Wealden newsline

28 December - Campaign fights planning appeal

The Wealden Line Campaign is opposing a planning appeal by the Spa Valley Railway (SVR) against the rejection of its plans for a new 'Birchden Halt'.

Wealden District Council originally ruled against the SVR's plans for a 91m steel and concrete platform at this location in the summer, after we joined with countryside groups, individuals and Withyham Parish Council to oppose the project.

Now the SVR has appealed to the Planning Ispectorate to get the council's decision overturned. The result of its appeal should be known early in the New Year.

18 December - Brighton line in trouble -- again

A failed train on the down line near Hassocks during today's evening rush hour spread disruption across the South Central network from Hastings to Portsmouth.

Delayed and cancelled trains quickly stacked up on the Brighton line itself and neighbouring routes, leaving Haywards Heath with no southbound services for 75 minutes. As buses were being summoned for intermediate stations to Brighton, a Victoria train was eventually turned round and sent down to Eastbourne, packed with passengers trying to reach Brighton via Lewes.

In a way which has become only too familiar to Brighton line commuters, the incident once again demonstrated the vulnerability of the route to delays -- and underlined the diversionary role a revived Wealden Line could have played.

Even if it were not electrified, a new Wealden Line could have given travellers to Lewes, Seaford and stations to Hastings the option of bypassing the disruption. When will the politicians wake up to the route's potential?

15 December - MP reaffirms support for Lewes - Uckfield link

Wealden MP Charles Hendry has publicly reaffirmed his support for reopening the Lewes - Uckfield rail link. In a speech today at Oxted station welcoming the Turbostar units to the Uckfield line, he once again stressed his firm commitment to this key element of our strategy.

The MP was visiting the line along with South Central chief Charles Horton and a party of invited guests -- which included our own Campaign Director Brian Hart. After joining a special Turbostar service at East Croydon, the group enjoyed a non-stop run to Oxted followed by a pause for a photo-call on platform 3.

There was then the opportunity to experience a stopping run down to Uckfield and back. As expected, unit 170 722 performed superbly, combining powerful acceleration and a smooth, quiet ride. As on last week's inaugural run, one of the most striking features of the trip was the way in which the new train coped so effortlessly with the route's sharp gradients, which are as steep as 1 in 75.

Overall, the abiding impression was of just how far train technology has moved on since the class 205s and 207s entered service. There can be little doubt that as the new trains enter service, traffic is set to increase substantially.

8 December - Campaign welcomes new trains

Wealden Line Campaign Director Brian Hart joined other campaign members and local residents at Uckfield station this afternoon to greet the first class 170 Turbostar to enter passenger service on the Uckfield line.

Many who were aboard were making a special trip on the line to 'test drive' the new unit. Contributing to an already festive atmosphere on board 170 721, South Central staff even served champagne to surprised travellers during the initial return run to Uckfield.

The class 170s are likely to herald a new era of punctuality on the Uckfield line. Although it was eight minutes late leaving Uckfield, the 14.00 to Oxted was on time at its destination. The class 170's performance on the route's many stiff gradients -- as between Buxted and Crowborough -- was excellent.

We look forward to the 170s taking over further diagrams on the line in the New Year.

4 December - It's official: Monday start for Turbostars

South Central has confirmed that the first of the new class 170 Turbostars will enter passenger service on Monday afternoon -- as predicted on this website. The first train worked by the new units will be the 12.48 from East Croydon to Uckfield.

These trains are the first new rolling stock to appear on the Uckfield line since the last of the class 207 DEMUs arrived in 1962, and the most modern to be used since the withdrawal of the mid-1960s MkII hauled stock nearly 20 years ago.

Initially they will just operate the following diagram:

12:48 East Croydon-Uckfield
14:00 Uckfield -Oxted
15:04 Oxted-Uckfield
16:00 Uckfield -Oxted
17:04 Oxted-Uckfield
18:00 Uckfield-Oxted
19:04 Oxted-Uckfield
20:00 Uckfield-Oxted
21:04 Oxted-Uckfield
22:00 Uckfield-East Croydon

As further units are delivered, however, the aged DEMUs will progressively be eliminated from off-peak services, being confined to peak-hour use by spring 2004.

After mid-2004, a batch of six four-car Turbostars will be introduced which will take over peak-hour services and allow withdrawal of the last class 205s and 207s.

