Cllr Bill Randall

Green councillors have attacked plans to abandon the direct rail service from  Brighton to Ashford.

Cllr Bill Randall, Convenor of the Green Group, said:
‘It’s madness. The country could face critical fuel shortages in the next decade, and the government and rail companies should be improving rail services, not cutting them.
 
“If Southern, the rail franchise holder for the central South East, gets its way, travellers from Brighton to Ashford will have to change trains to make the journey from December 2010.The second train, from Eastbourne to Ashford, is a two-car train that is often overcrowded.
 
"Brighton, Lewes and Polegate will lose their through service to Ashford, which is an important link between Sussex and Kent. The journey will take longer, and people will be discouraged from taking the train and will be more likely to drive to Ashford. This service should not be scrapped, it should be improved with longer trains and proposals developed to electrify the line from Hastings.
 
"Southern should think again, and it should also have another look at reopening the Lewes to Uckfield line, which would ease congestion on the Brighton to London line as well as restoring rail services to rural Sussex.

“The Green Party remains the only major party in Britain to call for the full re-nationalisation of the railways.  We believe most people want to see the rail network back in public ownership.”

Simon Kirby, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Brighton Kemptown said: "Southern should rethink this decision. It should also have another look at Lewes to Uckfield line - reopening this link would ease congestion on the Brighton to London line and provide better rail services to rural Sussex."

For more information about the Greens view: www.brightonandhovegreenparty.org.uk

For more information about the Conservatives view:
www.brightonandhoveconservatives.com