GREG SETS OUT PRIORITIES FOR THE NEW SOUTHERN RAIL FRANCHISE
02.12.13 for immediate release: Town MP, Greg Barker, has called for a transformation of Bexhill rail services with a high speed link to London as part of his recommendations to the Department of Transport for the new rail franchises to be awarded in 2014.
Greg Barker has joined forces with Amber Rudd, MP for Hastings and Rye, to call for an extension to HS1 between Ashford and London across the Romney Marsh to Bexhill via Hastings.
Speaking in Bexhill, Greg Barker said “High speed rail to London may seem improbably ambitious especially as it’s only a few years since we saved the direct London service from being cut by the last Labour government. However, the coalition has a big ambition for rail services in the UK and my Conservative colleague in Hastings and I are determined to bring the high speed revolution to our part of Sussex.”
“HS1 already extends to Ashford and Canterbury and the new Javelin service is proving extremely popular with tourists and commuters alike. Our aim is to see the extension of the HS1 high speed rail service into East Sussex linking coastal towns between Brighton and Ashford, including Bexhill, with London and into Europe. This will unlock the potential for greater investment in our area and create more opportunities for local people.”
In addition to HS1 Greg is also working with local rail users groups to call for other improvements including a faster service between Bexhill and London Victoria and flexible carnet ticket for commuters to allow them to benefit from season ticket prices but without having to travel on consecutive days.
Greg said “I’d like to pay tribute to the work of the Bexhill Rail Alliance Group (BRAG) and the East Sussex Rail Alliance (ESRA) in putting forward their priorities for the new franchises.”