The final batch of two-car Turbostars will arrive in 2005, hopefully allowing an all-day through-service to London Bridge.

2 December - Latest Turbostar test

A Turbostar unit completed a further test run to Uckfield today. We hope that this increased activity is a sign that the first of these trains really will begin passenger service next week.

1 December - Eridge demolition threat

Local government sources report that the platform buildings at Eridge station are likely to be demolished. Although precise details are not yet known, replacement by inferior bus-type shelters appears the best that passengers can expect.

It seems ironic that just as new trains are about to appear on the Uckfield line, yet another of its stations should be degraded in this way. There are also wider conservation issues, as although it has been badly damaged by vandals, the station is of considerable architectural merit (but unfortunately not listed -- as we had earlier believed) .

We are now taking urgent steps to clarify the situation, and if possible, to protect the station.

8 December start for Turbostars

Rail company sources report that the first Turbostar unit will enter passenger service on the Uckfield line next week. The news came after another successful test run to Uckfield today, with step boards fitted to check clearances.

Services operated by the unit -- likely to be 170 722 -- will be as follows:

12:48 East Croydon-Uckfield
14:00 Uckfield -Oxted
15:04 Oxted-Uckfield
16:00 Uckfield -Oxted
17:04 Oxted-Uckfield
18:00 Uckfield-Oxted
19:04 Oxted-Uckfield
20:00 Uckfield-Oxted
21:04 Oxted-Uckfield
22:00 Uckfield-East Croydon

Further diagrams will be transferred to class 170 operation as crew training permits.

Turbostar preview

Thanks to David Halpin of South Central, we are able to present a further selection of photos taken during a recent Turbostar test run down to Uckfield.

As well as showing passengers what they can expect when the new trains enter service, they also provide an unfamiliar 'driver's eye' view of some locations on the route.

26 November - 15 December start for 170s?

South Central sources have suggested 15 December as the possible start date for Turbostar passenger services on the Uckfield line. However, as with other dates we have heard, this remains subject to confirmation and may well be revised.

24 November - 'Rail' reopens Uckfield - Lewes link

In a surprising gaff, Rail magazine has referred to the "Uckfield - Lewes branch" in the "Fleet News" section of its 12 - 25 November edition. It informed readers that "signalling problems" on this route have forced South Central to test its new Turbostars on the Oxted - East Grinstead line.

Of course, to be fair to Rail's editors, we have to admit that the small problem of there being no track in place between Lewes and Uckfield certainly would have made it rather hard for the new trains to operate track circuits -- or for any route to be set in the first place! No doubt these were the "problems" they had in mind.

If not, then perhaps it's time they took a careful look at our new Dave Beard gallery...

17 November - Campaign launches major new gallery

Thanks to the generosity of local photographer Dave Beard, we are proud to unveil a major new photo gallery.

Dating mainly from the 1970-72 period, Mr Beard's photos document the needless destruction of the Lewes - Uckfield rail link, an act of official vandalism that still continues to harm Sussex communities more than 30 years later.

Members only -- don't forget our AGM!

We will be holding our Annual General Meeting on Saturday, 29 November. As usual, you will be able to meet members of the WLC committee and our Campaign Director, Brian Hart.

You will find full details of the time and venue in the latest issue of Missing Link.

9 November - Coming soon...

This year saw the 18th anniversary of the closure of the Eridge - Tunbridge Wells rail link. Less than five miles long, it lacked any of the drama of routes like the Settle - Carlisle line, yet it served the community well for over 110 years, providing a direct link between towns like Uckfield, Crowborough and Tunbridge Wells. Continuing north to Tonbridge, its trains also provided excellent connections with mainline services to London and the Kent Coast.

When British Rail announced the line's closure in August 1982, the widespread opposition to its plans came as no surprise. In the subsequent fight to save the route, local people won all the battles but lost the war. Even though the government's own rail watchdog recommended strongly against closure, the Department of Transport was in no mood to listen. In February 1985 it gave its consent to closure; the last trains ran on 6 July.

The Wealden Line Campaign has now been fortunate in obtaining a number of previously unpublished, high-quality colour photos of the Eridge to Tunbridge Wells route. Taken over a period of seven years, they chronicle its criminal neglect under British Rail and subsequent demolition.

They also serve as a timely reminder that there was once a real alternative to the congested A26 for travel between Kent and East Sussex -- and that Tunbridge Wells travellers once had a choice of stations.

