18 March 2011 – Green Party MEP for Sussex and the South East, Keith Taylor is supporting Lewes Green Party’s demand that East Sussex County Council protect the old Lewes to Uckfield line from new developments. They argue that building new roads and developments across the derelict line could threaten plans to use this line to tackle over-crowding on existing Sussex train lines. A road gyratory system in Uckfield could soon be approved by East Sussex County Council as part of a new development associated with Tesco. This gyratory would probably put an end to any potential new rail links for the region.
Keith Taylor MEP recently visited Lewes to discuss the future of the South East Rail Network. He met Lewes Green party members and BML2 (Brighton Main Line 2) Project Manager, Brian Hart to discuss concerns about over-crowding on the existing rail line from Brighton to London. The situation is due to get worse within the next decade. BML2 (Brighton Main Line 2) Project Manager, Brian Hart has worked extensively towards the reinstatement of the Lewes to Uckfield Rail Line (1) as part of a regional network strategy.
It is predicted that by 2020 the Brighton Main Line will meet capacity and the South East Rail Network will cease to work effectively. The future of the derelict Lewes to Uckfield unused railway line has been discussed for many years. Recently Brian has found an economical and engineered solution for bringing the line back into use, which would help alleviate the growing capacity issues on train lines between Sussex and Brighton.
Keith Taylor, the Green MEP for Sussex and the South East and a member of the European Parliament’s Transport Committee said, ‘Getting to London from Sussex by train is becoming an increasingly difficult and unpleasant experience. With passenger numbers on this route set to increase substantially in the next decade, it is important that we look for creative solutions to this problem. Doing nothing is not an option – it will force more people onto the roads, increasing congestion in an already over-crowded region and leading to high emissions and air pollution. I would urge East Sussex County Council to think carefully before allowing developments which jeopardise the possibility of re-instating the Lewes to Uckfield line.’
Brian Hart said, ‘Rail plays a critical role in the local economy and our well-being in this crowded corner of the South East, but to operate more trains we need increased capacity between London and the Sussex Coast . This is an extremely serious problem because the Brighton Line is now completely full. It therefore makes economic and environmental sense to develop under-used assets, such as extending and upgrading the Uckfield line to Brighton and Lewes. This would provide the capacity and the modern transport system our region needs. Norman Baker is well-known for his unrelenting and vociferous support to reopen the Lewes-Uckfield line and I know many people are anticipating that this will now translate into real action by the Government and the Department for Transport’.
Whilst offering a cost effective alleviation for the current Brighton Mainline, the proposed link (BML2), that would include a spur to Lewes and a connection at Falmer (2), would offer greater services for the whole region.
Notes to editors:
1. The line, which originally passed across Malling Fields, Lewes High Street and the Railway Lands, was closed in May 1969. The Phoenix Causeway Bridge took its place as part of the first phase of the Lewes Relief Road Project by East Sussex County Council. The other two phases of the Relief Road Project never materialised, and the Cuilfail Tunnel became the alternative, opening in late 1980.
2. See www.BML2.co.uk for further details
