

The Brighton Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy was published back in September 2004. It recommended more frequent and longer Gatwick Express services extended to Sussex coastal towns. Under the plan, stations along the Arun Valley, including Crawley, Horsham, Billingshurst, Pulborough, Arundel, Chichester and Bognor Regis, would all benefit from a faster and more reliable service.

Currently, trains from Horsham to London Victoria take 58 minutes. In comparison, trains from Haywards Heath – a similar distance to London – take just 46 minutes. The new strategy would see journey times from Arun Valley stations to London reduced by up to 10 minutes.WSRUA spokesman Clive Burgess said "We are extremely disappointed that the Government has mothballed the Brighton Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy. This would improve rail services on the Arun Valley by making them quicker and more reliable, benefiting thousands of commuters. Passengers are in favour of it. Southern is in favour of it. It is only BAA who oppose it. Instead of making rail services better, the Government has been bullied into doing nothing. Why does the Government listen to BAA but not the passengers who actually use the railway day in, day out?"

WSRUA secretary Trevor Tupper said "As part of our campaign we asked the Government to implement the SRA’s recommendations as soon as possible. All Alistair Darling could say was that he was still considering it. Well, he has been considering the Brighton Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy for more than a year and we are still nowhere near these sensible proposals being implemented. That leaves our rail services in limbo waiting for a Government decision. In the meantime commuters stand in overcrowded trains watching in frustration as half empty Gatwick Express trains sail past. We are very concerned, that with the abolition of the Strategic Rail Authority and the Rail Passengers Committee for Southern England, Ministers will continue to hide their heads in the sand."