But most importantly, they serve as a powerful reminder of what could be achieved again if only the political will can be found to restore the route.

They will appear in a new gallery early in the new year.

More 170 photos

More photos of the recent Turbostar test run are available on this page of Uckfield Model Railway Club's website. They also have a movie of the event!

22 October - Turbostar test runs resume

As predicted by sources within the South Central Turbostar programme, test running resumed on the Uckfield line on 19 October, with 170 723 carrying out a total of three runs. Although there was no publicity, a surprising number of people turned out along the route to greet the new train and record the event.

18 October - Select Committee boosts campaign

The Commons Transport Committee has given a welcome boost to our campaign with its latest report, focusing on public transport overcrowding. MPs on the Labour dominated committee warned that current conditions on peak hour services were "simply unacceptable".

After looking at both health and safety issues, and the problem's economic impact, they concluded that rail network capacity must be increased. They said the "most reliable way" to do this, "particularly in the South East, is to authorise new rail schemes" -- a view which we have long held.

But beyond a limited lengthening of trains, there is little more that can be done for Kent and East Sussex travellers, as the existing routes are already operating at the limits of reliability. Even outside the peak, for example, the double track section from Wivelsfield to Haywards Heath already carries 10 trains an hour each way.

This leaves a revived Wealden Line -- currently one train an hour each way -- as the only realistic way that new capacity can be created between Kent, East Sussex and London. All that is needed to unlock the route's potential is 7 miles of track between Uckfield and Lewes...

17 October - Early Christmas for Uckfield line?

Uckfield line travellers could be on course for an early Christmas present, with Turbostars entering service before the end of the year. The news, which represents a welcome reversal of earlier reports, came as the Wealden Line Campaign joined a delegation of Kent and Sussex VIPs on a special visit today to see one of the new trains at South Central's Selhurst Depot.

Figures closely involved with the project now assure us that the signalling compatibility problems that have so far delayed the Turbostars could be resolved within a few days -- perhaps as soon as this weekend.

At the same time, senior South Central sources told us that the company would be working as hard as possible to get the new trains into service before the Christmas break. This could mean that the present run-down fleet of class 205/7 DEMUs could be making its last off peak trips on the route in early December.

When this happens, for the first time since at least the second world war, Uckfield line passengers will be able to benefit from the same standards of speed and comfort enjoyed by travellers on the adjacent Brighton and Hastings lines. Indeed, many of those who have been able to sample both the latest Electrostar trains and the Turbostars believe that the latter have the edge.

10 October - Turbostar delays lengthen

There now seems little chance of South Central's new class 170 Turbostar fleet entering service on the Uckfield line before January 2004. Rail industry sources have told us that in addition to various on-board problems, the new trains have proved to be incompatible with the Uckfield line's unique TPWS.

The problem arises from the route's special signalling system, which is a legacy of the October 1994 Cowden crash in which five people died in a head-on collision on one of the single line sections.

Network Rail has now been called in to work on the problem, and it we understand that this will involve extensive re-wiring -- a lengthy and expensive job. Until this is done, there will be no more class 170 test runs on the Uckfield line itself, although there was test run to East Grinstead today.

Test train visits Uckfield

Topped and tailed by class 47s, the Serco test train made a brief visit to the Uckfield line on 2 October. It contains sophisticated test equipment that collects data on the quality of the track, allowing for more effective maintenance.

Unfortunately, no such equipment is necessary to assess the quality of the track between Uckfield and Lewes...

Photo: Mr DJ Bond.

2 October - South Central Turbostar arrives on our site

Although the new trains have been slower to enter service than had been hoped, one has now arrived on our website thanks to Mr DJ Bond.

He was on hand to record the second -- incident free -- test run on 20 August, which finally made it to Uckfield. In addition to our new 'cover photo', which shows 170 721 approaching the station, he was also kind enough to send us this view of the train slowing to a halt at the platform. Just visible beyond the nearest set of passenger doors are temporary repairs to the window broken by a vandal at Hurst Green on the first test run.

24 September - Network Rail raises new maintenance fears

Network Rail, the 'not for profit' successor to Railtrack, has rekindled doubts over the future of secondary rail routes. In its latest bid for funding over the 2004-2009 period, the organisation has proposed a further £5bn of spending cuts on top of the £5.5bn cut announced in June.

