Labour’s House of Lords Chief Whip - “BML2 is a must”

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Published on Tuesday, 14 February 2012 00:00

Another chaotic peak-hour closure of the Brighton Line last Friday at Balcombe, followed by weekend closure for engineering works, has highlighted once again the strain on this vulnerable route and the many thousands who daily rely upon it*. A broken rail in Balcombe tunnel brought widespread delays with the media reporting many hundreds queueing for hours to board inadequate replacement buses.

Lord Bassam of Brighton and Shadow Chief Whip in the House of Lords, was frankly incensed by this latest incident and said passionately: “Government ministers say we don't need BML2 for at least twenty years. What do they know? They don't catch trains from Sussex to London.”

Network Rail will again face paying compensation to train operators. In 2007 the company revealed closing the Brighton Line amounted to £1million per day. Lord Bassam urged Network Rail to factor in the long term saving and the value of BML2 in being able to maintain rail services between the Sussex Coast and London.  

Last year he expressed deep concern that economic growth in the south was being held back. “The Sussex network is grossly congested, which is why we must have this second Brighton Line via Uckfield.”

He’s perfectly right of course. At the Gatwick Hotel last summer, stakeholders were bluntly told by Network Rail: “Sussex railway routes are the most congested in the UK”.

“For Sussex commuters BML2 is a must.” said Lord Bassam, adding: “For £100m we could have Lewes–Uckfield and an improved Sussex Coastal service.”

BML2 Project Manager Brian Hart said: “This would clearly get BML2 underway – a project which opens up enormous economic and travel opportunities across the South East.”

Now, Lord Bassam says he believes it is: “Time for Norman Baker to use his ministerial influence and get cash commitment to fund seven miles of track for a new full Sussex Coastal service.”

Brighton Kemptown MP Simon Kirby also told those who contacted him over the weekend that BML2 would help the south by providing alternative routes when the Brighton Line is under such pressure.

Lord Bassam is urging everyone: “Do what you can to promote it. It's a project that works on a number of levels. Less pollution and better public transport links.”
 

* A daily average of 45,700 passengers use Brighton station and 1,890,882 season ticket entries recorded per annum (source Network Rail Sussex Route Utilisation Strategy and Office of Rail Regulation)