Plumpton could soon be benefiting from an hourly service in both directions following a top-level meeting between Plumpton's MP Norman Baker and Southern's managing director Chris Burchell.
Mr Burchell, who was asked by the MP to evaluate the option, has now confirmed that the timetable would allow trains leaving London Victoria at 47 minutes past the hour to call at Plumpton throughout the day and has now promised to look seriously as to whether to introduce this improvement.
Over the years, pressure from the MP and others has transformed the stopping pattern at Plumpton form one which was rush-hours only, to one where there are intermittent trains through the day and a late night stopping service, the 22.47 from Victoria. But the MP wants the remaining gaps filled.
Norman has said: "We are seeing increasing use of Plumpton station by local people, which reflects both the general increase in rail usage, but also the better service that has been gradually introduced to the station. Yet gaps remain, and it is difficult, for example, to undertake a quick shopping trip to Lewes or Brighton in the middle of the day.
"I believe if we can move to an hourly service, that will give Plumpton residents more confidence about the timetable and drive up use of the train even further. If people know that there will be a train running at the same time past each hour throughout the day, they will not have the bother of having to consult timetables, which will make rail travel from the station more attractive."
In another piece of good news for Plumpton residents, Southern's managing director Chris Burchell has indicated he is aiming to find extra carriages to relieve congestion on overcrowded trains running from London to Lewes and beyond in the evening peak. This includes the 18.47 from Victoria, which calls at Plumpton.
Norman has said: "It is welcome that Southern has belatedly accepted that which I, and many angry passengers, have been pointing out for a year, namely that the new timetable introduced last year produced a number of unwelcome consequences for passengers travelling to Plumpton, Lewes, Polegate and beyond, not least the fact that the number of evening rush-hour carriages actually reduced.
"I have been pressing Southern very hard to deal with this matter and hope it will not be long before the most overcrowded trains are lengthened by four carriages each.
"The meeting on Monday also revealed something else we had all suspected, namely that trains to Brighton are more lightly loaded than trains to Lewes and Eastbourne. Last year the DfT required Southern to run three Gatwick trains through to Brighton in the evening peak. I have now formally asked Andrew Adonis, in a letter to him this week, to redirect one of those trains off the Brighton line and to Lewes and Eastbourne instead.
"I will be having further discussions with Southern over the next month and will be meeting Andrew Adonis before Christmas."
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Contact Norman at:
Norman Baker,
23 East Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
Email: info
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