The economies will be made possible by a two-year postponement of certain track renewals and "savings ... in both maintenance and renewal expenditure on the more lightly-used routes." Following similar statements by the SRA in August, Network Rail's announcement is bound to raise questions about the long term future of such routes.

The campaign is already taking urgent steps to assess what these moves mean for the Uckfield line. Having suffered so badly from previous 'maintenance holidays' during the 1970s and 80s, the route can ill afford a new period of neglect. This could easily lead to absurd spectacle of the line's new fleet of trains being hamstrung by 'temporary' speed restrictions.

23 September - 170 fleet grows -- but October start doubtful

South Central reports that its class 170 fleet has now grown to four units out of a planned total of 42 units. However, initial expectations that they would replace the old class 205 and 207 units on off peak Uckfield services in October seem likely to prove premature. In its September newsletter, the company now talks of the new trains entering service "over the winter".

One rail industry insider has suggested 24 November as the earliest date for the introduction of the 170s in revenue earning service, noting that there had been problems with the seating and a number of faults to fix. In the absence of any further test runs on the Uckfield line since 20 August, drivers are being trained on South West Trains' simulators.

One thing is quite certain. There is no truth in any rumours that South Central may cancel the order and bring in class 165s from Thames Trains as a substitute.

29 August - Vandalism sours 170 debut

Vandalism has soured the first test run of a class 170 Turbostar on the Uckfield line. An air rifle was fired at the two-car unit as it passed Hurst Green on its southbound run on 20 August, breaking a window and forcing the train to stop at Edenbridge Town while the remains of the glass were removed. The delayed train was subsequently terminated at Crowborough, rather than completing its planned Selhurst - Uckfield return trip.

We can only wish the rail companies and the British Transport Police the best of luck in catching the culprit and preventing future attacks.

Vandalism aside, this and another test run later that day, which reached Uckfield without incident, represent an important milestone in the recent history of the line. Prior to the appearance of these new trains, the most modern stock to have served the route were the mid-1960s Mk2 firsts, which were used in the long-withdrawn locomotive hauled sets. The last brand new stock to be introduced on the line were the 19 class 207 units, which were built up to 1962. The oldest class 205s date from the late 1950s.

If all goes to plan, off-peak services should be in the hands of the Turbostars by this October, with the last of the old trains finally disappearing from peak-hour services in 2004.

19 July - Good turnout for annual walk

No less than 43 people, including four local councillors from three councils, took part in our traditional summer walk following the route of the Lewes - Uckfield railway.

In a change to the usual Uckfield start, this year the walk began at Lewes. After some unsettled weather earlier in the week, the walkers enjoyed a superb summer's day, with sunburn being the only hazard.

16 July - First Turbostar to arrive this month

A top level source in the GoAhead Group has told the campaign that South Central's first Turbostar will arrive at Selhurst depot on 21 July.

He added that the effect of the new trains would be like, "a gold brick hitting passengers on the back of the head". We understand this to mean that the Turbostars will compare very favourably with the present stock -- and we are sure that he is right!

11 July - Two steps forward

For a change, two pieces of good news for Uckfield line passengers!

A South Central manager has told the campaign that the new class 170 Turbostars will begin test runs on the route from next month, in preparation for their official introduction in the autumn.

The same source also indicated that steps are at last under way to alleviate the severe shortage of parking space at Uckfield station.

In a move that we have long advocated, South Central will be providing new spaces on the site of the former station. This will be the first time that the land has been in 'railway' use since the spring of 1991.

Campaign Director Brian Hart was quick to welcome the news: "Whatever people may have seen in the press recently, these are both positive developments for the future of the Uckfield line. New trains and better passenger facilities will help to ensure that when the time comes, there still is a railway here to extend to Lewes."

10 July - Government announces £7bn road plan

As the Strategic Rail Authority axes dozens of train services to 'solve' congestion problems on busy rail routes, the government has responded to worsening road congestion by announcing a £7bn road building programme, claimed to be the biggest for a decade. It includes £1.7bn of spending on motorways alone, which will include widening most of the M25 to eight lanes.

The multi-billion pound programme sits uneasily with the Labour Party's 1997 manifesto, which stated that: "Our overriding goal must be to win more passengers and freight on to rail." Perhaps it is significant that this document is now nowhere to be found on the party website.

