Rail campaigners to push harder

The case for building a second Brighton main railway line was set out at the annual meeting of the Wealden Line Campaign.

The project, known as Brighton Main Line 2 (BML2), would have major benefits for rail users across Sussex.

Brian Hart, the Campaign’s Project Manager, told a packed meeting at Uckfield on Saturday the scheme would bring relief to rail users on over-crowded trains across Sussex.

It would:

*Remove a substantial amount of pressure from the overloaded Brighton Main Line;

*Allow more trains to run between Brighton, Eastbourne, Seaford, Lewes and London; and

*Open up a former connection between west Kent and East Sussex.

Mr Hart said: “These are radical proposals to solve enduring public transport problems.

"They have already been well-received by leading players in the rail industry. There are no other realistic, practicable and viable proposals on the table from others.”

Mr Hart, of Uckfield, has walked the route of BML2 and has carefully evaluated the project in some detail.

"The Campaign fully appreciates public spending is currently constrained. But it will take several years to re-build the railway. The planning needs to be done now and be ready for implementation when the financial brakes come off.

“It is no good waiting until the problems become utterly unbearable, which is likely in eight years time – if not sooner.

“It’s a fact that more carriages are not a permanent solution.”

Retiring Campaign chairman, Simon Anderson, and Campaign secretary, Jane Vokins, were thanked for their sterling service over several years.

The Campaign’s executive committee, elected at the meeting, is Duncan Bennett (chairman), Brian Hart (project manager), Alan Mitchell (treasurer), Brian Abbott (webmaster), and Ian Smith (secretary).

In-coming chairman, Duncan Bennett, said: “We need the alternative set out in the project because, frankly, there is absolutely no alternative; any other options are expensive and very difficult in engineering terms.

“The Campaign will need to publicise and promote its project more-widely.”

In future the Campaign’s main activities will be found on the BML2 website

*BML2 would provide a direct link between Uckfield and Brighton via a new tunnel under the downs.

The photograph is of a train at Uckfield railway station