By Stuart Harland
Chairman MarshLink Action Group
At the end of March Network Rail announced the Hastings – London line had re-opened after major works to reinstate a large number of track failures along the line caused by the weather.
Over the period of the line closure, one of the preferred routes for Bexhill and Hastings rail users to get to London was via the MarshLink line to Ashford and then High Speed One to St. Pancras. It is perhaps a coincidence that on the same day the Hastings – London line was re-opened, a Rail Summit was held in Hastings to announce a plan to extend the HS1 service to enable a direct train service from Bexhill, Hastings and Rye to London St. Pancras. At the meeting, the Secretary of State for Transport, the Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin, Amber Rudd MP and David Ward, Route Managing Director for Network Rail announced their “absolute commitment” to working together to extent the HS1 service.
Such a direct train service would significantly reduce the travel time to London from Rye (to 55 mins); Hastings (to 68 mins) and Bexhill (to 78 mins). This would encourage investment in the East Sussex coastal area and improve tourist access.
There is, of course, a long way to go between an “absolute commitment” to working on a project and getting it operational. The project so far has received detailed analysis by Network Rail but this has been mostly theoretical. To get the project built, it has to be specified and any problems resolved: amongst the practical issues are:
– remodelling Ashford Station to get the HS1 over to the MarshLink line; – installing power systems, either third rail or overhead;
– building a “passing loop” to the west of Rye;
– procuring more Javelin trains.
Also, the project’s financial viability has to be tested to enable it to source funding (a constant requirement nowadays, even for national projects). So, in practical terms, by pushing forward now the project is expected to fall into Network Rail’s control period 2019 – 2024. However, the project will need support from many directions:
– Amber Rudd MP has pushed this project to the position it has got to today and the other major political parties have indicated their support and were represented at the meeting: broader central government support has now been provided by the Secretary of State for Transport;
– local government support is required from district and town councils along the intended route;
– the regenerative impact of the project needs to be emphasised and Peter Jones, Chairman of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, also attended the meeting to give his support.
However, there also needs to be a sense of realism when considering this project. It has to be recognised that the MarshLink rail service is stretched now. After experiencing quicker journey times to London via the MarshLink, many commuters from Bexhill and Hastings may continue to use this route, despite the direct but slow route being re-opened this week. It is difficult for the MarshLink train operator (Southern Railway or any other operator that may take over the franchise next year) to find new diesel trains to operate the service and we still experience unit failures (and so cancelled services) despite assurances that the 10 year old trains are regularly serviced and, indeed, have just completed a major overhaul. Somehow a solution has to be found to enable a proper service to be provided on the Marshlink up to the time HS1 starts operating and, along with it, an all stops local electric service.
Rye’s Own May 2014
All articles, photographs and drawings on this web site are World Copyright Protected. No reproduction for publication without prior arrangement.
Chairman MarshLink Action Group
At the end of March Network Rail announced the Hastings – London line had re-opened after major works to reinstate a large number of track failures along the line caused by the weather.
Over the period of the line closure, one of the preferred routes for Bexhill and Hastings rail users to get to London was via the MarshLink line to Ashford and then High Speed One to St. Pancras. It is perhaps a coincidence that on the same day the Hastings – London line was re-opened, a Rail Summit was held in Hastings to announce a plan to extend the HS1 service to enable a direct train service from Bexhill, Hastings and Rye to London St. Pancras. At the meeting, the Secretary of State for Transport, the Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin, Amber Rudd MP and David Ward, Route Managing Director for Network Rail announced their “absolute commitment” to working together to extent the HS1 service.
Such a direct train service would significantly reduce the travel time to London from Rye (to 55 mins); Hastings (to 68 mins) and Bexhill (to 78 mins). This would encourage investment in the East Sussex coastal area and improve tourist access.
There is, of course, a long way to go between an “absolute commitment” to
working on a project and getting it operational. The project so far has received detailed analysis by Network Rail but this has been mostly theoretical. To get the project built, it has to be specified and any problems resolved: amongst the practical issues are:
– remodelling Ashford Station to get the HS1 over to the MarshLink line – installing power systems, either third rail or overhead;
– building a “passing loop” to the west of Rye;
– procuring more Javelin trains.
Also, the project’s financial viability has to be tested to enable it to source funding (a constant requirement nowadays, even for national projects). So, in practical terms, by pushing forward now the project is expected to fall into Network Rail’s control period 2019 – 2024.
However, the project will need support from many directions:
– Amber Rudd MP has pushed this project to the position it has got to today and the other major political parties have indicated their support and were represented at the meeting: broader central government support has now been provided by the Secretary of State for Transport;
– local government support is required from district and town councils along the intended route;
– the regenerative impact of the project needs to be emphasised and Peter Jones, Chairman of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, also attended the meeting to give his support.
However, there also needs to be a sense of realism when considering this project. It has to be recognised that the MarshLink rail service is stretched now. After experiencing quicker journey times to London via the MarshLink, many commuters from Bexhill and Hastings may continue to use this route, despite the direct but slow route being re-opened this week. It is difficult for the MarshLink train operator (Southern Railway or any other operator that may take over the franchise next year) to find new diesel trains to operate the service and we still experience unit failures (and so cancelled services) despite assurances that the 10 year old trains are regularly serviced and, indeed, have just completed a major overhaul. Somehow a solution has to be found to enable a proper service to be provided on the Marshlink up to the time HS1 starts operating and, along with it, an all stops local electric service.
Rye’s Own May 2014
All articles, photographs and drawings on this web site are World Copyright Protected. No reproduction for publication without prior arrangement.