It also represents a return to the discredited "predict and provide" road building policies followed by both Labour and Conservative governments from the 1950s to the 1990s. As the name suggests, they sought to solve congestion problems by predicting what future traffic levels and then providing new roadspace to meet them.

In practice, traffic volumes simply expanded to fill all the new capacity, thus starting a new cycle of road building. Based on this past evidence, there is little reason to believe that the latest road programme will be any more successful than its predecessors.

Food for thought...

With the SRA having effectively run out of money for any new rail schemes, it is interesting to note that the new road programme will cost 233 times more than reopening the Lewes - Uckfield line -- even assuming a high-end cost of £30m for the scheme.

In other words, Mr Darling missed the opportunity to create a new rail route from London to the South Coast for just 0.4% the cost of his road plans.

Click here for the full text of the Secretary of State's 9 July announcement.

7 July - Planning decision endorses campaign's stance

Wealden District Council has now published its official decision notice on the Spa Valley Railway's plan for a new 'Birchden Halt'. It reveals why councillors rejected the preserved railway's plans.

The notice gives two reasons for the planning committee's decision. The first relates to environmental objections, but the second recognises our specific concern that the new concrete and steel platform, built on the trackbed, would be prejudicial to reopening the Eridge - Tunbridge Wells route.

While we would have welcomed this sensible decision whatever the grounds, we are particularly pleased that councillors were prepared to listen to our objections to the scheme. In reaching their decision, the councillors showed that they know the difference between a proper train service and a working museum.

After planning moves in previous years that, unfortunately, have done much to make reopening more difficult, we hope that the latest decision will signal a fresh approach, in which the prospect of a renewed link between Tunbridge Wells, Lewes and the South Coast is given the weight it deserves.

Click here to see the full text of the council's decision.

9 June - Rail summit yields positive result

For the first time the Strategic Rail Authority has pledged technical and 'moral' support for East Sussex County Council's bid to restore the Uckfield line as a through route to the coast. News of this apparent policy shift by the SRA came when its chief Richard Bowker met a joint parliamentary / county council delegation at the House of Commons on 5 June.

However, reiterating a long-established position, Mr Bowker warned that more comprehensive measures would have to wait until there was a sound business case for the project.

Nonetheless, Councillor Tony Reid, who led the council contingent, took a positive view of the meeting. "We are very much on his radar screen, now," he told the campaign today. He went to on to explain that the council would now move quickly to prepare a business plan for reopening.

Among a wide range of inputs to be reviewed, this will also consider 'non-rail benefits' to the county, which Mr Bowker indicated would strengthen the council's case. These include the positive impact that reopening may have on currently depressed areas such as Newhaven.

One very encouraging indicator of the widening support for the council's initiative was the presence at the meeting of Des Turner MP, who represents Brighton's Kemp Town constituency. In addition to long term campaign supporters Norman Baker (Lewes) and Charles Hendry (Wealden), Sir John Stanley (Tonbridge and Malling) also joined the delegation.

Although we would have liked the SRA to give more weight to the strategic role of a restored Wealden Line in the South East's rail network, particularly in easing pressure on the Brighton line, we believe this meeting achieved as much as could reasonably have been expected. With the SRA's well-known financial problems, a blank cheque was never on the cards.

The ball is now firmly in East Sussex County Council's court. We hope that its top transport planners will rise to the challenge of producing the water tight business case that is essential if this project is to move ahead.

5 June - NEWS FLASH: Councillors throw out station plan

Councillors on Wealden District Council's planning committee have today rejected the Spa Valley Railway's application to build a new 'Birchden Halt' near Harrison's Rocks. More details later...

4 June - Campaign fights new station plan

The Wealden Line Campaign has formally objected to plans by the Spa Valley Railway to build a new station at Harrison's rocks, near Groombridge.

We object to the preserved railway's plans because the new station -- to be called Birchden Halt -- would be built on the site of the former down line, only leaving space for a single line at this point. And far from being a temporary structure, the new halt would be built of concrete and steel, representing a major obstacle to any attempt to restore the original double track at this point.

With its policy 'TR8' (now TR19), designed to protect the Eridge - Tunbridge Wells route against any development that would 'prejudice' future reopening, it seemed natural that Wealden District Council should oppose such a scheme. However, we understand that council planning officers have recommended that councillors approve the plans.

