Could this be first step to creation of new Brighton mainline? (From The Argus)
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Could this be first step to creation of new Brighton mainline?
1:00pm Wednesday 26th September 2012 in News By Tim Ridgway, Local government reporter
The first step towards the reopening of a railway line which campaigners hope could lead to a new London to Brighton line has been taken.
The old Uckfield station closed in 1991 when the link from the town to Lewes was shut.
But the land, which is about 50 metres away from the present station, is one of just five locations in England and Scotland that Network Rail has specifically asked the Department for Transport to transfer into its control.
Campaigners see it as a boost to their plans to create Brighton Mainline 2 (BML2), which would go from London via Uckfield and Lewes and provide an alternative to the current Brighton mainline.
The land is currently held by the former British Rail Property Board, which is one of the quangos being abolished by David Cameron’s administration.
It has been under threat of redevelopment for about 30 years.
But a submission from Network Rail said the Uckfield site, in its view, is required “for operational reasons and to safeguard future rail capacity needs”.
Brian Hart, BML2’s project manager, said: “Ownership of Uckfield had to be the first major step, whilst it’s blatantly clear that only BML2 can deliver substantial new rail capacity into London.
“Once this premise is accepted, we can start building towards a greatly enhanced and more robust Southern network.”
Comments(13)
The Heretic
says...
1:44pm Wed 26 Sep 12
Lewes MP, Norman Baker's rather parochial views notwithstanding, our City DOES desperately need the reliable rail service a second route to London will provide. Now, more than ever, the local economy cannot afford the losses to trade and tourism incurred every time the present solitary mainline goes belly up. Now Network Rail is becoming interested, let's hope things are looking up.
bruce_
says...
2:54pm Wed 26 Sep 12
Charlie Oscar
says...
6:22pm Wed 26 Sep 12
Dr.Draconian
says...
7:14pm Wed 26 Sep 12
The Heretic
says...
8:33am Thu 27 Sep 12
Dr.Draconian wrote:Do please have a look at the BML2 website Dr D. If Norman Baker's less than helpful suggestions were adopted, it would provide the kind of service you suggest, but the BML2 scheme is more than that.
Brighton to London via Uckfield? yeah great if you want to take 2 hours to get there.....
Presumably you're still thinking in terms of a steady saunter up a cross-country rail byway. BML2 is a plan for a 100mph route to town with interchange hubs at East Croydon, Lewisham, Docklands and Stratford. There'd be routes never available before, alternatives when the main line is out of action, seats for commuters, weekend services for tourists and a direct link between Gatwick, Stanstead and other East Anglian airports. A sort of Thameslink 2 if you like.
Would it take longer to Victoria via Uckfield? Yes - about 12 minutes longer for the fastest service possible - but that's a route which would likely only provide cover for when the Haywards Heath line is down, and in any case, would be rather better than the replacement bus. Would it mean less commuters having to endure the scrum at Victoria tube station? Yes.- The centre of gravity in London has moved eastwards with Docklands and now the Olympic Park. The transprt network needs to evolve to reflect this.
@rolivan, can't blame Dr Beeching for this closure - like the Swanage branch, the Wealden routes (incl. Eridge-Tun Wells) were never slated for closure in his report.
UglyAmerican
says...
8:33pm Fri 28 Sep 12
Charlie Oscar wrote:.--. . .-. .... .- .--. ... / - .... . -.-- / -.-. --- ..- .-.. -.. / .-- --- .-. -.- / --- -. / --- ...- . .-. -.-. .-. --- .-- -.. .. -. --. / -. . -..- -
... .... .. -
Charlie Oscar
says...
9:58pm Fri 28 Sep 12
The Heretic
says...
9:21am Sat 29 Sep 12
Terry K
says...
1:43pm Sun 30 Sep 12
ghost bus driver
says...
9:13pm Fri 12 Oct 12
The Heretic wrote:Apparently there was a meeting with Network Rail, ESCC, the BML2 guys and aa few others and they all thrashed out what they wanted and tried to come to solution that accommodated everyone's viewpoint. I think a combined road and rail scheme would be the way forward, and a staged approach to BML2.
Well, it's not quite BML2 - YET! But it's a significant step in the right direction and very welcome news all the same. After an attempt to total the site earlier this year with a 'road scheme', it's good to see ESCC have responded to public opinion, and are at last treating rail travel as a serious option. Maybe Brighton & Hove Council, our Chamber of Commerce and the Brighton Line Commuters might now consider joining the cross-party chorus from MP's and County, Town and District Councils for better transport.
Lewes MP, Norman Baker's rather parochial views notwithstanding, our City DOES desperately need the reliable rail service a second route to London will provide. Now, more than ever, the local economy cannot afford the losses to trade and tourism incurred every time the present solitary mainline goes belly up. Now Network Rail is becoming interested, let's hope things are looking up.
ghost bus driver
says...
9:15pm Fri 12 Oct 12
The Heretic wrote:Or the Great Central,although he did reduce that to a local line. if it had to close they should really have mothballed it as it would have been a useful asset for the HS2 project (as it was intended to be in the first place)
Dr.Draconian wrote:Do please have a look at the BML2 website Dr D. If Norman Baker's less than helpful suggestions were adopted, it would provide the kind of service you suggest, but the BML2 scheme is more than that.
Brighton to London via Uckfield? yeah great if you want to take 2 hours to get there.....
Presumably you're still thinking in terms of a steady saunter up a cross-country rail byway. BML2 is a plan for a 100mph route to town with interchange hubs at East Croydon, Lewisham, Docklands and Stratford. There'd be routes never available before, alternatives when the main line is out of action, seats for commuters, weekend services for tourists and a direct link between Gatwick, Stanstead and other East Anglian airports. A sort of Thameslink 2 if you like.
Would it take longer to Victoria via Uckfield? Yes - about 12 minutes longer for the fastest service possible - but that's a route which would likely only provide cover for when the Haywards Heath line is down, and in any case, would be rather better than the replacement bus. Would it mean less commuters having to endure the scrum at Victoria tube station? Yes.- The centre of gravity in London has moved eastwards with Docklands and now the Olympic Park. The transprt network needs to evolve to reflect this.
@rolivan, can't blame Dr Beeching for this closure - like the Swanage branch, the Wealden routes (incl. Eridge-Tun Wells) were never slated for closure in his report.
ghost bus driver
says...
9:21pm Fri 12 Oct 12
Terry K wrote:Beeching never closed that he was gone by 1965. The Steyning line closed in 1966.
There already is an alternative route via the Arun Valley line, change at Ford for London trains, it's been there for over a hundred years, (2 hr journey though) but if that vandal Beeching never closed the line to Steyning line that would have been a reasonable alternative.
rolivan says...
1:15pm Wed 26 Sep 12