On 9 Feb 2017 at 8:00am Barcombe Belle wrote:
I see Brighton resident and Lewes MP Maria Caulfield is strongly supporting her immediate residents rather than her constituents in lobbying Minister for Transport and city investors to drive a new line from Brighton to Uckfield which would by pass Lewes without any stops at the villages. There will be grandiose tunnelling through the Downs and more grandiose bridging over the A27 above the acquirer at Newmarket. The original plans to re-open the line was along the existing old line to Hamsey joining the main line near Landport. It would provide a dedicated link to the port of Newhaven and reduce traffic on the A26 which the Brighton scheme would not.
On 9 Feb 2017 at 8:21am Oldbutintouch wrote:
Surely we can find the fragrant Maria the 50 BILLION ( yes billion) she needs for her alternative route to Westminster? Don't forget, for this paltry sum, we don't just get a tunnel under the downs, we also get a 20 mile tunnel under Croydon and an imposing embankment across the Ouse valley. Surely that is good value for money? Total bulls....as all these schemes have been over the years!
On 9 Feb 2017 at 8:22am Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
What a ridiculous idea. A rail route with no stations except at each end is of very limited use.
On 9 Feb 2017 at 8:24am Bob wrote:
It's a terrible idea that I believe was rejected by Norman who actually knew what he was talking about. It has little support beyond train enthusiasts as the benefit it would bring is far outweighed by the destruction and expense. That probably means it'll happen.
On 9 Feb 2017 at 9:21am The Greek wrote:
BML2 is a cop out. There is still perfectly intact and unobstructed trackbed between Lewes and Uckfield. The only difficult part would be the route out of Lewes as the Cliffe viaduct has been bisected by Phoenix Causeway etc. The easiest option would be to follow the original 1868 (I think) alignment and branch off at a junction at Hamsey if congestion could be avoided.
_
Engineers say it's a very simple task but Network Rail need to be convinced of the business case. The cheapest option is diesel with no intermediate stations. These could always be lobbied for later once construction is underway. Network Rail mandate no more level crossings as well, so bridges would have to be built at Barcombe Mills, Anchor Lane, Isfield and Uckfield but this is not too arduous.
-
The line should never have been shut in the first place. It's funny the report talking about acute social hardship in the affected villages and describing how buses would NOT fill the gap (they clearly haven't as they were stopped on the Lewes-Uckfield route to Barcombe Mills pretty promptly due to the nature of the road) was ignored.
-
The line was wound down as closure by stealth as ESCC preferred the new Phoenix Causeway/Lewes Relief Road scheme (which was due to cut the town in half if fully completed) over the railway. BR didn't want to repair the Cliffe viaduct so it was closed. Another classic example of Government underinvestment. Much like we're seeing in today's NHS.
On 9 Feb 2017 at 10:08am Red Ken wrote:
Anything Maria Caulfield supports must be a good thing for herself and her Tory mates and probably a bad thing for anyone else.
On 9 Feb 2017 at 10:13am Nun wrote:
How do you stop a plonker like Maria?
On 9 Feb 2017 at 10:31am Tom Pain wrote:
Absolutely right,Greek. Why doesn't the government invest more? Governments have the ability to create interest-free national credit. Why don't they? Why is it forbidden in the EU,or eurozone, I'm not sure which? Find that out and you'll see why things are in such a mess. The trail might lead you to wonder why some private banks have the right to issue credit with interest.Until you do you are just peeing into the wind.
On 9 Feb 2017 at 11:01am Ghost of Maggie wrote:
Just rejoice and be thankful that you WILL have HS2
On 9 Feb 2017 at 5:55pm Oldbutintouch wrote:
Sorry, Mr Greek, you must have spent too long in the sun! You are totally wrong in that there is no trackbed at all south of Barcombe Mills and certainly not a trackbed that is unobstructed or intact. I suppose that in your sunstroke induced Ministry of Truth mindset this project really is a simple task - it makes me wonder why, if it so easy, no council or transport dept has done anything about it over the past 40 odd years.
On 9 Feb 2017 at 8:48pm inthegutter wrote:
@Oldbutintouch
While the Greek's statement "There is still perfectly intact and unobstructed trackbed between Lewes and Uckfield." is untrue, they clarify immediately afterwards that there is a problem, effectively south of Barcombe and point out the solution.
On 9 Feb 2017 at 9:01pm Cynic wrote:
A solution?? Demolish Hamsey?
On 11 Feb 2017 at 1:40pm Tom Pain wrote:
No need to demolish Hamsey,the line ran from the level crossing near Offham between the village and the church.Trains from Brighton would have to leave Lewes on the Eastbourne line and then reverse towards London. Inconvenient but it might save billions. Thinking about it though, it's pointless because if southern are running it there'd be no trains anyway!
On 12 Feb 2017 at 6:19pm Angel wrote:
This would be a rubbish option and would come up against huge local opposition if Lewes was missed out - especially given the expected increase in population many of whom will be commuters to London. And to miss out making local villages accessible again via public transport is nonsense given the appalling local bus services
On 12 Feb 2017 at 9:47pm Pantsfull O'Custard wrote:
Forgive me, but where does it say that the railway would bypass Lewes?
I've looked all over & the only source I can find that makes this suggestion is what might be construed as being "politically motivated".
I don't trust politicians!
The BML2 web thingy actually takes it so far as saying the town is a key part of the route.
Confused of Lewes here can not compute....