With local MPs and East Sussex council representatives meeting SRA chief Richard Bowker tomorrow to put the case for a restored Wealden Line, it seems ironic that developments like this threaten to cut the ground from under them even as they speak.

See our press release here

4 June - Turbostars arrive...

But only on this website for the time being! Our new cover photo of a Chiltern Trains Turbostar at Marylebone shows what Uckfield line passengers can expect later this year when the first of South Central's new fleet of these trains begin to appear on off peak train services.

27 May - The way ahead?

East Sussex council leader Peter Jones has publicly aired the possibility of seeking private finance to rebuild the Uckfield - Lewes rail link. The Sussex Express reports that in a mid-term speech to the council in which he stressed his commitment to the project, Mr Jones explained that the council was developing a private finance plan in the absence of SRA funding.

The Wealden Campaign wholeheartedly welcomes this common sense approach. Given the SRA's disappointing record on the Uckfield - Lewes link, we have long been sceptical that it would ever take the action that is needed. It's good to hear that Mr Jones appears to have reached the same conclusion -- however unwelcome it may be.

Our hope now is that the council will work towards a basic scheme, offering the maximum benefits with the lowest possible costs. We believe that anything more elaborate than a straightforward single track will risk pricing the scheme off the agenda -- again. And local travellers surely deserve better than that.

23 May - Another 1969 casualty resuscitated

Chandlers Ford station in Hampshire, closed on the same day as the Uckfield - Lewes route, was reopened on 18 May thanks to support by the local council -- and the SRA. The Transport Briefing news service reports that the station, which is on the outskirts of Eastleigh, now enjoys an hourly train service connecting Romsey to Totton via Southampton.

Whilst we wholeheartedly welcome this news, it seems odd that the SRA has stepped in with a £3.34m Rail Passenger Partnership grant in this case while still declining even to support studies on the Uckfield - Lewes scheme...

8 May - 40 years of progress?

In a week that marks the 34th anniversary of the official closure of the Uckfield - Lewes link, we revisit the 1964 timetable for the Wealden Line in a new analysis page. Even with the trains of the early '60s, and track layouts and signalling from the 19th century, the journey times on offer would be the envy of today's bus passengers -- and many motorists...

Altogether it's a timely reminder of what was thrown away in 1969 -- and what local people stand to gain from a revived Wealden Line.

4 May - Rail summit confirmed for 5 June

Wealden Line area MPs and a top level East Sussex council delegation are to meet SRA chief Richard Bowker on 5 June. Naturally, one of the key items on the agenda will be closing the seven-mile gap from Uckfield to Lewes, so that towns like Uckfield and Crowborough will regain their link to the coast.

Although SRA funding for reopening is most unlikely to be forthcoming, there is hope that the organisation can at least be persuaded to give the project technical cooperation and some 'moral' support. But whatever happens, the meeting will provide an opportunity for the Wealden group to convey the depth of local feeling in favour of a revived Wealden Line.

4 May - Full London Turbostar service may not be till 2005

Our latest information is that although two-car Turbostars will begin to appear on Uckfield services late this summer, they will initially be used on off-peak trains only. Four-car units, destined for peak-hour services, will be phased in during 2004, but off-peak through trains to London Bridge will not start until 2005.

12 April - London trains return

After two frustrating weeks for London commuters, South Central is now planning to resume Uckfield line services north of Oxted from 14 April. Although this is obviously good news for long suffering rail users, it is disappointing that things were allowed reach the stage where services had to be suspended in the first place.

5 April - Safety rules halt London trains

New Health and Safety Executive rules implemented from 1 April (no joke unfortunately) mean that Uckfield line trains are no longer permitted to carry passengers beyond Oxted, effectively ending the peak hour London services. A temporary timetable giving a basic hourly Uckfield - Oxted service is to run from 7 April; as a result some journeys could take 35 minutes longer. The reason for this move is that the elderly class 205 and 207 diesels that provide services on the Uckfield line lack TPWS (Train Protection and Warning System) equipment which the government agency now deems essential for passenger safety.

3 April - Beeching anniversary highlights funding crisis

The 40th anniversary of the Beeching report has focused attention on the growing funding crisis on Britain's railways. Reports in the national and railway press warn of an annual shortfall of £1.5bn on the £9bn running cost of the network; revenue and payments from the taxpayer only cover £7.5bn of that total.

