Executive summary
Executive summary
The East Sussex Rail Strategy replaces the existing East Sussex Rail Development Strategy which was adopted in November 2013. The ambition for rail in East Sussex is focused on the opportunities for integrating infrastructure and services to improve all aspects of the public transport passenger experience to enable seamless and accessible journeys.
The county’s ambitions for rail will require partnership working to achieve its vision and objectives. Accordingly, the strategy recognises the different role and responsibilities across the industry who are collectively responsible for the funding, development and delivery of improvements, and acknowledges the planned establishment of Great British Railways which will bring rail infrastructure and services together into one organisation.
Significant evidence gathering, stakeholder engagement and consultation was undertaken to shape the East Sussex Rail Strategy. Six priority areas for investment were identified as part of this process, which are accessibility, integration, reliability and resilience, decarbonisation, journey time, and customer experience.
Additionally, six major strategic priority rail schemes have been identified which contribute to addressing our objectives in the East Sussex LTP4 and the evidence outlined in section 2 of the East Sussex Rail strategy. These are, in no particular order:
- High Speed 1 to Hastings, Bexhill and Eastbourne – which includes Marshlink electrification and dual tracking or passing loops, (for more and improved connections to Europe via international rail services (once reinstated at Ashford International)
- Hurst Green (Oxted) - Uckfield electrification and dual tracking or passing loops
- Uckfield - Lewes - Line reopening,
- Eridge - Tunbridge Wells railway line reinstatement
- Direct rail services between Seaford/Newhaven and London - strengthening direct rail links to Gatwick Airport and for passengers connecting to/from the Newhaven- Dieppe Ferry service.
- Brighton - Eastbourne – Hastings: faster services.
The strategy has been developed to enable the County Council to demonstrate their priorities for rail, how they can achieve them and how progress can be made on these in the short term, whilst also taking full account of the forthcoming changes arising from devolution and local government reorganisation. The Strategy will be a live document, and therefore adaptable to reflect the impending changes.