Improving Transport across Sussex Weald

Regular, reliable and affordable rail services are crucial for a huge number of my constituents, whether they are commuting into London for work or travelling locally from Uckfield, Buxted, Crowborough, Eridge and Wadhurst.

Securing improvements to the substandard rail services in Wealden is one of my priorities as your MP - I mentioned it in my maiden speech and have spent a considerable proportion of my first few months in Parliament challenging Network Rail and Southern to increase investment and improve their performance.

My approach is two-fold, focused both on existing services and rail infrastructure. With respect to services, what Southern currently offer is unsatisfactory – passengers have to put up with delays, cancellations, short form trains, overcrowding, strikes and poor communication. I firmly believe that passengers do not get what they deserve or pay for and that Southern have a lot of work to do in order to make sure that the service they provide is up to standard.

As a result, I have taken the following actions:

I also believe strongly that rail services can only improve drastically with increased investment in infrastructure. Structural improvements will relieve pressure on the system as a whole and help achieve improvements to services.

My work in this area has included:

  • Numerous meetings with the Minister for Transport about the structural improvements that would help Wealden
  • Jointly with Maria Caulfield, MP for Lewes, contributing a submission to a study into the possible reopening of the Uckfield-Lewes line and the proposed Brighton Main Line 2
  • Constant contact with Network Rail regarding the structural improvements that have already been announced, including securing confirmation about the timetable for platform extensions at numerous stations in Wealden
  • Attending a rail summit at Network Rail's headquarters at London Bridge, with the Rail Minister and Southern Executives, at which I received assurances that the rolling stock Southern are refurbishing will be ready for use by July 2016

I am keen to impress upon constituents the importance of reporting poor service that they experience. The watchdog Transport Focus (@TransportFocus) collects complaints that are made, and it is these complaints that help to drive improvements. Please do report your experiences, so that they don't slip under the radar without being addressed.

Securing improvements to disability access to Wealden rail network

I am pleased to have secured a parliamentary debate on disability access on Wealden train stations in July 2021. Having served as Transport Minister, I was responsible for delivering the ground-breaking Inclusive Transport Strategy, which paved the way to equal access to all transport networks for people with visible and invisible disabilities. 41% of rail stations in Britain currently lack step free and this rises to 52% in the South East.

I am pleased to have secured the fantastic multi-million-pound funding secured for Eridge and Crowborough stations and the recent safety upgrades to Frant and Wadhurst stations, which have had warning tactile installed and a contrasting line painted to support people with sight loss. However, Frant and Wadhurst stations currently lack step-free access and keen to keep the momentum and pressed the Minister on ensuring that these upgrades are delivered in the near future.

I stressed the need of a major investment into the electrification of the Uckfield Line a new depot in Crowborough, and pressed for the Minister’s assurances as to when this investment will take place.

I have called for and helped secure the new Passenger Assistance mobile phone application to support customers who require assistance when travelling by train. The application provides an additional option for customers to request assistance via their smartphone nationwide.

I welcomed improvements made on the Wadhurst line, which will reduce the number of delays and improve passenger journeys. In autumn 2021, railway cutting at Wadhurst tunnel was strengthened to protect the railway from landslips and other extreme weather. This project is part of the £1.25bn South East Upgrade and will help prevent disruption and delays to services along the line.

 

My work on this issue is ongoing, and this page will be updated as developments occur. I am firmly of the belief that the failure of a number of organisations to provide an adequate level of service is unacceptable, a view I have regularly and consistently expressed to relevant officials. I will continue to do so until there is evidence that services have improved.

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