The Guardian reported that possible options to save money included reducing linespeeds on rural routes, with such lines coming "under close examination" if no more money is forthcoming.

At the same time, Roger Ford of Modern Railways has suggested that we may be due for a new Beeching report, noting that there seems to be a 20 year cycle for such initiatives; to underline his point he points out that Beeching was followed by the Serpell report in 1983.

The latter, commissioned by the then Thatcher government, suggested a series of options entailing savage cuts; the most extreme of these would have reduced the network to a handful of truncated mainlines, with for example, no trains beyond Plymouth. And now the railways are facing yet another funding crisis...

Fortunately, another Beeching report is not inevitable. It is worth remembering that Serpell was kicked into the long grass when public opposition to more cuts made the government reconsider. If you think our railway network is not only worth keeping but should be developed, let your MPs and councillors know now -- before it is too late.

28 March - RPC report spotlights Wealden Line

The Southern England Rail Passengers Committee has maintained its focus on the Wealden Line scheme in its latest annual report for 2001-02.

Noting the RPC's role in establishing the informal "steering group" that has brought representatives of local authorities, South Central and our campaign together, the report reminds us that a restored Wealden Line would make an operating profit "from day one", with 3,500 new daily journeys by rail.

The report goes on to stress the importance of this "much-needed corridor" for the whole area, underlining its role in combatting "the traffic congestion that already chokes Lewes, Heathfield, Crowborough, Tunbridge Wells and neighbouring areas in peak hours".

Looking at possible sources of finance for the scheme, however, it warns that given the difficulty of obtaining government funding in the present financial climate, other sources will be needed. "The obvious answer," says the report, "is a levy on housing developments in East Sussex." We too believe that this is the most promising -- and realistic -- approach.

But one long standing point of difference between the campaign and the RPC still remains: whether to electrify -- and redouble -- the present Uckfield stump. Although the RPC believes this would lay the foundations for its ultimate revival as a through route, we think it would use very scarce funds to produce a railway offering no real benefits over the forthcoming diesel Turbostar service. Worse, it would do little to increase patronage because a dead-end line is still a dead-end line whether it is electrified or not.

So we remain convinced that the only way forward for the Wealden Line project is start by creating a railway that can offer destinations that people want to travel to. Unfortunately, the Uckfield line has very few of these at present.

25 March - Summer start for Turbostars?

Unconfirmed reports suggest that the first class 170 Turbostars may enter service during the summer. According to our sources, they will initially appear on one of the peak hour London services. As there are known to be problems with fume extraction arrangements for the new diesels at Victoria, this leaves the solitary Uckfield - London Bridge service and its evening return working as the most likely candidates.

As regular users of the line will appreciate, these new trains will not be arriving a moment too soon. The condition of the current class 205 and 207 stock is now so poor that replacement of some trains by buses had been discussed; hopefully this will not now be necessary.

19 March - Friendly watchdog bows out

Rail watchdog Wendy Toms is to stand down from her job as chairman of the Southern England Rail Passengers Committee at the end of the month. Her successor has been named as Tim Nicholson, who will take up his duties on 1 April.

We have had our disagreements with Wendy over the years, but are happy to acknowledge the important role she has played an in raising the profile of the Wealden Line project. By stressing the need to restore the Lewes - Uckfield and Tunbridge Wells - Eridge sections of the route as well as improve the existing Uckfield service, she has done a great deal to bring the issue alive.

So although there is still much to be done before trains head south from Uckfield again, everyone who believes in a restored Wealden Line has reason to be grateful to Wendy. She has been a good friend to the campaign.

22 February - Uckfield station site under threat -- AGAIN!

In a move that appears to contradict long standing policies designed to safeguard the trackbed, Wealden and East Sussex councils have unveiled consultation proposals for a new gyratory road system at Uckfield that would swallow up the old station site and make reopening the Lewes link practically impossible.

The plans, drawn up by consultants Owen Williams, involve routing northbound traffic via the former goods yard, across the trackbed and then over the river Uck to the Bell Lane roundabout. Southbound traffic would continue to use the present route via the former level crossing.

If it is constructed in this form, the new road will finally destroy any hope of rebuilding a full-size station on its former site. The alternative, to expand and develop the present station, would be extremely expensive because of its cramped location adjacent to the river.

