Foreword to East Sussex Rail Strategy
Foreword
We are pleased to introduce East Sussex’s Rail Strategy, which looks to connect people to places, providing rail connectivity for all.
This strategy is underpinned by robust evidence base and has been developed with the public and stakeholders across the county, including representatives from the rail industry, rail groups, council officers and local planning authorities, and young people. This engagement has resulted in a strategy that reflects the rail aspirations of a wide range of stakeholders and will foster further partnership working with key stakeholders to help promote and progress future rail service and infrastructure improvements.
The strategy is coming forward at a time of great change, with the establishment of the Mayoral Combined County Authority for Sussex and Brighton anticipated to be in place from May 2026. This is running parallel with local government reorganisation, which is expected to see the county, district and borough councils replaced with a new unitary authority from April 2028.
The strategy and its investment priorities have been developed to consider the varying characteristics of the county, including densely populated urban centres and large rural areas, and the differing needs of the users from these significantly different local contexts. We also have an ageing population and people with physical and hidden disabilities, and the strategy considers accessibility as one of its key priority investment areas.
Implementing the strategy will have its challenges, especially since we do not have a statutory function for rail. However, we have a responsibility to future generations to help deliver interventions which align with our fourth local transport plan, and to help improve rail connectivity for all.
Councillor Claire Dowling - Lead Member for Transport and Environment
Rupert Clubb - Director of Communities, Economy and Transport
