Overcrowded rush hour trains to the Sussex coast are to have extra carriages added to them. The good news came today in a phone call from Southern's managing director, Chris Burchell, to Lewes MP Norman Baker, who has long campaigned for extra rush-hour carriages.
The 16.17 Victoria to Eastbourne and Littlehampton is to be lengthened from 8 to 12 carriages, as is the 17.23 London Bridge to Eastbourne. The improvements will be introduced over the next few weeks.
Norman says: "At last, here is some good news for my constituents in Lewes and Polegate. These two trains are two of the worst for overcrowded conditions, and it is absolutely necessary that more carriages are added. I will continue to argue for more carriages for other badly overcrowded trains, such as the 18.47 Victoria to Ore and Littlehampton.
"It has taken months of enormous pressure on Southern to get this improvement, involving a series of meetings with their managing director and with the Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis. There is still a long list of outstanding matters to address, and the next round will be a further meeting with Mr Burchell next month."
Stephen Lloyd, the Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman for Eastbourne, adds: "I am delighted that more carriages are to be added to trains out of London. I am particularly pleased that the 17.23 is to be strengthened, as this is heavily used by Eastbourne residents."
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