But wherever the station is, the plans would burden a reopened railway with two busy level crossings practically next to each other. This would raise serious operational and safety issues, as well as undermining any benefits of the road scheme. Needless to say, it would substantially raise the project costs for reopening.

At the same time, the road scheme also risks setting an unwelcome precedent for further development on the trackbed. The risk of this is particularly high in the Bell Lane industrial estate area, where there has already been a concerted attempt to build on the route.

For these reasons, the Wealden Line Campaign will actively oppose the plans, and is already taking steps to warn local MPs and other interested parties of the danger they represent.

2 February - Glyn Morgan archive opened

Glyn Morgan was an Isfield councillor and a dedicated campaigner against closure of the Lewes - Uckfield rail link during the late 1960s. Following his death last year, a number of his papers and a collection of press cuttings relating to this period were made available to the Wealden Line Campaign. We present a selection of them in this new archive section.

30 January - 'New Labour'- old story

'New Labour's' plans for a 50% increase in rail travel by 2010 were finally buried today as the SRA published a Strategic Plan for 2003 dominated by project cancellations and delays. Although it admits that existing Sussex routes are "well patronised" and carry so many trains in the peak "that they are at the limit of what can be reliably delivered", the plan contains no mention of proposals for a revived Wealden Line.

The document also reveals that even the small-scale Rail Partnership Programme has now run out of money, with no new awards being made. It had been hoped this would help finance better passenger facilities on the current Uckfield route.

"It would be wrong to say that we are disappointed by the SRA's latest offering," said Wealden Line Campaign Director Brian Hart, "because we have long since ceased to expect anything useful from this bureaucratic monster. By the summer it will have more than 500 staff, yet it has never given the south-east's railways the strategic leadership they need."

Mr Hart went on to give a stark warning that 'New Labour' risked falling into a familiar pattern: "In the 1960s, Labour campaigned on a platform that promised to halt the Beeching cuts, but when they were securely in power they kept on with the closures. Now, we see a government that promised us an 'integrated' transport system accepting a policy of cutbacks and stagnation."

Despite the gloomy outlook -- and some inaccurate reports in the media, one of which repeated a discredited costing of £100m to reopen the Uckfield-Lewes link -- Mr Hart remained upbeat. "This campaign has always had three important assets," he said. "First, we have an excellent case; second, we have powerful backing from our MPs and councillors; and, most importantly, we have overwhelming grass roots support."

20 January - 'No electrification' confirms minister

Transport minister John Spellar has confirmed that electrification proposals for the Uckfield line are off the political agenda. In a letter to the Wealden Line Campaign, he states that the issue has been "comprehensively debated and should now be put to rest".

His comments follow a period of intense lobbying by the Southern England RPC, in which the organisation put forward its own plans for bringing electric trains to the Uckfield and Hastings - Ashford routes. Although we have always supported electrification in principle, we believed that schemes such as this were unlikely to succeed and would simply divert attention from the real priority, which must initially be to restore the Lewes - Uckfield link.

But while we are pleased that Mr Spellar has now cleared the air, we are concerned that his focus on "quality of service" issues for the south east's existing rail routes is at the expense of vital network enhancements, without which real service improvements will prove elusive.

Foremost among such enhancements must be a restored Wealden Line, which by creating two new links from London to the South Coast, would take the pressure off routes like the overcrowded and unreliable Brighton line, as well as creating new travel opportunities of its own.

16 January - A tale of two systems

The government's Strategic Rail Authority has announced that 100 trains are to be withdrawn from the timetable to improve service reliability on busy sections of the network.

Besides raising some interesting questions as to the seriousness of 'New Labour's' plans to increase rail travel by 50%, the intiative makes an interesting contrast with its approach to road congestion. In this case, the answer to worsening jams has been to increase capacity -- not reduce traffic.

Why the difference?

12 January 2003 - Campaign fights phone mast threat

The Wealden Line Campaign is fighting plans for a mobile phone mast at Tunbridge Wells that will obstruct the trackbed of the Eridge link. The proposals, by the Harlequin company, call for the mast to be erected on railway land near the Wyevale Garden Centre on Eridge Road, with equipment cabinets located on the trackbed itself, effectively reducing it to single-track width.

We believe that this development is in clear breach of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's 'Transport Policy 14', which was meant to protect the trackbed from development. Although it is claimed that the equipment could be removed if necessary, every development of this type will make it harder to restore the frequent train service that Kent and East Sussex travellers need.